CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Intrepid, Stratus & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,827 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My oil light would blink on and off when I was stopped at a red light. The car only has 102,000 miles on it and the engine started to knock really loud. I have taken it to a garage to see about getting it fixed but will need a new engine. With what I still owe on the car and the price of these engines (they are hard to find because so many people have needed to replace them) it is not even worth getting fixed at this point.
We lust purchased a used 2000 Dodge Intrepid it had 105,000 miles on it, it was in great condition until May 21,2010, I was on my way to my parents house and the car starting making funny noises and it just cut off with us, we tried to start it back but it failed, had it looked at, they are telling me it needs a new engine, needless to say the cost is outrageous!!!!!! I love my car, but as I read on the internet there is alot of engine problems with the 2.7L engines, is there any thing that can be done about this?
I purchased a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7L engine from a previous owner. I put an additional $400 in maintenance and repair parts (including fresh oil and filter) into it and the engine literally blew up the first time it was driven 20 miles. I am a 55 year old woman that had to abandon the vehicle on the road and arrange for removal. Replacing the engine with a non-defective one is cost prohibitive to me.
30 miles from home Jan. 2010 driving a 2000 Dodge Intrepid without warning blinking oil light, hammering engine, less than a minute later complete engine failure. Car now sits in my driveway.have made no repairs as it is $3500, I've been quoted. Still 10 payments to go on this vehicle. Car ran like a dream before this experience. No problems at all, reg oil changes and maintenance.
Engine failure on 2.7 litre engine in a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. I was driving on a 100km speed limit highway when I had engine failure. There was no place to get off safely so pulled over to the right as far as I could. Still traffic had to steer around my dead vehicle causing an unsafe road condition which could have ended in a bad or fatal way. There is a design flaw with this engine with many complaints registered with different entities designed to collect this information. The maker refuses to acknowledge the flaw and compensate in one form or another. This engine make is a safety hazard and the maker should be made accountable.
I own a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7 engine. This is not my first car by far and I don't race it or anything. I began having problems with it in 2007 with approximately 80,000 mile on it. I had an oil sludge problem and had to replace the engine. I paid 3500 us dollars to replace it and now at 102000 mile the same problem. The engine is under warranty but I still have to pay for the labor which is 1000 dollars. This is really not good the car is a good car when running correctly but this engine issue is very poor and not something expected for a Dodge car or engine. Something must be done.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While exiting the expressway at 40 mph, the contact heard a strange noise and pulled into a gas station. When she attempted to restart the vehicle, the engine shut off. The contact will have the vehicle towed to her residence. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
While driving heard bang and car lost power and began to tap. Immediately pulled over and shut car down. Upon inspection found motor was full of anti-freeze. Water pump shaft bearings broke into "pieces" flooding engine with anti-freeze. Installed new water pump and timing chain, but too much damage was already done. Car repair costs too much to fix, have been advised by mechanics that problems will persist with this 2.7 motor. Additionally, air conditioning fails repeatedly. Power window unit fails repeatedly. Front end problems. We tried to have the problem fixed, but apparently there is no "fix" for this engine.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving less than 50 mph, the motor failed. One week prior to the incident, repairs were made to the vehicle, including the water pump. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were less than 135,000.
Engine died while driving. Would not restart. Repair shop would not touch it. Showed me the oil on the dipstick, a milky brown color. Will have to put a remanufactured engine in the vehicle. Approx. 92,000 miles on vehicle when this occurred.
Engine began making loud noises, took to wildle Dodge Chrysler who informed me that the engine is knocking, sludge, noisy, and that I need a new engine. At 77,620 miles, and still owing $4300 in the vehicle, I did not feel I should have to spend $5000 for a new engine. When we called the manufacturer, they stated that I did not regularly change my oil causing my own problem. I was very frustrated at that accusation since we did change the oil regularly, we just didn't have all the receipts to prove it. I don't understand how Chrysler can get away with this since there are over 400 customers that this happened to. They should be ashamed.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle began making a clicking noise. The vehicle began to slow down on its own and then shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the timing chain failed due to oil sludge build-up. The contact was informed that a new motor would be needed. The Chrysler manufacturer stated that a recall would have been issued if there were issues with the motors in the vehicles. The failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 04-24-09 updated 04/27/09.
The 2000 Dodge Intrepid all at once would not start. I came out of the grocery store and it had a weird "clicking sound". my mechanic said the timing belt broke. He said that this model is notorious for this, that the oil reservoir gets clogged no matter the maintenance and that the breaking of the timing belt ruins the engine, unlike other cars that have safety measures to prevent engine failure. The oil can no longer reach the top of the engine and it burns up breaking the timing belt. The oil level when checked was fine. A full tune up was done on the car just a few months before, same mechanic. The new engine, because Dodge does not sell the old one any more, I wonder why, is $5400. I still owe $4500. On this car. Dodge, from what I gather on the net, has thousands in class action suits over this. They will not change out the engines for us or recall of any kind. This car was sold to me off a lot, the guy took me right to it. I bit. I'm '!@#$%. there is no correcting the problem. I don't have the money to fix Dodge' way of making millions off the consumer. We will not buy american again. And yet they will go to the senate and ask for more money to get out of their jam. I say let them sink until they make a better product. Every other business out there has to learn and do the same in America, why not them"?!!!! why are they not held accountable?"!!!! I hope my words make a difference. Sincerely,
2000 Dodge Intrepid, 2.7L engine. 163,000 miles. Last month: Heater suddenly stops working except at highway speeds. On two occasions: Exited highway, engine temp gauge maxes out, turned off heater, dial immediately returns to nominal temp. This month: Heater stops working entirely. Last night: Car would not start -- battery cranking but engine did not catch until I gave it some gas. Drove it to mechanic with engine light on. Mechanic called to confirm sludge build up in the engine. Another case of www.oilsludge.com/.
My 2000 Dodge Intrepid wouldn't start without a jump for a few days in a row, so I brought it in and had it checked. The mechanic said he thought it was due to build up on the negative terminal. I also heard a noise in the engine, but all belts were checked and they were fine. 1 week later my car just died while I was driving to work. I have now learned that I need to replace the engine at a large cost. While researching the cost of this repair, I have come to learn that this is a very common problem for the 2.7L V6 engine, and that the maker is aware of the problem, but because there have not been enough complaints, it is not worthy of addressing! I am disgusted! the way that my car died, on the road, I could have caused a major accident.
Our 2000 Dodge Intrepid with the 2.7 L engine was purchased with a rebuilt engine and 122K miles. We were meticulous about maintaining this car, and had the oil changed every 3000 miles. At 135K miles, the timing chain broke without warning. This should not have happened on a well-maintained vehicle. The cost to repair it will be at least $2000. My son uses this car as his primary vehicle and doesn't have the money to repair it, so he is without a vehicle. This is a common problem with this engine. I feel that Dodge should recall and replace the 2.7 engine with a 3.2 or 3.5.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving approximately 25 mph on normal road conditions, the engine failed without warning. Roadside assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the failure was related to an engine lock-up. Currently, the vehicle is inoperable and has not been repaired. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 128,000.
I have the same old Dodge 2.7L engine complaint. My 2000 Dodge Intrepid with only 90K miles started making noise, than boom... the end of another 2.7L motor. Found it was combo of sludge and timing chain. Our local junk yards won't even take the car because they have to many as it is!!! so I get to stare at my expensive lawn ornament from my door every day.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. On two separate occasions, while driving approximately 45 mph, the oil pressure gauge dropped. The check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle completely shut off and restarted after approximately 30 minutes. The vehicle made knocking sounds and began smoking after it was restarted. The current and failure mileages were 136,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Halifax, PA, USA