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.
I started the car and it acted like it was running on five cylinders. I took it to the dealer to have it checked. they said it was not the electronics. So they took the valve cover off to see if they could see anything. Nothing So they took the head off and found a MAC tool called a pick. They said the valve spring was broke. That the pick was in the valve chamber and probably caused the valve spring to break. The motor has never been worked on so the question was how this tool got in the motor. The mechanic said it was probably left in the motor when it was built. So I am contacting Dodge to see if they will compensate me for the cost.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I started the car and it acted like it was running on five cylinders. I took it to the dealer to have it checked. they said it was not the electronics. So they took the valve cover off to see if they could see anything. Nothing So they took the head off and found a MAC tool called a pick. They said the valve spring was broke. That the pick was in the valve chamber and probably caused the valve spring to break. The motor has never been worked on so the question was how this tool got in the motor. The mechanic said it was probably left in the motor when it was built. So I am contacting Dodge to see if they will compensate me for the cost.
- Daryle B., Dublin, TX, US