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 had this car for 3 years and loved loved loved it! It was spacious, dependable, eye catching, just a beautiful car! Until one day in March when my husband came home and told me the car stalled at a red light, then almost stalled at the next red light. Told me he had to put the car in neutral and keep his foot on the gas to keep it from stalling out, also, that the check engine light had come on. So I drove the car the next day for awhile and it was fine, which it usually only gave him problems, not me. I checked the oil, checked everything out, looked ok. Then I drove it 30 miles to a friends house and when I got there it was steaming, bad. So I opened the hood and there was bullet sized hole in the radiator. The coolant was gone in the reservoir. I filled it up, and drove it home. I was about 8 miles from my house and on side streets when I heard the dash "ding" and the temp light came on, my car was red hot, and immediately started smoking. I made a sharp right cutting across another lane, pulled over and got out. The car cooled for over an hour while I froze. I couldn't get the car started. I figured if it was dead, i was going to at least give it all I had before paying a tow truck. I got it started by pumping the gas hard while starting. When it started, it went about 3 miles and sounded like a lawn mower, the entire time the engine light flashed and the car misfired, but I was going! Got to a gas station where it overheated again. Again, cooled and hard start, lawnmower, about 3 more miles, the car died on the side of the road and after an hour of waiting, I gave up and called a cab. At this point, I didn't take my regular route home because it consisted of streets with a lot of traffic, so I had to take the scenic route. The cab brought me home, and I called my dad to ask him to take me back to the car. (About 5 hours later) Took me back, car started right up, sounded fine, I drove it the last 4 miles home. Parked it in the driveway and sold it 3 months later.
The coolant I had put in had gone right into the engine. I drained the oil and it had the green tint to it and some water. Ended up selling the car for $450.00 to someone who turned it into a derby car. I really did have good luck with this car, I think I'm the only one to have any luck with the car to be honest, but in the end, it was going to cost way more than it was worth to fix it. So I had to let it go.
Judging from other peoples complaints about Dodge vehicles, I think I got lucky and wouldn't mind owning another one, but I'm not sure if I would or not yet. I think my luck may have run out with just this one Dodge!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I had this car for 3 years and loved loved loved it! It was spacious, dependable, eye catching, just a beautiful car! Until one day in March when my husband came home and told me the car stalled at a red light, then almost stalled at the next red light. Told me he had to put the car in neutral and keep his foot on the gas to keep it from stalling out, also, that the check engine light had come on. So I drove the car the next day for awhile and it was fine, which it usually only gave him problems, not me. I checked the oil, checked everything out, looked ok. Then I drove it 30 miles to a friends house and when I got there it was steaming, bad. So I opened the hood and there was bullet sized hole in the radiator. The coolant was gone in the reservoir. I filled it up, and drove it home. I was about 8 miles from my house and on side streets when I heard the dash "ding" and the temp light came on, my car was red hot, and immediately started smoking. I made a sharp right cutting across another lane, pulled over and got out. The car cooled for over an hour while I froze. I couldn't get the car started. I figured if it was dead, i was going to at least give it all I had before paying a tow truck. I got it started by pumping the gas hard while starting. When it started, it went about 3 miles and sounded like a lawn mower, the entire time the engine light flashed and the car misfired, but I was going! Got to a gas station where it overheated again. Again, cooled and hard start, lawnmower, about 3 more miles, the car died on the side of the road and after an hour of waiting, I gave up and called a cab. At this point, I didn't take my regular route home because it consisted of streets with a lot of traffic, so I had to take the scenic route. The cab brought me home, and I called my dad to ask him to take me back to the car. (About 5 hours later) Took me back, car started right up, sounded fine, I drove it the last 4 miles home. Parked it in the driveway and sold it 3 months later.
The coolant I had put in had gone right into the engine. I drained the oil and it had the green tint to it and some water. Ended up selling the car for $450.00 to someone who turned it into a derby car. I really did have good luck with this car, I think I'm the only one to have any luck with the car to be honest, but in the end, it was going to cost way more than it was worth to fix it. So I had to let it go.
Judging from other peoples complaints about Dodge vehicles, I think I got lucky and wouldn't mind owning another one, but I'm not sure if I would or not yet. I think my luck may have run out with just this one Dodge!
- Nicole B., Syracuse, NY, US