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.
2.1
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,188 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.
Oil sludge has built up in the engine, leaving the engine without the ability to circulate oil through the block to lubricate the parts. A mechanic has diagnosed the problem and noted that driving the car will cause parts to break and the engine to fail. The mechanic took photos of the inside of one of the valve covers to show how thick the oil sludge is. Where the inside of the valve cover should be clean and shiny, it is coated with a half-inch of sludge. The problem occurred at about 121,000 miles. I noticed that the oil-pressure warning light came. A check of the oil showed it was full and clean. Before this incident, I had no problems with the car. It performed very well. With the exception of this significant engine problem, there are no other problems with the car -- no accidents, no dents of body damage, no rust, clean interior and everything else works. Consequences are that an otherwise perfectly good car cannot be driven. It has been parked for two months while I contact the manufacturer, file reports with the appropriate agencies, including the NHTSA and the center of auto safety, and research what can be done and at what cost. My preference, of course, would be that the manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler, pay to rebuild or replace the engine. Having the manufacturer admit to a known design flaw, as alleged in hebert V. daimler Chrysler, would be nice, but not essential. Getting the car back on the road at no cost or minimal cost to me is my goal.
I am the original owner of a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. It has 89,000 miles and I have religiously changed the oil and filter every three months since I purchased the vehicle. The night of December 28, 2007 my wife was driving the car home and when she stopped at an intersection the car died. I came and helped her push the car home. The next day I had a mechanic come to the house and he determined that the engine had in fact seized. I have got two different estimates to fix this failure and both are higher than the kelly blue book value of this vehicle. When I contacted Chrysler they referred me to the impartial services group who in turn requested a mountain of information to determine whether my case would be deemed worthy for reimbursement. So far I have heard nothing.
Heading to California from Nevada my car started to act strange before the light of check engine turned on, I did slow down and pulled over, just a second before the motor shut off, I had to call my insurance which did not cover the towed back to my home which cost me $600 ( six hundred), I still trying to fix my car, due the high cost of a new motor, and is been hard to find a used one in good condition, this is been a big problem to me, I still paying for this car and I can't afford to buy a new one.
The 2.7L V6 engine in my 2001 Dodge Intrepid failed. This vehicle had only 70,000 miles and is in good-to-excellent condition. It has had regular oil changes over the life of the vehicle and is well maintained. Upon mechanic examination, they determined that the entire engine needed to be replaced due to extreme internal damage that caused the oil and water to mix in the block. They also tested for floro-carbons in the exhaust, which was off the charts. The vehicle is out of warranty and the out of pocket expense for this repair is nearly $5,000.
Heater would come and go of late, oil light would flicker at stops and go off upon accelerating. On trip from tx to nc oil light came on, stayed on. Had the filter changed, oil light went off, until the engine totally seized the following day shortly after the oil light came on. Was quoted $6000 to replace an engine for a car worth well less than that. Gave it to a Ford dealer and bought a Ford Taurus.
Engine began knocking quietly and was checked. I was asked if the oil was changed regularly and I informed them it was. The oil was at the proper level. A week later it began knocking very loudly and then just quit. I had aaa bring it home and after a few days had a mechanic check it out. He said the engine failed and needed replacing. This would cost roughly $3800. It cranked up but would not move over a few feet. I backed it into my garage and it still sits there while I finish paying the $3,000 that I still owe before I can fix the problem. I have done much research and found many people who are having this same problem. I found your information on autybytels site about this engine.
I have a 2001 Dodge Intrepid, on June 1 2006 I was on the express way in detroit mi. And my engine just locked up I lost all power steering, I mad it to the side of the road luckily there was light traffic. I took my car to the a certified mechanic and I was informed that my engine failed and that it was do to sludge build up. The shop wants 5,500 dollars to fix the car witch I don't have, and I might lose my job-that was my only car.
1. I left work to go to lunch and my car wouldn't start. The mechanic couldn't get it started so I had to have it towed to the mechanic's garage. He gave me the bad news stating that it would be very expensive. 2. premature engine problems in my 2001 Dodge Intrepid engine with oil sludge and timing chain failure causing engine damage and failure. 3. I bought the car used in 08/2005. I purchased an extended service contract that covered most repair cost, except $625.78. This doesn't include the two towing cost that I had to pay. I was also without a car for about 3 weeks as the dealership wouldn't give me a loaner and my insurance doesn't cover a loaner. We have no public transportation in our small community which really created a hardship.
Engine of 2001 Dodge Intrepid went out on the highway. Car was well kept and had no prior problems. My family and myself was stuck on the highway for 2 hours before being helped.
Normal driving on interstate. Engine light came on. Before I could get onto next exit (1/4 mile), engine started knocking. Took exit and pulled directly into closed car dealership parking lot. Engine died. Oil leaking from engine. Called mechanic. Towed car to his shop. Had car for 6 months trying to find replacement engine. Put in rebuilt engine. After 5 months, engine began knocking as before. Stopped immediately and had towed to my house where it now sits. 1st engine and parts not available.
Sudden stall without warning-no gauges, lights etc. Had to be pushed out of traffic. Engine (2.7L) seized without warning. Regular maintenance had always been performed. Car had 64,000 miles on it. Engine has multitude of similar complaints on line, most describing a sudden stall. Chrysler did not wish to discuss any help at all. My local dealer is helping me with a new car (at my expense).
My 2001 Dodge Intrepid with the 2.7 liter engine is now smokeing grayish white smoke it is useing way too much oil and gas I have to put oil in it aat least twice weekly I have consulted with Dodge dealearships in my area they tell me taht that type of engine was no good from the factory and that no one is willing to work on it and that it is a matter of time before the engine have total failure without warning and that it will be too costly to try and repair it not counting the amount of work it will take
2001 Dodge Intrepid, 2.7 liter, bought in July 2001 from Dodge and was a one person owner. It had, when we bought it, 28,000 and still under factory warrenty. We bought the extended warrenty of 100,000 7years. Engine tapping, took to the Dodge dealership and was blamed on not changing our oil properly. Had to get it fixed. We took it to a mechanic that worked on it enough to were we could drive it and at the time thought it was fixed for good. Come to find out this was only a temp fix. At the time we were not aware of the all the problems the 2.7 liter engines were having. Just recently started having problems with it again and this time it is so bad we cannot drive it. Dodge refused to honor their warrenty and me as a customer am of the opion that this is wrong. It is my understanding that crysler/Dodge have admitted to the problem and modified the engine. Well, if they admitted to the problem they should be fixing their cars.
Oil light came on as wife was driving home from church. She stopped, checked the oil level(in the acceptable range on dipstick) and called me. I had a friend tow me to my house. Took the car in to our local Dodge dealer who told me that the engine was sludged and that the extended warranty would not cover. He first told me that they could do an engine flush, the second call was that he could not flush the engine as it is about to totally go out. I have receipts for oil and filters and when I installed them. I bought the car used with under 40,000 miles and have drove approximately 10,000 since.
Defect in motor design, motors self destruction at 90000 mi or less. Son was driving car on interstate, tried to pass truck, motor blew, narrowly missed causing an accident. After numerous phone calls to repair shops I've been told these 2.7 liter V6 motors are junk. They have a defect with the oil pump. When you accelerate the oil T is pumped to the top of the motor, making the oil pump run dry and starve the main bearing on the lower end. This should have been a recall on all 2.7 liter V6 motors. I just bought the car for my son, he only had it 2 weeks. I paid cash $5,500. Gone, car not worth repairing. What a rip off.
No oil or engine light. One day engine starting making a loud racket. Took to dealership they said it spun a bearing due to oil sludge or no oil. I had the oil changed regulary at wal-mart and superlube since I couldn't get unde the car to change the oil myself. Car had 80,000 miles when this happened. Now it just sits in the driveway because we can't afford a $6500 bill to replace motor and to top it all off we still have 2 years to pay on it. Something needs to be done about this. There are too many complaints about the same thing for Dodge just to ignore.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alexandria, LA, USA