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.
2.3
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
66,067 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 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
While driving vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating and came to a complete stop at a traffic light before stalling. Vehicle was towed to a dealership. The dealership replaced the timing belt/oil pump, and 6 rods. The failure recurred four times thereafter, in which the short block, 02 sensors and the distributor were replaced. The failure recurred.
My car never gave me any signs of burning oil, nor did I have any heater issues or smells. Owever, on 05/21/02 I took my car in to spitzer motor city in cleveland for service because I was seeing the engine light. They determined that they needed to replace my PCV valve and gas cap ($24.02 for parts and $149 for labor). Later, during the month of November 2002 I began seeing my engine light again. I took my car back to the same dealership the car was repaired at, and the mechanic said that if the gas cap is not on tightly it can also cause the engine light to come on, and to make sure it is always on tight. After that, the engine light would come on from time to time, til the day the enigne failed on August 18, 2003 while my husband was driving it. The car was taken to Dodge dealership, where it was diagnosed that the engine was shot due to sludge build-up. ( last oil change, May 2003 ). according to a representative from the daimler Chrysler service contract help desk, if an estimate for repair is over $5,000, an inspector must be sent to investigate before approving the coverage of any service repairs. Unfortunately, the request to pick up the tab was denied, with still one more month of warranty coverage left and 63,000 plus miles later. The only thing that I received from this was a reference number from the DaimlerChrysler customer assistance center on Sept 16th, 2003, and over $12,000 left in instalments. Thats all !
The engine light illuminated. Dealership informed consumer that the problem pertained to the slits on the rubber vent valve hose. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marion, AR, USA