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.
2.2
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,717 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.
We purchased a 2001 Dodge Intrepid and have had nothing but trouble with it. It has been in the shop for repairs continuously and still cannot be fixed. All in all, I have invested about $3500 for repairs and still the car is unsafe to drive. I have a loan on this vehicle and have to pay even though I am unable to drive this car. I have seen numerous complaints on this vehicle and it doesn't appear that anything every gets done with them.
I was driving the car and check engine light came on. I was planning on taking the car in for service work the following week. On the way home from a 3 mile trip, a heard an odd squealing and gears started to slip from the engine and proceeded to the dealer. The transmission fluid was checked each time I brought car in for oil change/servicing and was up to the max line when I checked it the day prior. Dealer called back to tell me that my transmission failed and it will be 3381 bucks to repair for 4250 for replacement. In reviewing this and other websites, I have found numerous complaints regarding Chrysler transmissions of the same part number over the past dozen years.
Purchased car in 02 with 11000 miles. Maintained car well. At 57000 miles the engine and transmission blew. Dealer said their was a build up of sludge. My car was in the shop for 30 days. 4 days after repaired I returned it to dealer with complaint of transmission slipping. They couldn't feel it slipping when they drove it. Now tonight, 3 weeks later, it was towed back to the shop for transmission failure.
- Palm Beach Garden, FL, USA
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- Stoughton, WI, USA