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.

8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,690
Average Mileage:
106,050 miles
Total Complaints:
23 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. rebuilt whole transmission (5 reports)
  3. replaced transmission control module (5 reports)
  4. replace shifter cable (2 reports)
  5. replace transmission; redesign new transmissions (2 reports)
  6. transmission had to be completely rebuilt (2 reports)
2001 Dodge Intrepid transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Dodge Intrepid Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Jan 012013

Intrepid ES 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

i own a 2001 dodge intrepid 3.2L V6 AUTOMATIC WITH THE AUTOSTICK OPTION and last month the transmission started kicking itself out of gear and i would have to pull over and shut it off and put it in park and start it again and had to repeat this until all the square boxes that surrounded the digital gear position display showed it was in park or P with the square only around the P.i replaced the filter and did a flush on the tranny and it fixed the problem until today all of a sudden it was STUCK IN 2ND GEAR with the square boxes surrounding all the gear position display(P.R.N.D and its a autostick so the square boxes surrounded the 1.2.3.4. on the autostick display too) i disconnected the battery and reset the computer and it worked for about a hour and now it will go into drive and reverse but will not shift past second and the autostick doesn't work at all so i cant manually shift it. i was told its the tranny control mod, inside the pan.this part costs 400 and before i drop the pan and buy this part is there anyone that has run into this problem and does anyone have any info that would help before i spend 400 and kill myself doing this repair .email me at vinrock3@excite.com any info will be appreciated.DON'T BUY THIS CAR.!!!!!!

- vinrock, Holiday, FL, US

problem #22

Feb 162012

Intrepid SE 2.7 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 224,619 miles

just want to say i must have the only good one out there this the only problem i have had with my 2001 dodge intrepid transmission module i have 2hundred 24thou miles and it looks runs great i don't have complaints yet it has been a great car for me sorry for your bad luck.

- John C., Runnells, IA, US

problem #21

Feb 112012

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

The shifting boot gets stuck down in shifter and it wont go into gear, if this happens you must pull it out so you can shift into gear if you dont you will bend things up and pull off shifting cable. , then its a wrecker call. Had this happen many times rubber gets down in side and james shifting up so it wont move right.

- Jacky W., Manitowoc, WI, US

problem #20

Nov 252011

Intrepid SE 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am a hospice nurse and part of my job is to go to patients homes. I am in trouble at work because I don't have a reliable car. I have bummed a ride to the office and am currently working in there but I have been told next week I will HAVE to have a car available to me. This car was my mom's car and I have a hard time releasing it. I am going to have to though to make my situation better. What is worse, I have a 2002 intrepid as well and it is in the shop so I am really freaking out.

- Helen T., Tulsa, OK, US

problem #19

Aug 192009

Intrepid SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,300 miles

My car started out fine right after I bought it of corse. I drove it a month before getting a loan, just to make sure that everything was going to be fine. The problem started right after I left my boyfriend at the time drive it out of town to go pick something up for his car. He told me that while he was on the highway he had to slam on the gas to avoid being slamed into someone trying to get in a lane on the road. After that he brought it back to me and it was fine till I got up to a stop light driving home and it almost stalled out it felt like and completely stoped running and my oil light was on. since then when I drive on the high way when I slow down it down shift hard and wont go in to second gear after I try to excelerate again. I have to pull off to the side of the high way and trun my car on and then back off. I have been very good about getting my oil changed and I have had my motor inspected and no one can ever figur out what is wrong with it. WHAT EVER YOU DO DON'T GET ANYTHING THAT IS A DODGE!

- oreps22233, Clinton, MO, US

problem #18

Aug 042009

Intrepid ES 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

This car is a piece of sh*t ..... we had to replace the transmission twice and have it rebuilt once and had a solenoid pack ($700) put in what ever the hell that means. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this car...it will save you a lot of heart ache ...... also I have had problems with the power steering pump. It kept squealing like it was killing a goat... I tried flushing it but that didn't work.

- Matt W., Slc, UT, US

problem #17

Sep 092009

Intrepid SE 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After having the engine replaced twice due to connecting rod bearing failure, now my transmission will not shift out of second gear. I think it might be the transmission module but not sure. Anyways DO NOT BUY DODGE.

- jlw, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada

problem #16

Jul 192009

Intrepid ES 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

My sister owned this car before I did, and I'm currently buying it off of her. When we first got the car it was fine, the only problem was that it whined. We have had problems with the power steering, but our biggest problem out of it is what we are experiencing right now. The car will not shift out of first, we can't go over 35. We had it tested at autozone and the test came back that the transmission control module was bad. We still don't know if that's what's wrong with it. I can't afford to drop money into a car like this. I should have listened to my fiance when he said that this car was crap.

- Ashley W., Sturgis, MI, US

problem #15

Nov 142006

(reported on)

Intrepid ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

No one will tell me what the warranty is on this transmission!

- Heather B., Charlotte, NC, US

problem #14

Oct 282008

Intrepid 2 Door 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

2001 doge intrepid- engine light came on. The car was running well. Later that day I stopped at a red light and stepped on the gas the car would not move. There had been no signs of transmission problems. The car shifted fine, no slipping, no noise, just the check engine light. This car had the defective engine replaced at 70,000 miles, should have sold it then. No car dealers will take it for a trade.

- Kathy J., Gladys, VA, US

problem #13

Jul 262008

Intrepid ES 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

alright so i had the whole Dont get the intrepid because of transmission things being bad but i wanted one anyway. I bought the car knowing that the shifter was sticking and hard to shift willing to risk it. About a month later it got stuck in first gear no movement at all basically frozen. i messed with the inner console and figure that it was the tranny shifter cable in which i got for 80 dollars, there was alot of work involved in changing it but defiantly saved me money, since its usually about a 750 dollar job

- letsroast204, Delafield, WI, US

problem #12

May 282007

Intrepid SE 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I noticed my car was making a "turbo" like noise, no more than a month later the trani went out. now I'm faced with a repo or a replace because I owe 3000.00 us dollars or I pay 2000.00 us dollars to fix the trani that dodge should have never sent into production. I'm at my whits end, I can't afford either option. When does a common problem become a RE-CALL? Would several deaths be enough? How many thousands of occurrences warrant a re-call? I'm sure there out there. How can Daimler Christler continue to take advantage of the working class? What are WE suposed to do? Buy another Dodge with the 10,000 mile power train warranty. When the local dealers won't even look at this car for a trade in.

- jesseoberlander, Arvada, CO, US

problem #11

Sep 112007

Intrepid SE 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

When the transmission blew we were on our way to our job, for a meeting, and we heard thump, and then nothing. So we had it towed to a transmission repair garage, and he said that was the worst transmission that they could use in this vehicle. I will never buy another dodge, and especially when they do not stand behind their automobiles.

- drtorre, Salem, OR, US

problem #10

May 232006

(reported on)

Intrepid

  • 70,000 miles

When the car was put into gear, the transmission made a popping and rattling noise. It acts like it will shift now, but it cannot.

- wario2006, Duquesne, PA, US

problem #9

Aug 052006

(reported on)

Intrepid

  • 58,000 miles

I have never romped on this car and take good care of it. Change the oil every 2,500 miles due to the fact that the engine is known for oil sludge problems. The car drove fine all day and when I started it up to head out for the night when I put it into drive the car shook violently and the check engine light came on. It was stuck in first gear. Had to have the car towed and it will take about 5 - 10 days to be fixed. If Dodge does not want to go out of business then maybe they should start making better quality cars because I know for fact that I will never buy another Dodge. Also the warranty that I have covers ALL transmission problems up to 75,000 miles and the guy tried to tell me that it was not covered. It is though and now only a $100 deductible will be paid. Don't buy this car, it is not reliable. It is nice on the interior and has a quiet ride but if it is not reliable then it is not worth it.

- wahl, Oak Harbor, OH, US

problem #8

Sep 212006

(reported on)

Intrepid SE

  • 95,000 miles

I have kept the service up to date on this car from the time it was new. The dealer wanted to charge $4,500 to put in a re-manufactured transmission with no warranty. I took it to Aamco where they told me that they could rebuild it for $3,500. They said that this was a common problem for Dodge Intrepids and I would probably have to have to transmission rebuilt more than once. This is just one of many problems I have had with the car. For the first 60,000 miles, the car was great and now every month or two something goes wrong with it.

- Cathy S., Cypress, CA, US

problem #7

Jan 022004

Intrepid SE 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

Got in the car one morning. Discovered the car won't shift. Had to get towed to the dealership hoping warranty would cover the problem.

TCI module was out. Was able to get them to discount the parts and labor after much haggling. Was without a car for two days.

Considering what was to come this was really really minor.

- Cherie C., Hendersonville, PA, US

problem #6

Oct 302007

(reported on)

Intrepid ES 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,750 miles

I bought my car new and in 2001 and never abused it and serviced it on time, maybe a couple of times went over a month. I've had an oil leek for 2 years now and no one could tell me where it was coming from. I did take it to a reputable mechanic and he told me it was an oil pan problem so I had it replaced $400.00 later. When I took it in for an oil change last time at union 76 they told me it was leaking oil from the engine somewhere and I had to get it checked. But unless I'm willing to chop another limb off to pay for those damages. If the 1st mechanic didn't fix the real problem can I still go after him for a refund? The current problem started with the engine light going on a few days before. The car wouldn't shift properly and was having trouble reaching speed limits of 35mph. I had it towed to a union 76 and they ran a tests to find out what was wrong with it. The codes they got were due to a bad electrical component which would cost me $800.00. When they replaced it with a Chrysler part the car was still having the same problem. They thought the device was a faulty or bad part and reordered a new one and reinstalled it again, but it was still doing the same thing. Union 76 decided to not charge me for the part since they had not fixed the problem so they sent back my part and also offered to have it towed to A-1 transmissions. At A-1 they fixed the problem but $2000.00 dollars later and 13 days later which I not only got stuck with a rental bill but now the oil light was staying on where before it would only flicker on when I was in idle at a stop light. A-1 transmissions told me that the engine oil pressure is either to low or the sending unit would need to be replaced. Reading some of the other problems some people had with the same year and model. It is becoming such a costly pain to have it fixed and I'm planning on getting the oil light fixed. But if any one knows how to start a class action suit I will be a part of it. Because I'm tired of this whole bull$#@%!Oh and by the way some how it has caused my brakes to squeak because oil gets on the break pads, and my rims are always smeared with oil and not to mention the garage floor.

- Lilly C., Sun Valley, NV, US

problem #5

May 282006

(reported on)

Intrepid ES

  • 205,000 miles

Every time we go to slow down, you feel a "thump" and it's stuck in second gear.

- Brian D., Comber, Ontario, Canada

problem #4

Feb 032007

(reported on)

Intrepid SE 2.7

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

The drive shaft on the driver's side came out of the transmission.

Cause - appeared to be corrosion and failure of the transmission case; perhaps a crack caused by a failing case bearing which is not lubricated.

The transmission worked fine; Chrysler - please redesign this one; it worked well until - SURPRISE!

- Scott P., Happy Valley, NL, Canada

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