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.
10.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
100,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
new water pump and new hydralic timing tensioner (1 reports)
Had a mechanic replace my leaking water pump. Once car was put back together there was this horrible knocking in the engine. I kept adjusting the hydraulic timing tensioner and the noise leveled off and sounded like ticking lifters when the car would idle. I purchased a used hydraulic timing tensioner. Still the engine noise was there. So I just went a bought a new hydraulic timing tensioner. The new hydraulic timing tensioner has a clip and a o-ring. The one we took out of the car and the used one I purchased had no clip and no o-ring. Once the new tensioner was installed the car purred like a kitten and ran great. I was surprised at what my mechanic told me. He told that when ever he replaces the water pumps on the Intrepid, he always gets that engine noise, but it will go away. Well, it did not go away. My question! Could the engine noise that people are
describing, be a bad tensioner. The original and the used tension were both bad, because they had no o-ring and/or no clip on it. My mechanic discounted my rate, or else it would have cost $1,000.00 in lieu of $450.00 I paid. Bought car used with 80,000
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Had a mechanic replace my leaking water pump. Once car was put back together there was this horrible knocking in the engine. I kept adjusting the hydraulic timing tensioner and the noise leveled off and sounded like ticking lifters when the car would idle. I purchased a used hydraulic timing tensioner. Still the engine noise was there. So I just went a bought a new hydraulic timing tensioner. The new hydraulic timing tensioner has a clip and a o-ring. The one we took out of the car and the used one I purchased had no clip and no o-ring. Once the new tensioner was installed the car purred like a kitten and ran great. I was surprised at what my mechanic told me. He told that when ever he replaces the water pumps on the Intrepid, he always gets that engine noise, but it will go away. Well, it did not go away. My question! Could the engine noise that people are
describing, be a bad tensioner. The original and the used tension were both bad, because they had no o-ring and/or no clip on it. My mechanic discounted my rate, or else it would have cost $1,000.00 in lieu of $450.00 I paid. Bought car used with 80,000
miles, first problem I have had.
- E C., Columbus, OH, US