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.
Blown head gasket at only 98,000 miles. My sister's boyfriend give it to me for free. It's a super clean car and figured it would be worth the 1,000 bucks to fix it. After reading the complaints here I'm not wasting my money. I'm having the same problems as everyone else here. I remembered when a friend had the same car and her injectors went bad, at 101,000 miles. Seems like they are all done for around the 100,000 mile marker. You think Dodge would fix it. All they have done is they have lost more Dodge buyers verses fixing those cars. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it's basically the 2002 mile. We all need to pull together and report this problem to them and maybe someday they will get the hint and fix them. Spread the word!!
Thermostat replaced for $240, then $30 to replace a cracked radiator, 3 cans of Head Gasket Repair and the the Head Gasket still ended up completely failing to where the engine wouldn't turn over. Lost my job from transportation problems then had to move to an apartment where there was Public Transportation to be able to work again.
Its unbelievable that I just purchased this car in June of 2011. I got it as a graduation gift from my family. Didn't drive it much during the summer I got it up until I got a teacher job in Charlotte. Since I was located in Virginia, I had to drive 5 hours from Virginia to Charlotte several times for interviews and workshops. When I got the car, the mileage was 96K miles. The CarFax showed that it had never been in an accident nor did it have any major problems. Since I've been at my new place of residence, I have spent $1,200 in repairs on the car. New starter, new cam positioning shaft (I think that's the name), and a new radiator. All of these expenses were in a span of 2 months.
After reading the post before this recently on the Dodge Intrepid, I did not know that they had a reputation to have problems like this. Sad that an AMERICAN car company hits AMERICAN'S pockets for AMERICAN money. Is this how car companies are going to manage handling a weakened economy? Smh Never again in life will I EVER purchase a Dodge and I will make it known that Dodge is not a car company to purchase from to all individuals I know.
- Michael C.,
Charlotte, NC, US
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Blown head gasket at only 98,000 miles. My sister's boyfriend give it to me for free. It's a super clean car and figured it would be worth the 1,000 bucks to fix it. After reading the complaints here I'm not wasting my money. I'm having the same problems as everyone else here. I remembered when a friend had the same car and her injectors went bad, at 101,000 miles. Seems like they are all done for around the 100,000 mile marker. You think Dodge would fix it. All they have done is they have lost more Dodge buyers verses fixing those cars. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it's basically the 2002 mile. We all need to pull together and report this problem to them and maybe someday they will get the hint and fix them. Spread the word!!
- dwaymich, Fisk, US