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.
I bought this vehicle for my daughter, and before I could pay it off, the head gasket blows for NO REASON, and it has been maintained every 3K. Come to find out, the 2.7L engine has a known problem and DODGE/CHRYSLER never did a recall. Now I am out the price of a car, and all due to the fact that your company did not respect their customers enough to warn them of this issue, or put out a recall. My daughter is now frantically trying to find a way to school, and she may have to drop out due to the fact that she no longer has any reliable transportation. This is not the way to treat your customers, and I for one will do whatever I can to warn all my friends and colleagues to never buy another DODGE product again. I find it appalling that you do NOT stand by your products, no wonder the American people are looking outside its borders to find reliable transportation. I know you will do NOTHING about this, and I am just out the price of this car, along with the price of a potential new car all thanks to your poor product that YOU KNEW WAS BAD TO BEGIN WITH.
SHAME ON YOU DODGE/Chrysler, SHAME ON YOU! You created a lemon, and did nothing to stand by your product.
If you should decide to correct this and stand by the engine's known failure rate, I would sincerely take back all my negative feelings. I truly look forward to hearing from you soon.
The engine overheated, with no warning at all, on Oct.8th. 1 cooling fan, connector, upper intake gasket, lower intake gasket, intake manifold and labor& tax at a cost $933.80 the car was back on the road Oct.13th. Oct.19th, the head gasket has blown and the mechanic has informed me that a new engine is required. I don't know the actual estimate but I'm guessing 5 to 7 thousand. He also directed me to look into a class action that he states has helped several other Intrepid owners recover the cost of repair because of poor engine design in the 2.7L. I'm not holding my breath. I have been around long enough to know that ranting does absolutely no good. I can only hope that this may help others with this problem, or better yet, avoid purchasing a car with this particular engine.
blown head gasket resulted in bearings being fried. Known problem to Dodge. Vehicle had 75k and in mint condition. $5000 to fix. Junked a 5 year old car.
- Frank D.,
Babylon, NY, US
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I bought this vehicle for my daughter, and before I could pay it off, the head gasket blows for NO REASON, and it has been maintained every 3K. Come to find out, the 2.7L engine has a known problem and DODGE/CHRYSLER never did a recall. Now I am out the price of a car, and all due to the fact that your company did not respect their customers enough to warn them of this issue, or put out a recall. My daughter is now frantically trying to find a way to school, and she may have to drop out due to the fact that she no longer has any reliable transportation. This is not the way to treat your customers, and I for one will do whatever I can to warn all my friends and colleagues to never buy another DODGE product again. I find it appalling that you do NOT stand by your products, no wonder the American people are looking outside its borders to find reliable transportation. I know you will do NOTHING about this, and I am just out the price of this car, along with the price of a potential new car all thanks to your poor product that YOU KNEW WAS BAD TO BEGIN WITH.
SHAME ON YOU DODGE/Chrysler, SHAME ON YOU! You created a lemon, and did nothing to stand by your product.
If you should decide to correct this and stand by the engine's known failure rate, I would sincerely take back all my negative feelings. I truly look forward to hearing from you soon.
- Michael S., Havana, IL, US