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.
1.7
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,000 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.
My wife was driving our 2002 Dodge Intrepid coming from my mothers house, luckily it was at low speed. While she was making a left hand turn the upper steering control arm on the driver side had broken off at the rack and pinion portion of the steering control leaving the car unable to steer. It was then towed to my near by auto mechanic. The next day it was discovered that the rack and pinion was defective at 99,000 miles I had looked for the bolt that held this arm into place it was a grade 8 bolt that stripped out of the rack. Luckily she wasn't on a interstate going 65 mph while this happened with our 2 kids as this would have left a catastrophe or death upon all three Dodge really needs to make a plan to recall these cars as it shows to be defective materials.
- Lakeview, OH, USA
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- Lakeview, OH, USA