I went to the Sam Leman dealer Dodge in Bloomington with a clacking noise coming from my engine. They told me it was my powering steering pump, so I had that replaced. The noise got quieter, for about a month, but never went away. So I took it to another mechanic who found the timing chain tensioner was pulled loose from it mount (being made of aluminum) causing slack on the timing chain and causing wear on one of the pistons. This would cost over $2000 to repair everything. I went back to Sam Leman, asking for a refund, since the power steering pump was not the problem. All I got was that they did the repairs, so they were not going to "be responsible".

I really don't know where to start with this BS car. First after having the car for about 5 months it gets stolen from my wife job. Remote entry that's all it is. I'm f*cked insurance expired. Then i receive a call from police my car has been found after a month. get the car back nothing wrong but busted ignition. Only one thing was good about this year the ignition switch. With the other year Intrepid's you can't buy just the key cylinder to replace an old busted one. The whole steering column has to be replaced(go to junkyard they have plenty). After talking to a detective at the police station i find out that the Intrepid is one of the easiest car to steal.(why steal a dodge). So i get the car going again new ignition switch. I take security one step further until i get a alarm. I splice the ignition wire and add a male female connector at the end of the wires(separate the two you can't start the car). One week after having the car back i hear a pounding noise outside about 3am. Went to look out the bedroom window someone else is attempting to steal it again. the dumbest criminal had a screw driver in the ignition switch hitting it with a hammer(ignition wires not connected it was never going to start). Now here is where all the fun began. Driving down the freeway i hear a load muffled sound from the engine compartment. The car remains running but the temp. gauge go down i look out the mirror i see smoke. Pull the car over find out it blew the top off pressure relief housing(soon as you open the hood the valve right in front made to blow instead of a hose it don't make sense pressure housing $125 hose $10-$20) replaced housing.

then i hear knocking sound i figure it lost all the water before when housing blew that maybe thermostat was bad or sticking that the engine wasn't getting water(wrong that didn't stop the noise) Remember i have replaced housing,thermostat,and coolant temp sensor. I decide to take off one of the valve cover(Damn slug is not the word filthy more like it) Under the valve cover looked like the car was in a barn for 20 yrs. Took two days just to clean rocker arms and lifter all drain holes to oil pan plugged. Again replaced two lifters($7.50 a piece ) that i thought was bad. Put all back together new oil thinking that was the cure.( Wrong again) still knocking. Replaced oil sending sensor $25.00. Now this car is making me mad and broke. Next i see there is a lot of slack in timing chain.Replaced timing chain($125) Still getting the knocking sound.

Dodge Intrepid- What a joke, we havent even had it a year, ran great when we got, then got an oil leak, got that fixed then it started leaking again, check the oil on a daily basis now to make sure its not leaking, now the engine is knocking so from what I read sounds like its about to go. Car looks great but boy can looks be deceiving. Now I guess we call the junkyard to come and get it, such a great time for this to happen when the economy sucks and no one wants to loan money. Wont buy a Dodge again

This car only has 46,000 miles on it and was previously owned by my father-in-law who always had the maintenance done at the dealerships (me too) every 3000 mi. I took the car in because it sounded like a canary; the dealer replaced the water pump. When they revved it up to 35mph it made clacking sounds (I had heard these but the car has been to the dealer many times and never mentioned to me before, so I thought it was normal). Dealer now says it is the "bearings" and the whole engine needs replacing!! Can you believe it at 46,000. From what I read here it isn't uncommon, is that correct? I've only owned Toyotas before and NEVER have had problems (last one had 196,000m & never had major work needed). Do you all think the dealer is just running up his bill? This is covered under the extended warrenty, so it shouldn't cost me too much (deductible only, I think). Is this a recurring problem with the model? Should I complain directly to Dodge/Chrysler? Short of that, I think we will trade it in after this is fixed, for a Toyota!