Dodge Intrepid Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARKING JOB AGAIN, WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE WHEELS. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED WITH EASE IN MY HAND, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT BUDGE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOW I HAVE NO STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I'M IN A SMALL TOWN AND THE NEAREST DEALER IS 45 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK HAD "POPPED OUT." NOT SURE IF THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS BOTH BOLTS POPPED OUT OR IF IT WAS THE RESULT OF A POOR MECHANICAL REPAIR AT THE LAST SHOP, BUT AFTER READING MANY REVIEWS ON THE CAR, IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED "IN MY 25+ YEARS OF MECHANICAL WORK, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING THE DRIVER DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED." *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY MADE A LOUD CLANKING BANGING SOUND. IT STALLED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER THE SOUNDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A FAMILIAR OCCURRENCE WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE, THE 2.7L V6. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,604.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE INTREPID ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND WOULDN'T SHIFT TO THE UPPER GEARS NO MATTER HOW FAST I DROVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND AFTER STARTING IT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER IT RAN FINE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. AFTER THIS WAS DONE I DROVE TOWARD MY HOUSE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES AND WAS SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *TR

2003 DODGE INTREPID, UNIT 1 WAS EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. *BF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND LEFT FRONT FENDER WERE DAMAGED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0242-91) *JB

HAVE A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. HUSBAND DRIVING CAR HOME AND NO LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR MADE LOUD BANGING TYPE NOISES AND HE PULLED OVER. HAD CAR LOOKED AT - ENGINE FAILURE. THIS COULD'VE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT FIRST STARTED BANGING SO LOUDLY AND WE ALSO HAD A COOLANT PROBLEM THAT SUDDENLY THE HOSES POPPED AND ANTI FREEZE WAS LOST EVERYWHERE - IT SPEWED AGAINST THE HOOD AND WE PAID 600 FOR THAT , AND WAITING TO HEAR COST OF ENGINE NOW - MAD THAT CHRYSLER WON'T STICK BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES! - WILL PROBABLY COST OVER 2,000 TO FIX MY CAR AND IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH MY JOB /TRANSPORTATION! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD SECURE THE PASSENGERS FIRMLY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT PULLEY SYSTEMS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN SEPTEMBER OF 09, IT WAS STALLING ON HIGHWAYS. I WOULD LOSE POWER OUT OF NOWHERE. IT ALSO WOULD RANDOMLY ACCELERATE FORWARD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD THE CAR WOULD JUST BUCK BACK AND FORTH. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (J18) THAT WORD FOR WORD EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON. TOOK IT TO BE FIXED, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM WHICH IS THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ONE YEAR LATER AND I AM STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RECALL NOTICE SAYS THAT EVENTUALLY YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL FAIL. I AM ALMOST AT THAT POINT NOW, I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO MY MECHANIC THEY INFORMED ME OF ALL CODES THAT CAME UP ON THE SCANNER. I HAVE SINCE CALLED THE CHRYSLER COMPANY FILED MY COMPLAINT AND GOT NO WHERE. MY CASE MANAGER SAID I HAD TO HAVE DODGE DETERMINE IF MY CARS PROBLEMS WERE TRULY THE SAME AS THE RECALL STATED. I GOT CHARGED $95 FOR THE EXACT SAME THING MY MECHANIC TOLD ME FOR FREE, WHICH WERE THE CODES THAT CAME UP FOR MY INTREPID. I AM OFFICIALLY ARE MY WITS END WITH THE DODGE/CHRYSLER COMPANY. NO ONE CAN GIVE ME A CLEAR ANSWER, HOW EACH PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME CAR BUT YET THEY CLAIM THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. HOW CAN THIS BE? IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THEIR ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM DOES NOT FIX IT AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES IS DODGE NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PARTS? SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT RANDOMLY BUCKS BACK AND FORTH, STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY SO THAT MY LIFE IS IN DANGER AND OR JUST DOESN'T START. PLEASE HELP! *TR

CAR STICKS IN 2ND GEAR DURING DRIVING AND FREQUENTLY STOPS MOVING, GOING INTO LIMP MODE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE RPM WILL GO FROM 2 TO 4. WHEN DECELERATING AND BREAKING, IT WILL ACT ERRATIC OFTEN AS IF IT WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND JERK. WHILE IN A PARKING LOT SURROUNDED BY PEDESTRIANS THE DID THE SAME AND DID NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THIS PROBLEM IS UNPREDICTABLE AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AS IT MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME (ON THE FREEWAY AND HILLSIDES). DEALERSHIPS WILL TELL PEOPLE THE COMPUTER IS RETURNING A P1776 AND P0700 CODE. I WAS TOLD TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. A DIFFERENT REPAIR STATION SUGGESTED A NEW SOLENOID PACK FOR THE 2003 DODGE INTREPID ES 3.5L. THE SOLENOID PACK WITH BUILD DATE RANGES FROM 3001 AND 0603 MAY BE DEFECTIVE (SEARCH "21-008-04 REV. A" SERVICE BULLETIN). THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL DESTROY YOUR TRANSMISSION IF NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS. PLEASE HAVE YOUR SERVICEMAN CHECK THE BUILD ON THE SOLENOID PACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROADWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE MAIN BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

THE MOUNT FOR MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MY 2003 DODGE INTREPID BROKE AND ALLOWED THE TENSIONER TO GIVE SLACK, THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT RIGHT PISTON. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF PERIODICALLY BEFORE RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPT OF 2009. RECALL STATES 'THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON YOUR VEHICLE MA BECOME DAMAGED FROM CONTINUED OPERATION IN "LIMP-IN" MODE FOLLOWING A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAULT.' NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE ' THE REPAIRS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE' ACCORDING TO A CHRYSLER REP. THE REP ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME AND THEY WILL SEND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. THE LICENSE PLATES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE EXPIRED. BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, I AM NOT ABLE TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE. *TR