1998 Dodge Intrepid complaints

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE DIED OUT AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SEIZED, AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. *AK

MY 1998 WELL MAINTAINED DODGE INTREPID, WITH THE NOW, WELL KNOWN DESIGN FLAW, FAILED IN TRAFFIC IN JULY OF 2001. I CONTACTED DAIMLER AND I WROTE 2 LETTERS ASKING FOR SOME CONSIDERATION OF THE COST OF THE NEW ENGINE AND I NOTED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, WITH THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTED FAILURES ON THE WEB, THESE 2.7 LITER DAIMLER CHRYSLER ENGINES STILL HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED AND THE DANGER INCREASES EACH DAY, AS THE MILEAGE INCREASES ON THESE 1998- 2002 ENGINES AND THEY FAIL WITH MORE FREQUENCY. DOES THIS FAILURE HAVE TO TURN INTO THE "DAIMLER PINTO", WITH DOCUMENTED LOSS OF LIFE, BEFORE DAIMLER DOES OR IS FORCED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY FOR THE PAST 20,000 MILES. THE OIL LIGHT STAYED ON AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD THEN OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS CONSISTENT WITH A RECALL HE RECEIVED ON HIS 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. *NM

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE IDLING AND PARKING ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK

THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED THAN STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY LOST OF POWER. THEREAFTER, A METAL TO METAL SOUND OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE JUST BEFORE THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INDICATED AFTER INSPECTION THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED UP DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS SIZE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE MECHANIC. *JB

CONSUMER, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD NOT WORK INCLUDING THE AIR BAG, FAN AND POWER WINDOWS. *NM

ENGINE FAILURE, TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ON INTERSTATE. OBTAINED NEW TIMING CHAIN BUT ENGINE BEYOND REPAIR. TOTAL LOSS. *JB

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE BURNED OIL EXCESSIVELY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING. UPON ENTERING THE INTERSTATE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THEN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT TIMING CHAIN AND WATER PUMP BLEWOUT. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES.*AK *TC

TOOK CAR FOR RECALL FIX,AFTER PART BROKE(RECLINER BOLTS DRIVER'S SEAT 98 DODGE INTREPID)WAS TOLD BY DEALER BOLTS CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT REPLACING RECLINER ADJUSTER FOR $875 (PART ONLY)I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH DIAGNOSTIC AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED,IT'S BEEN 3 DAYS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE , AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

IN JUNE OF 2004, MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID STALLED DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING DURING MID AFTERNOON DRIVING. LUCKLY, WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE CAR ONTO A OFFRAMP. IF THIS HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR, THERE WAS A GOOD 99% CHANCE THAT MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE LOST A PARENT THAT DAY! AFTER TOWING THE CAR INTO A REPAIR SHOP, WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE (OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, $5000)! DURING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NHTSA, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH INTREPIDS. I HOPE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, DODGE WILL OWN UP TO THIS MISTAKE.*AK

ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING OIL CHANGED IN MY 98 DODGE INTREPID 2.7L,WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE REVVED REAL HIGH IN CRUISE CONTROL AND MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND DIED BEFORE STOPPING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. TOWED THE CAR TO DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OIL WAS METALLIC AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 108,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH OIL SLUG BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 2 YEARS. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND THEN IT COMPLETELY FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. *TC

MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE. IT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $6500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS WILL INVOLVE REPLACING THE ENGINE WHICH HAS SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND A MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. I MAINTAINED REGULAR SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT I AM BY NO MEAN THE ONLY VICTIM OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME GET JUSTICE.*AK

THE VALVES STARTED CLICKING. I CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS NOT LOW. I CHANGED THE OIL. I SAW A CHRYSLER SILVER CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS FAILING, AND THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE MOTOR FAILED ON JUNE 2, 2003. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. I DID NOT WANT ANOTHER 2.7 CHRYSLER MOTOR. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED ANOTHER ENGINE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WAS ON THE ABC 7 NEWS . THE CAR JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 10.OO P.M IN BURR RIGDE. I CALLED THE DEARLERSHIP THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I STILL HAVE TO PAY $7000 FOR THIS CAR TO THE DEARLER AND I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR THAT I ONLY HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE ENGINE STOP. WHAT CAN I DO ? ITS GOING TO COST ME $4000 TO $$5000 TO GET IT FIX. I CAN'T PAY THIS REPAIRS PLUS THE PAYMENTS . I HAVE FOUR KIDS AND ITS HARD TO TAKE TWO OF THEM TO SCHOOL WALKING WHEN THE SCHOOL IS ABOUT EIGHT BLOCK FORM MY HOUSE . IT VERY HARD WITHOUT MY CAR . I NEED SOME WAY OF GETTING THIS CAR FIX OR JUNK THIS CAR AND STILL PAY FOR THIS. *AK

ENGINE LOCKED/FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF OIL AND LOSS OF COOLANT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSE BY THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT FAILING TO ILLUMINATE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK RECALL 04V021000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED THEY INDICATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE.*AK

BLOWN 98 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 LITER . DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH AND OUT A ENOUGH MONEY TO BE PISSED OFF. DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE A FUTURE CUSTOMER OF MERCEDES, CHRYSLER, OR MITSUBITI. *JB

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM CONSUMER'S SON'S SCHOOL VEHICLE CUT OFF. VEHICLE DID THIS ABOUT 4 TIMES, AND THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR WAS SHOT/GONE. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHIVLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR EVALUATION AND IT WAS DETERIMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEIHICLE TO BE SALVAGED. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT THE MECANICS WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO LOCATE A "USED" OR REBUILT ENGINE, AS THE COST OF A NEW ONE IS QUITE HIGH. *AK

THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDING WRONG INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONSUMER HAVING THE FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK RECALL 04V021000 PERFORMED. THE FIRST TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL. THE SECOND TIME THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGE TITLE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED ROAD WORTHY BY THE STATE. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OR PARKED AND WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION, CONSUMER COULD MOVE THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE ,AND TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AXLE FLOOR SHIFTER PARK INTERLOCK IGNITION. THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. BUT CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN. THEN , CONSUMER DROVE SLOWLY HOME. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A STANDARD FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLE'S ENGINES. THE ENGINE'S WERE REDESIGNED IN THE NEWER MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FAULTY ENGINE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED , AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED.*AK ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *LA

PURCHASED 1998 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 IN YEAR 2001 AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN SUMMER OF 2002. KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND HAD OIL IN IT WHEN IT SHUT DOWN. REPLACED ENGINE IN MAY 2002 FOR $4,100. THIS YEAR JUNE 2004 THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING REAL LOUD WITH NO WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF 95 IN VIRGINIA AND SHUTDOWN. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR PUSHED OFF 95 AND HAD POLICE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ALL THE WAY BACK TO MARYLAND AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE 2ND TIME.... ESTIMATED COST $6.300 PURCHASING ENGINE THROUGH JASPER WHO HAS STATED THE ENGINE HAS OIL LINE ISSUES AND WATER PUMP ISSUES. THEY HAVE REVAMPED AND REDESIGNED (SO THEY SAY TO MAKE IT A BETTER ENGINE) BUT THE COST TO HAVE A 2ND ENGINE IS JUST CRAZY AND I REFUSE TO FIX IT AGAIN.... SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ENGINE PROBLEM...... IT IS UNFAIR TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRUSTED TO PURCHASE A CAR FROM CHRYSLER/DODGE AND THEN TO HAVE OUR LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. HOW MAY COMPLAINTS DOES THERE NEED TO BE BEFORE THIS ENGINE IS RECALLED. MYSELF AND OTHERS DO TO RESEARCH ON ANOTHER SITE WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY AND HAVE LOST LOTS OF MONEY AND MOST OF US STILL OWE A BALANCE FOR THE CAR ITSELF... PLEASE SOMEONE HEAR US AND HELP!!!! I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP...... **(INFORMATION GIVEN FOR MILEAGE WAS 96000 AFTER PURCHASE THEN ON SECOND ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED WAS SAID TO HAVE ONLY 12000 MILES AND ONLY P

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED PROPERLY SINCE OWNERSHIP. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

MY WIFE WAS ON A TRIP TO ARKANSAS WITH HER PARENTS WHEN THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND HAD TO STAY IN A MOTEL DUE TO THE FACT THE PARTS HOUSE SENT THE WRONG PART. AFTER GETTING THE CAR FIXED AND ON HER WAY, FATHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE 2.7 ENGINE DROPPED A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN.. THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY ME WHEN IT COMES TO OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE... 3000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS FAITHFULLY SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 8 MONTHS NOW. BOUGHT IN OCTOBER OF 2003...THE CAR HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.. I HAVBE BEEN TOLD BY A REPUTABLE MECHANIC IN JACKSON, TENNESSEE WHERE THE CAR IS AND HE HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS WILL BE THE 5TH 2.7 ENGINE HE HAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6-7 MONTHS.. NOW I AM OUT OF ONE VEHICLE AND PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER 2.7 CRAP ENGINE... I NEED SOME HELP FROM SOMEONE... WHO DO I NEED TO TURN TO FOR THIS????*AK

JULY 2002, ENGINE MAKING NOISES. DEALER SAYS DON'T KNOW WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE. INSURANCE WOULDN'T PAY UNLESS ENGINE WAS ALREADY FAILED. AUGUST 2002 ENGINE FAILURE 5000 MILES PAST INSURANCE LIMIT. CURSORY CHECK SHOWS FLUIDS ALL OKAY. *AK

AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID, I HEARD A NOISE A SAW A BLUE CLOUD OF SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. O INDICATOR OR WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR HAD 50,000 MILES AND WAS MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A DODGE DEALER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND WOULD BE $6,000 TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOW $100!!!*AK

MY CAR, AN INTREPID 1998 WITH AN ENGINE OF 2.7L, BROKE UP BECAUSE AN EXCESS OF GREASE ON THE ENGINE, I TRIED TO REPAIR IT BUT ALL THE PIECES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, BESIDES I READ ABOUT ARTICLES IN THE INTERNET OF A LOT OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANICAL SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE SEIZED UP DUE SMUDGE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. CONSUMER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE ENGINE IS FAILING, SMOKING. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON IN 2.7 LITER VEHCILES OF THIS MODEL. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS ENGINE IS A LEMON. I HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT THE AIRCONDITIONING HAS FAILED AND I WILL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION THAT I HAVEN'T FIGURE OUT YET. THE POWER MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOESN'T WORK AND THE SPEAKER SYSTEM HAS LITTLE TO BE DESIRED. THE 3.2 LITER ENGINES FAIR MUCH BETTER AFTER TALKING WITH MANY MECHANICS, WHO CONSEQUENTIALLY ARE SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2.7 LITER 1998 ENGINES.*AK

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING LIGHT, MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID SUFFERED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON I-71 N DURING RUSH HOUR. LUCKILY, DUE TO LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CAUSING MAJOR BACKUP AND SAFETY CONCERNS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT AN ESTIMATED $5000.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, AND SMOKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SEVEN MONTHS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID HAS HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT FIRST STARTED WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS AND HAD TO HAVE A CRANK SHAFT PUT IN THE CAR JUST SO THAT IT WOULD RUN. I HAVE TRIED SO MANY TIMES TO GET RID OF THE CAR BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I AM UPSIDE DOWN IN MY LOAN AND NO ONE WILL GIVE ME A DIME FOR THE CAR. EVER SINCE THE FIRST ENGINE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND I HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CAR EVERY 2000 MILES BECAUSE IT DRINKS OIL SO BADLY. AND FROM EVERY DEALERSHIP THAT MY MECHANIC HAS HAD TO ORDER PARTS FROM THEY SAY THE ENGINES IN THOSE CARS A SO BAD. THIS IS THE 2ND ENGINE MY CAR HAS HAD AND IT HAS ALSO HAD 1 CRANK SHAFT. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER CAR AND I CAN'T TRADE IT IN. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *AK

OCTOBER, 2002 AND JULY, 2003. HAD TO REPLACE RELAY. LIGHTS INSIDE WERE BLINKING OCCASIONALLY, THEN TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR, ALL ELECTRIC WAS OUT. IT'S NOW MAY, 2004 AND THE LIGHTS ARE BEGINNING TO BLINK AGAIN. I'M AFRAID THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

ENGINE STARTED HAVING A TICKING SOUND. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE RODS AND BEARINGS. THIS REPAIR LASTED ONE YEAR. NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 81,000 MILES. *AK