2000 Dodge Intrepid complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCK IN THE MOTOR, AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A BUILD UP OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. REPLACED THE ENGINE. *AK

ENGINE FALIURE WHILE DRIVING- NO WARNING. *JB

I OWN A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RUN WITH JUST OVER 75,000 MILES. I HAD THE ENGINE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SLUDGE THAT CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER TO FREEZE AND KNOCK THE TIMING CHAIN OFF WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A COMPLETE FAILURE DUE TO THIS BEING A INTERFERENCE ENGINE. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN MY LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2.7 LITRE ENGINE. I CALLED JASPER ENGINES, WHO IS THE NATIONS LEADING SELLER OF REMANUFACTURED ENGINES, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DESIGN FLAWS IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. I FEEL THAT IF I WAS ABLE TO LEARN THE TRUTH, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. *JB

MY 2000 INTREPID HAS A STEERING PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK-UP INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. DODGE SERVICE TOLD ME THE CAR NEEDS A STEERING RACK, ALONG WITH STABILIZER LINKS AND BUSHINGS COSTING $1,500. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY ( AND I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANT) BUT IT AS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE (CASE # 12074847)AND SPOKE TO DAMON WHO SAID THAT HE COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. HE SEEMED TO BE FIXATED ON THE FACT THAT SEVERAL DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE, I DROPPED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. IN MY MIND, THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT I HAVE NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHEN I MADE THE DECISION NOT TO HAVE THIS COVERAGE. I DROPPED IT BECAUSE I WAS RELYING ON DODGE STANDING BEHIND A QUALITY PRODUCT AND THAT THE CAR WOULD LAST WITHOUT A MAJOR REPAIR FOR AT LEAST 50,000 MILES. I DID NOT PLAN ON KEEPING THE CAR MUCH LONGER THAN 5000-0 MILES. MON REFUSED TO CONSIDER PROVIDING ME WITH ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH 50% OF THE COST OF THE PARTS. STILL FRUSTRATED THAT A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 25K MILES SHOULD NEED THIS KIND OF SAFETY-COMPROMISING REPAIR, I CALLED THE NHTSA AND LEARNED THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING STEERING RACK PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR AND THAT THEY WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN INSPECTING STEERING RACK THAT FAILED PREMATURELY. SO I'VE ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO KEEP IT FOR ME. THEY

AUTO PURCHASED IN 2/2003. IN 6/2003, ENGINE STARTED MAKING HORRIBLE NOISE. CONTACTED A MECHANIC. HE TOLD US NOT TO DRIVE CAR; HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 300 MILES HOME. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO SOLVE PROBLEM UNSUCCESSFULLY. BETWEEN JUNE AND FIRST OF NOVEMBER, WE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ABOUT 11 TIMES. WERE FINALLY TOLD IN 11/2003 THAT CAR NEEDED NEW ENGINE (AT A COST OF $8000) BECAUSE OF DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS A 2.7 LITRE ENGINE IN A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. ENGINE DOES NOT MAINTAIN OIL PRESSURE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BELTS, PULLEYS, AND TENSIONER. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. SERVICE MANAGER AT ONE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS 4 CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM, ALL NEEDING NEW ENINGES, SITTING IN HIS LOT. HE HAS TRIED TO GET CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE THIS; THEY REFUSE. IF THERE ARE 5 CARS JUST IN THIS AREA NEEDING NEW ENGINES FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, HOW MANY ARE THERE NATIONWIDE? CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, SO THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT CHRYSLER CAN DO TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE IS APPRECIATED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THEN, STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. *AK THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER FAILED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH WAS NOISY AND INOPERATIVE. THE DOOR LATCH WAS REPLACED. *SC

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. MY WIFE, WITH MY DAUGHTER, WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE CAUSING HER GREAT DIFFICULTY IN GETTING OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE JEFF SACH'S DEALERSHIP IN FRANKFORT, KY FOR REPAIR. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ENGINE TYPE.THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD RE-BUILD THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEETHAT THE ENGINE WOULD LAST A WEEK. THIS VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IS HALF PAID FOR AND CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THE DESIGN CAUSES IT TO BE REPLACED ONCE IT GOES BAD. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT CHRYSLER KNEW IT WAS A POOR DESIGN BUT THAT WAS THE TRADE OFF FOR MORE POWER OUT OF A SMALLER ENGINE. WE CALLED CHRYSLER AND WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO THERE WAS REALLY NO NEED TO CALL THEM. IN A DAY WHERE TUNE UPS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST 100,000 MILES ON MOST VEHICLES,ONE WOULD SEEM TO EXPECT AN ENGINE THAT DID NOT FAIL BEFORE THEN EITHER. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AND NOT DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. IF THAT HAD BEEN THE CASE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD POWER STEERING OR BRAKES WITH WHICH TO CONTROL THE CAR.

MOTOR BLEW WHILE I S WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GO INTO THE DITCH . I LOST ALL POWER AND THEN IT HAD TO PUSH IT AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAY. I THEN FIND OUT THE WARRENTY MAGICALY DOES NOT COVER IT AND DIAMOND CRYSLER WAS NOT HELPFULL AT ALL.. I HAVE PROOF THAT THE MOTERS ARE FAULTY MADE ...PLEASE HELP ME. *AK

TIMING CHAIN BROKE @ 69,000 MILES. 2.7 L ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

2000 DODGE INTREPID BLEW AN ENGINE AT 49,000 MILES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CLEARLY THE ENGINE IS FAULTY. THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD ME THE CAR WILL NOT OFFER MUCH ASSISTENCE, NOR WILL DAIMLER/CHRYSLER.

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THAT SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. *AK

WHILE TURNING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED, BUT DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR WOULD NOT START - NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME MY ENGINE NEEDS REPLACING - HAVE 26,500 MILES ON IT .*AK

ENGINE FAILED AT 39,000 MILES DUE TO SLUDGE.*AK

ENIGINE BLEW DUE TO SUPPOSED SLUDGE BUILD UP. $6500 REPAIR ON 3 YEAR OLD CAR. ALL HIGHWAY MILES AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. LOOKS LIKE I AM ANOTHER ON THE LONG LIST. WHEN SHOP CALLED TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE HE SAID ANOTHER INTREPIP JUST CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

2000 DODGE INTREPID BLEW THEN MOTER I AM STUCK WITH OUT A VEHICAL AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE PLAC3E THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE MOTERS WERE JUNK I NEED HELP

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD BY COASTING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE MOTOR. *AK

BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000 AND AT 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES IT IS SHOT! DID ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CHANGED THE OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS AT 3,000 TO 4,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH OWNER'S MANUAL STATES OIL CHANGES AT 7,500 MILES. IN OCTOBER, 2003 THE DAY AFTER I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, I STARTED HEARING A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILD UP IN IT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF BETWEEN $4K - $6K. MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON AND "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THE INTREPID 2.7L V6 ENGINE BUT THAT SO FAR DODGE HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THE ENGINE. TOLD ME THAT OIL SHOULD ACTUALLY BE CHANGED AT LEAST EVERY 2,500 MILES RELIGIOUSLY AND THAT WE SHOULD USE SYNTHETIC OIL (OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT SAY THIS - WHY?!?). MECHANIC WAS VERY SYMPATHETIC AND SAID "DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT DO AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR INTREPID ENGINE SLUDGE AND SEE WHAT COMES UP". FOLLOWED HIS SUGGESTION AND WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED AT WHAT I FOUND! THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS WE ARE IS JUST SHAMEFUL! MY WIFE AND I PAID APPROX. $22K FOR THIS CAR AND NOW, 3 YEARS LATER, THE COST TO REPAIR THE CAR IS MORE THAN WHAT IT IS VALUED AT! FINALLY, JUST THIS WEEK, WE ALL BUT GAVE AWAY OUR 3 YEAR OLD CAR FOR $2,000 BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST OFFER WE HAD. MY WIFE AND I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE AND WE FEEL CHEATED AND BETRAYED BY DODGE FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A LOUSY PR

2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7L ENGINE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP AT 84,000 MILES. *AK

MY 2000 INTREPID WITH ONLY 77,000 HAS A BLOWN ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS, AND ONLY DRIVING 15 MINUTES LOUD KNOCKING NOISES OCURRED WHICH I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND THEN COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. AFTER TOWING TO MY MECHANIC, HE ADVISED ME MY ENGINE WAS SO HOT HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT DIDN'T START ON FIRE. THE REPAIR COST IS $6000 WHICH I STILL OWE $5000 FOR THE CAR. WE DID ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENACE SUCH AS OIL CHANGES, FILTER CHANGES, ETC. THERE IS NO REASON FOR SUCH A VAULTY MOTOR TO BE ALLOWED AND WITH 89 COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE ALONE PLUS ALL THE MOTORS COMPLAINTS THERE MUST BE OUT THERE,SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE. I AM SURE IF SOMEONE CONTACT EVERY CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER OF THESE 2.7 LITER MOTORS I AM SURE THERE WOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON HOW TO HAVE MY MOTOR REPAIRED BY CHRYSLER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH ENGINE DROPPED TO 30 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO INCREASE SPEED UPON CHANGING LANES. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE MEDIAN. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BEARING HAD SEIZED UP WHICH STOP THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE ENGINE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOWED VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE FAILED. *AK

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE IT STARTED EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER SAID THAT IT WAS MAKING WEIRD RATTLING NOISES. AFTER A NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS BY A MECHANIC, THE SOUND WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL PRESSURE. *LA THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND MAKING A LOUDER NOISE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE TENSIONER WHICH WAS REPLACED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE CHUGGED AND WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND WOULD BARELY MOVE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING TIMING BELT FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENGINE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $7,500. *AK

ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004 CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A CLACKING NOISE - SOUNDED LIKE OIL WAS NOT GETTING INTO THE CRANKCASE. HAD CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHEN MECHANIC STARTED THE CAR TO DIAGNOSE. DIAGNOSED AS ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM - MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE AT MUCH LOWER MILEAGES. NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - APPROXIMATELY $5000.*AK

DODGE INTREPID MOTOR LOCKED UP DUE TO SLUDGE. *AK

WE HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. THE ENGINE FAILED JUST PAST OUR WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND CHRYSLER CORPORATION BOTH DISMISSED OUR COMPLAINT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL AUTO INDUSTRY WORKERS AND RESEARCHING THIS ENGINE ONLINE, WE HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT HAS PROBABLY AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF INTREPID OWNERS. *AK

OIL SLUDGE IN 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 3.2 6 CYL ENGINE. NOTED NOISY VALVE IN LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. DURING INSPECTION OF VALVE TRAIN FOUND ROCKER ARM SHAFT FILLED WITH SLUDGE BLOCKING OIL PASSAGE TO ROCKER ARMS. RIGHT VALVE TRAINED ALSO HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN ROCKER ARM SHAFT. CLEANED SHAFT AND INSPECTED VALVE TRAIN FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR. VALVE TRAIN WEAR STILL WITHIN LIMITS AS PRESCRIBED BY CHRYSLER/DODGE. INSPECTED OIL PAN AND NOTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE PAN. FURTHER INSPECTIONS REVEALED OIL PICK UP TUBE 90% BLOCKED, AND THE OIL PUMP HOUSING SCORED FROM DAMAGED GEAR OUT OF THE FACTORY. REPLACED OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY, PICK UP TUBE, CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS, AND CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS. THIS DEFECT WAS CAUGHT AND CORRECTED BEFORE ANY SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OCCURRED. HAD IT NOT, RESULT WOULD BE AN ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS CAR IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY, WITH FREQUENT OIL CHANGES, AND HAS HIGHWAY MILEAGE ON IT. DODGE DENIES ANY OIL NITRATION/SLUDGE PROBLEM ON THE 3.2 ENGINE. NOTED SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. *JB

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM CAUSED ENINGE FAILUER AND MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY. ONLY HAD CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND ONLY HAS 48000 MILE ON IT. I PURCASHED THE EXTEND PLUS WARRANTY ALONG WITH THE CAR.

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE, ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SLUG IN MOTOR, AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE STALLED. DEALER FOUND THAT THE PISTONS AND RODS WERE BENT IN THE ENGINE. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND SLUDGE ON THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN SNAPPING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. *NLM THE DEALER REFUSED TO HELP. (CHRYSLER AND DOMINION DODGE REFUSED TO HELP AS WELL) *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE RPMS RACED UP TO 4000. THEN, THE RPMS FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 4000 AND 2000 RPMS. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *JB

UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR, BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND LESS THAN A YEAR LATER IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I SEE THAT THE 1999 WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NOT THE 2000? *CB

I HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE BACK LOCK ACTUATOR IS GOING OUT. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE RADIO, DASH LIGHTS OR DOME LIGHTS. I AM OUT OF MONEY FOR THE TIME BEING. I HAD TO REFINANCE AND ADD $4900. TO GET MOST OF THE REPAIRS DONE. MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO SLUDGE AND I NOW HAVE A USED REBUILT ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING.

TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 65, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIFTING RIGHT AND THEN VEERED RIGHT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT RIGHT GUARDRAIL AND WAS DEFLECTED TO THE LEFT ACROSS 3 LANES AND IMPACTED THE CENTER CONCRETE DIVIDER.

STEERING DEVELOPED 'PLAY' IN LATE 10/03. BY 11/12/03 IT WAS CLUNKING, WHEEL WAS COCKED TO THE RIGHT. STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK/LOCK UP. CONTACTED DEALER IN SANTA ROSA, CA. WAS QUOTED $175 ESTIMATE. LATER, SAME DAY LEARNED THAT RACK WAS BROKEN AND PUMP WAS LEAKING AND COST WOULD BE A MINIMUM $2000 TO REPAIR. I OPTED TO GO TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AWAY FROM THE DEALER SHOP.

I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR. REGULAR OIL CHANGES. NEVER ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS A 2.7 ENGINE. WITH 80,000 MILES. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. NO WARNING. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN THE PISTONS PUSHED UP THROUGH THE HEADS. WE CHANGED OUR OIL AT A SERVICE CENTER REGULARLY. THE MECHANIC SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE ALL OVER WITH INTREPIDS.

OUR 2000 DODGE INTREPID TRANSMISSION WENT IN TO THE LIMP MODE (LOCKED IN TO SECOND GEAR). TOOK TO DEALER. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INPUT AND TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSORS. OTHER INTERNET SITES INDICATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 32 TSB'S ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BILL CHRYSLER FOR ANY REPAIRS. CAN THIS BE CONFIRMED AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? SECONDLY, I HAD TO PAY FOR CLEANING CARBON FROM THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM. PREVIOUSLY, I HAD A 93 DODGE INTREPID AND HAD TO PAY FOR THE SAME SERVICE. I RUN THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE GAS & DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE ADDING A FUEL ADDITIVE AT VARIOUS MILEAGE INTERVALS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR WITH DODGE ENGINES. I APPRECIATE ANY RESPONSE TO THESE TWO CONCERNS.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN THE ROAD, AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS BEYOND REPAIR, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. CONSIDERING THAT I OWE $9000, TO SPEND $4000 TO REPAIR IS BEYOND MY MEANS. WE ORIGINALLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2002 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER IN OUR AREA, THE CODE WAS FOR THE LEAK DETECTION SENSOR. THIS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNTIL IT STARTED FLASHING. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE LIGHT WOULD THEN GO OFF. WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS AFTER THAT FOR THE SAME CODE AND SENSORS/MODULES REPLACED, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE ULTIMATELY TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN WIRE UNDER THE SEAT?. EVENTUALLY, IN JUNE 2003, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE JUST SEIZURE, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION AND HIM SWERVING TO AVOID ONCOMING CARS AND ULTIMATELY ALMOST GOING IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF A BUSY GAS STATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE, ENGINE SENT TO MACHINE SHOP, AND WE ARE TOLD IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED, AND IF THEY ATTEMPT TO, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE FOR EVEN A DAY. THE VALVES ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE ARE LARGE INDENTATIONS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS. EVERY TIME THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR, IT WOULD DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS A HAZARD AND A LEMON!

NOVEMBER 2002 TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE CAM POSITION SENSOR. JUNE 2003 TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CAM POSITION SENSOR. COMPLAINED TO DEALER OF TICKING NOISE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. AUGUST 2003 LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMS VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR A COST OF $7000.

SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON OCTOBER OF 1999, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 31 TIMES TO FIX THINGS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR 100 DAYS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET $3,137.64. I AM NOW ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON MY CAR. IT HAS 60,000 MILES. I HAVE MAINTAINED IT EVERY 3,000 MILES AS SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I ONLY USE 97 OCTANE GAS. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. I TAKE CARE OF THE CAR BUT THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS PUTTING MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN AND WHERE SO I AM ALWAYS UNDER TERRIBLE STRESS. I PRAY AS I DRIVE THAT I MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE BLOWING. MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING AND I WAS THE PASSENGER ON SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY (US1) IN SOUTH MIAMI WHEN WE WERE AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN STARTED TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, NOISES, OR ANYTHING THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. IT WAS RUSH HOUR AND THIS HIGHWAY IS FILLED WITH VERY AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS. THEY WERE ALL CURSING, BEEPING, SIGNALING, AND DRIVING SO CLOSE TO US AS TO ALMOST TOUCH US. I WAS PETRIFIED. I THOUGHT A CAR WAS GOING TO HIT US. I PAID FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR OUT OF MY POCKET, BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TOLD THE DEALER THEY COULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. THEY SEND AN ADJUSTOR WHO REPORTED

ENGINE IN 2000 CHRYSLER INTREPID STARTED TAPPING NOISE AT 58017KM BROUGHT TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT, TOLD THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ENGINE APART TO CHECK NOISE. I TOLD THEM I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE 2.7 ENGINE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SLUDGE THAT PREVENTED THE OIL FROM CIRCULATING PROPERLY. THEY STILL REFUSED TO CHECK ENGINE. AT JUST OVER 62000 KM ENGINE BECAME NOISY. BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN TOLD ME ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6500.00 AND THERE WOULD BE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR GOODWILL. I GAVE THEM A COMPLETE HISTORY OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE WAS DONE WITH IN THE REQUIRED MILEAGE AND TIME. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE INVOICES DO NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFY MY 2000 BLACK INTREPID AND THAT IT COULD OF BEEN ANOTHER CAR. I ONLY OWN ONE 2000 INTREPID. THE INVOICE SHOWS THE WORK THE MILEAGE AND MY NAME AND DATE. NEXT ME THEY TOLD ME THE INVOICE NUMBERS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE WORK WAS DONE AT FOUR DIFFERENT GARAGES. THEN THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS SLUDGE THAT SHOWED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THEN THEY ASKED ME THE BRAND OF OIL THE GARAGES USED AS IT MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. END RESULT IS THAT THEY REFUSE TO CHANGE THEIR POSITION IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR GOODWILL REPAIRS AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 2001. I AM FRUSTRATED AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *AK