2001 Dodge Intrepid complaints

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE INTREPID IN 2001. THE TIMING CHAIN WENT OUT ON US TWICE, THE FIRST TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT AND IT WAS SHAKING AND RATTLING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY, WITHOUT INFORMING US OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE 2.7 LITER ENGINES. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST COMPRESSION, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND THEN COULDN'T START THE CAR BACK UP AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME WE NEEDED TO GET A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST US ABOUT $7,000 DOLLARS, OR THEY COULD TRY TO FIX THE TIMING CHAIN AGAIN FOR AROUND $1,000 DOLLARS, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE IT WOULD START. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM THEY TOLD US THEY COULDN'T HELP US SINCE IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. THEY SAID WE COULD TRY TO CONTACT CHRYSLER, BUT THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT HELP US. SO NOW WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR THAT WE CAN'T USE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET FIXED. WE ARE A YOUNG FAMILY WITH A 2 YEAR OLD AND 3 MONTH OLD, AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAD SIGNIFICANT SLUDGE BUILDUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR A REGULAR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE ON 05/10/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THIS PROBLEM. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A POT HOLE AND HEARD A RATTLE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 07/05/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 07/06/06 TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN LEAVING THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE STARTER OR THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF INTREPID ENGINES SUFFERING FROM SLUDGE BUILDUP.

WATER PUMP FAILURE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, SLUDGE BUILDUP CONTRIBUTED TO OVERALL BREAKDOWN OF ENGINE. DODGE DEALER SAID REPLACEMENT IS NECESSARY. *JB

I STOPPED AT A STORE BY MY HOUSE AND IT JUST WOULDN'T START AGAIN. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID, ON JUNE 1 2006 I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY IN DETROIT MI. AND MY ENGINE JUST LOCKED UP I LOST ALL POWER STEERING, I MAD IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LUCKILY THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE FAILED AND THAT IT WAS DO TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE SHOP WANTS 5,500 DOLLARS TO FIX THE CAR WITCH I DON'T HAVE, AND I MIGHT LOSE MY JOB-THAT WAS MY ONLY CAR. *NM

2001 DODGE INTREPID THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED (OIL CHANGES ALWAYS WITHIN OWNERS MANUALS RECOMMENDATIONS) AND LOW MILES (66,000) LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE. AS DRIVER BEGAN TO PULL OVER, STEAM APPEARED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CHRYSLER DEALER TOLD US THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *NM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AFTER TURNING A CORNER AND BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE'S THROTTLE STUCK. THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE MANUALLY RESET. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO CABLE; REASON WHY UNKNOWN. *NM

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST POWER AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING A MAJOR PILE UP. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE! THE GARAGE CHECKED EVERYTHING, ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE NORMAL, THE GUY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO "EXPLAINABLE" REASON WHY THIS OCCURRED. A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THIS MY TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES (TO THE TUNE OF $800) AND IT HAD JUST HAD ONE OF THE BIG CHECK UPS. THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO MY OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAD THIS CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE OIL WAS ALWAYS FINE (AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED EVERY 3000 MILES). THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND FOR LACK OF ANYTHING ELSE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A SHORT IN THE LIGHT. MY CAR IS ONLY A 2001 AND NOW IS IN NEED OF A $6000 ENGINE! *NM

IN FEBRUARY OF 2006 WE PURCHASED A 2001 DODGE INTREPID FOR OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. IN MAY OF 2006 SHE WAS DRIVING THE INTREPID SOUTH ON US-131 JUST PAST THE I-94 EXCHANGE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. THE OIL LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. THANK GOD SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD SAFELY BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. SO AFTER A $192.00 TOWING BILL AND BEING TOLD THE CAR WAS A PIECE OF JUNK, WE ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A $5,000. DEAD HORSE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. *NM

THE ENGINE BLEW ...NEVER GOT A WARNING THAT IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. ALWAYS GOT THE OIL CHANGE AT OIL CHANGING TIME....AT WAL-MART. HAVE RECORDS .....PLEASE HELP ...DON'T HAVE 3.500 DOLLARS FOR A NEW OR USE ENGINE. *JB

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE OIL LIGHT FLASHING AT RANDOM. ALSO THE OIL JUST SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR. I HAVE HAD THE OIL SIGNET UNIT REPLACED AND I FOLLOW REGULAR OIL CHANGE SCHEDULES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE AUTO MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO SMALL OIL LEAKS. I HAVE HEARD HORRIFYING STORIES CONCERNING THE 2001 DODGE INTREPID AND THEIR ENGINE FAILURES. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE TRUE BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW TWO OF MY CO-WORKER'S 2001 DODGE INTREPIDS ARE SITTING ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUS DUE TO ENGINE FAILURES. I AM SO TERRIFIED OF DRIVING THIS CAR. MY JOB REQUIRES THAT I DO A LOT OF TRAVELING AND I ONLY HAVE THIS ONE VEHICLE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND THEN STALLED. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ABS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME FOR INSPECTION BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD OIL SLUDGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED NO FURTHER INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 THE CAR'S ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THEN SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO ESCAPE BEING STRUCK BY OTHER CARS AS I STEERED ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE TROUBLE AS OIL SLUDGE REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE. WE CHANGE OUR OIL REGULARLY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER 2.7 L ENGINE. (WWW.DONTBUYONE.ORG) CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM

2001 DODGE INTREPID ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SOON SAW SMOKE, THEN THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND JUMPED CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, DIED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I WAS IN A CAR COLLISION ON APRIL 20TH 2006 IN LAKE ZURICH IL. APPROXIMATE SPEED 48 TO 50 MILES PER HR. I REAR ENDED A TRUCK & THE AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN. NEITHER THE DRIVERS' AIRBAG OR THE PASSENGERS' AIR BAGS OPENED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. I DID SUFFER NECK PAIN & HIP PAIN FROM THE WHIP-LASH. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE 2001 DODGE INTREPID WITH 54,274 VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I HAVE A PICTURE. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. *NM

THE DAY AFTER I GOT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID, I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND MY CAR SEIZED UP AND DIED. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I PUT IT IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I WAS ON A HILL AND FORTUNATELY, WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST SO I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT IN NEUTRAL TO A CURB. WHAT A FEELING, A SUDDEN JOLT, LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. I CERTAINLY DID NOT EXPECT THE NEWS THAT WAS TO FOLLOW. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THE COST WOULD BE ABOUT $5500.00. HOW COULD THAT BE? THERE IS ONLY 48,700 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I HAVE IT SERVICED EVERY 3000 MILES. I CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE IN THIS CAR AND STILL HAVE A LOAN ON IF FOR OVER $4000.00. I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE COMPANY HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THERE IS EVEN A CLAUSE THAT STATES THAT EXTENDED WARRANTIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS ENGINE. FURTHERMORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF ANY CAR WITH THIS ENGINE HAS GONE DRASTICALLY DOWN. WE, THE CONSUMERS, ARE BEING SHAFTED BY DODGE. I LOVED THIS CAR AND EXPECTED TO OWN IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. NOW IT HAS BECOME MY BIGGEST NIGHTMARE. ANY. *JB

I OWN A 2001 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L V-6 ENGINE WITH JUST OVER 83,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVING BETWEEN TAMPA AND ORLANDO FLORIDA, ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND LOST POWER. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO NEARBY EXIT AND GET OFF OF EXPRESSWAY, BUT STRANDED IN REMOTE AREA. IT APPEARED CAR OVERHEATED WITH A BURST BLEEDER HOUSING. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO ORLANDO, I LEARNED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. REPLACEMENT QUOTES ARE IN THE RANGE OF $3,500 TO $4,000 RANGE. *JB

ENGINE ON 2001 DODGE INTREPID FAILED ON MY WAY TO WORK ON 4/24/06. ENGINE IS 2.7L 6 CYLINDER DOHC - TIMING CHAIN BROKE - AND ENGINE IS RUINED. WILL COST 7,700 TO REPLACE. *JB

THE OIL LIGHT ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID BEGAN FLICKERING AT STOP LIGHTS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A SHORT IN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, NOT A MAJOR ISSUE. TWO MONTHS LATER, MY ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND DIED ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND MAKE IT TO WORK WITH MY ENGINE SMOKING BADLY, BUT HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS SHOT. DEALERSHIP WOULD DO NOTHING. CAR HAD 81500 MILES AND WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 80000. *JB

BLOWN ENGINE WITH 62,075 MILES. I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORD ON THIS 2001 DODGE INTREPID SE 2.7 LITER. *JB

PINGING NOISE FROM ENGINE, BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE THE COVER. CAR TOWED TO DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY INDICATED IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. $7-8000. I NOTICED A FAIR AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2.7 ENGINE IN THE INTREPID. *NM

WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE WAS A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE LOSS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE ENGINE SLUDGE BUILDUP. THERE WAS NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, AND THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING TICKING NOISES, THEN EVENTUALLY CHOKING AND THEN QUIT. COULDN'T GET IT STARTED, HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID ONLY 2 QTS OF OIL IN ENGINE. OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. CHANGED OIL AND MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS STILL A TICKING NOISE THAT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND ENGINE WAS PROBABLY "TOAST" AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO REPAIR IT, REPLACEMENT WOULD BE ONLY OPTION. CAR IS NOW SITTING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T RUN CORRECTLY AND ENGINE MOST PROBABLY RUINED, P1391 CODE (CAMSHAFT OR CAM) PROBLEM. READ ABOUT MANY OTHER 2.7L ENGINE PROBLEMS AND IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA BECAUSE IT WAS "INTERESTED" IN THE PROBLEM, HAVEN'T CALLED CHRYSLER BECAUSE I KNOW OF NO ONE WHO HAS HAD SUCCESS IN GETTING CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM

FAILURE OF FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IMPACTED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS MOVING AT 30 MPH EST. *8JB

MY DODGE INTREPID SE 2.7L ENGINE SUFFERED A BLOWN ENGINE WITH NO WARNING ON 4-16-06 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM, NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. I SUDDENLY HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT INCREASED QUICKLY TO A LOUD BANGING. I GOT OFF THE EXIT IMMEDIATELY AND COASTED INTO A HOTEL PARKING LOT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I REMOVED THE CAP TO THE COOLANT CONTAINER AND BROWN ANTIFREEZE BOILED OVER ONTO THE GROUND. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ON 2/7/06 AND THE FLUIDS TOPPED OFF. THE OIL AND FLUIDS HAD BEEN CHECKED EVERY WEEK AFTER THAT UP UNTIL THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE FLUIDS WERE OF NORMAL COLOR AND CONSISTENCY. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE TIME I HAVE HAD MY IT. THE CAR HAD JUST RECENTLY REACHED 100,000 MILES AND I STILL OWE NEARLY $5000 ON THIS CAR, HAVE NO VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW ONE WITH THE CAR PAYMENT I HAVE TO MAKE ON IT EACH MONTH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THE 2.7L ENGINE IS WORTHLESS AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS CATASTROPHE FROM OCCURRING. IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2000-$3000 TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WOULDN'T SLUDGE UP AGAIN AND BLOW A SECOND TIME. I ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE, SUCH AS CONSTANT SQUEALING FROM THE BRAKES AND ROTORS DESP

MY DODGE INTREPID SE 2.7L ENGINE SUFFERED A BLOWN ENGINE WITH NO WARNING ON 4-16-06 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM, NO WARNING LIGHTS AND NO SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. I SUDDENLY HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT INCREASED QUICKLY TO A LOUD BANGING. I GOT OFF THE EXIT IMMEDIATELY AND COASTED INTO A HOTEL PARKING LOT. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I REMOVED THE CAP TO THE COOLANT CONTAINER AND BROWN ANTIFREEZE BOILED OVER ONTO THE GROUND. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ON 2/7/06 AND THE FLUIDS TOPPED OFF. THE OIL AND FLUIDS HAD BEEN CHECKED EVERY WEEK AFTER THAT UP UNTIL THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE FLUIDS WERE OF NORMAL COLOR AND CONSISTENCY. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND PROPER MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE TIME I HAVE HAD MY IT. THE CAR HAD JUST RECENTLY REACHED 100,000 MILES AND I STILL OWE NEARLY $5000 ON THIS CAR, HAVE NO VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW ONE WITH THE CAR PAYMENT I HAVE TO MAKE ON IT EACH MONTH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THE 2.7L ENGINE IS WORTHLESS AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS CATASTROPHE FROM OCCURRING. IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2000-$3000 TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WOULDN'T SLUDGE UP AGAIN AND BLOW A SECOND TIME. I ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE, SUCH AS CONSTANT SQUEALING FROM THE BRAKES AND ROTORS DESP

1. I LEFT WORK TO GO TO LUNCH AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T GET IT STARTED SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE. HE GAVE ME THE BAD NEWS STATING THAT IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE. 2. PREMATURE ENGINE PROBLEMS IN MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID ENGINE WITH OIL SLUDGE AND TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE AND FAILURE. 3. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 08/2005. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT THAT COVERED MOST REPAIR COST, EXCEPT $625.78. THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TWO TOWING COST THAT I HAD TO PAY. I WAS ALSO WITHOUT A CAR FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AS THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T GIVE ME A LOANER AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER A LOANER. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN OUR SMALL COMMUNITY WHICH REALLY CREATED A HARDSHIP. *NM

POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID WITH 46,000 MILES IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *NM

ENGINE OF 2001 DODGE INTREPID WENT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WAS WELL KEPT AND HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WAS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE BEING HELPED. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WITHIN ONE BLOCK FROM HER OFFICE, SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IDLING ROUGH. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE 6 MILE TRIP IN SHE COULD NOT GET ANY HEAT TO COME OUT OF THE HEATER. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TO GO SHE MADE THE TURN AND WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION WHEN SHE LOST POWER AND THE CAR DIED. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR LOST STEERING AND SHE COASTED IT OFF OF THE ROAD 1/2 BLOCK FROM HER OFFICE. SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY WARNING SHE HAD WAS IT WAS IDLING ROUGH. SHE STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL. I ARRIVED ON SCENE AND DISCOVERED ANTI-FREEZE IN THE OIL. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER IN TOWN AND WAS LATER TOLD THAT A HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO EITHER HEAD OR BLOCK. WE HAVE BEEN QUOTED ANY WHERE FROM 2000 TO 7600 TO FIX. WE HAVE 15 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LOAN AND THE CAR HAS 67,000 MILES. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT MY WIFE HAD THE SAME MYSTERIOUS HEATER PROBLEMS HAS OTHER INTREPID OWNERS. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OIL CAP DOES SHOW SIGNS OF POSSIBLE SLUDGE. WE HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE EACH AND EVERY TIME IT WAS NEEDED AND HAD JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED ONE. THE SCARY PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THE FACT THAT SHE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. A BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY WHITE SMOKE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FIRE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE OIL PAN AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 4/14/2006 - THE STEERING PROBLEM BEGAN ON 1/05 AND FLUCTUATED BETWEEN BEING STIFF WHEN MAKING TURN TO BEING VERY LOOSE WHEN MAKING TURN. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON 3/28/05. *NM

VEHICLE'S OIL LIGHT FLICKERED AND APPROX. 20 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR BEGAN TAPPING LOUDLY. OIL WAS CHANGED ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER. CAR WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE. *NM

AFTER PURCHASING 2001 INTREPID IN JANUARY OF 2006 EIGHT DAYS LATER ENGINE MADE LOUD SCARY NOISES WHILE VISITING FAMILY 250 MILES AWAY- I DROVE HOME AND TWO DAYS LATER ENGINE FAILED- WAS TOWED TO THE USED AUTO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, THE ENGINE HAD NEW CHAIN, TENSIONER GUIDES, CLEANED INTAKE VALVES, COVERS ETC. APPROXIMATELY $1100.00 IN REPAIRS. I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 06. ON MARCH 22, 2006 THE ENGINE BLEW WHILE I WAS GOING TO WORK. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT TOUCH IT- THE FIRST TIME THEY REFUSED AND THE SECOND TIME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED- I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND AM PURSUING LEGAL OPTIONS INCLUDING OPTING IN TO A CLASS ACTION, PA ATTORNEY GENERAL, CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU, PRIVATE ATTORNEY SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT IN THE FIRST PLACE ( A COLD WINTER NIGHT, I HAD TWO OF MY CHILDREN WITH ME AND HAD TO GET THEM HOME, I CALLED THE DEALER UPON MY ARRIVAL HOME TO INFORM HIM OF SAME). *NM

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON ON A MODERATELY BUSY STREET. BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO STOP AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAR DIED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WAITED IN TRAFFIC FOR THE TRUCK TO COME AND TAKE ME TO THE MECHANICS. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A USED ENGINE BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S ANOTHER INTREPID ENGINE - SO, IS THE SAME THING GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. OUR CAR IS A 2001 AND HAD ONLY APPROX. 73000 MILES. IT WAS A NEW CAR PURCHASE AND WE STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR. NOW WE OWE MORE. *NM

ENGINE FAILURE. AS I WAS STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY MADE A VERY LOUD CLANKING SOUND. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY ONLY 72,200 MILES ON THE CAR. I JUST BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND EVEN A FEW DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE, I HAD RETURNED IT TO THEM INFORMING OF THEM OF TROUBLE AND THE SALES MGR ASSURED ME HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. THEY WOULD RETURN IT TO ME UNTOUCHED AND NOT INVESTIGATED UNBEKNOWNST TO ME AT THAT TIME. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MGR, HE WAS ADVISED BY THE SALES MGR NOT TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. THEY HAD THE CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION MORE THAN I DID UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *JB

MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID LOST HEAT, SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF BACK OF CAR,ALL DASH GAUGES WERE NORMAL AND CAR STOPPED RUNNING. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITHIN SECONDS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT IN 2001. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID ENGINE WAS BAD AND NEED TO REPLACE FOR $6500. I AM DISABLED AND STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR CAR AND INSURANCE THAT'S SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO I PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY,THEY WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILDUP. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WAITING REPAIR.

IN MAY 2005, MY 2001 INTREPID WITH THE 2.7L ENGINE LEFT US STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE HEATER ALSO WOULD BLOW HOT AIR ONLY HALF THE TIME. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE 2.7L ENGINE PROBLEM. THE CAR ALSO HAD AN OIL LEAK. TOWED THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER. THIS DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE CAR AND FOUND QUITE A FEW THINGS WRONG. CONTACTED THE 'EXTENDED' WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO 'THEIR' AUTHORIZED DEALER. HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE ALSO. THE 'WARRANTY' DEALER ALSO RAN A DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR AND ONLY FOUND ABOUT HALF OF THE THINGS WRONG WITH THE CAR. AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE, THEY AGREED TO AUTHORIZE THE WORK. THE DEALER FIXED THE HEATING PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. THEY ALSO FIXED THE OIL LEAK AND REPLACED A COUPLE OF GASKETS. THE DEALER CALLED US AND INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE HAD SLUDGE BUILDUP AND THAT A DE-SLUDGING WAS RECOMMENDED. THIS OF COURSE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. WE DECIDED TO DO THE DE-SLUDGING AT A $300 COST. WE RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK ON JUNE 14TH. WELL, ON APROX. MARCH 2ND, 2006 I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM NIGHT SCHOOL ON INTERSTATE 10 WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I WAS DOING 60 MPH. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS NORMAL. SO I WENT ON HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN START SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER AS BEFORE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK AND SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. APROX COST $6400

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY MY 01 DODGE INTREPID MADE AN AWFUL NOISE AND QUIT AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WE ARE TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE....$6,000 - $8,000,JUST FOR THE ENGINE FROM CHRYSLER WHILE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR I AM CURRENTLY IN SEARCH OF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE THAT DOESN'T COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND WAS PULLED OVER. THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MAIN HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH AGREED WITH THE DETERMINATION OF THE REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND A USED ENGINE WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT WAS INSTALLED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45MPH A KNOCKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO A GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE. SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE NOISE WAS HEARD, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO SAFETY AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE FILLED WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP AND NEED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER TESTING AND REPAIRS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 10/11/07. *JB

MY NAME IS [XXX]. NOVEMBER 2005 I HAVE BOUGHT DODGE INTREPID 2.7 L SEDAN 2001 - TO HELP MY WIFE MOVING SAFELY. I HAVE SPENT ALL MY SAVINGS FOR IT. AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2006 I HAD PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE .ENGINE WAS BLOWN UP (MECHANIC TOLD ME ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND IS NO POSSIBILITIES TO REPAIR IT.) I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND I DINT KNOW WHAT I HAD TO DO. I DECIDED TO BUY NEW ENGINE TO SWITCH .I HAVE PAID FOR IT $4000.00 FROM MY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.) AFTER 1,5 MONTH MARCH 8, 2006 THIS CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM ELECTRIC ENGINE INSIDE THE PASSENGER DOOR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL TO MAKE CHECK UP IN THIS TIME AND WHEN SHE RETURNED AND OPENED THE DOOR THE FLAME WAS BLOWN OUTSIDE AND ONE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. THERE WAS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY MADE RAPPORT OF THIS ACCIDENT. NOW THIS CAR IS NOT FOR ANY USE BECAUSE ALL INSIDE IS COMPLETELY COVERED BY DUST AND SMOKE FIRE AND SLUDGE AND IS VERY TOXIC AND SMELLS REALLY BAD. INSURANCE REFUSED ME TO COVER THIS CAR FAILURE (I HAD ONLY BASIC PLAN) I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR 4 YEARS OLD AND I BELIEVED IN DAIMLER CHRYSLER QUALITY NOW I SEE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I MADE INVESTIGATION ON INTERNET AND I FOUND COUPLE HUNDREDS FAILURES OF THIS CAR MOST OF THEN ARE THE SAME AS MINE. I HAVE NO MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER CAR AND STILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR ENGINE WHICH I SWITCHED. I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR REGULAR LAYER THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO ASK YOU FOR ASSISTANCE AND HELP BECAUSE I AM COMPLE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT DETERMINED THERE WAS A BROKEN ROD BEARING, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THEN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.