2003 DODGE Intrepid

I been experiencing problem with this vehicle since I bought it used. But with only 85000 miles you think this vehicle would be in good shape. No. The oil light would come on when the thermostat climbed and I notice a burn smell. I took it to a shop and the tell me the engine is going bad and one of the rod is gone. Also i\'m not the structure in the gear is bad. To replace the engine its going to cost more than i paid for it.

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.

WITH NO WARNING, MY CAR BLEW OUT ALL THE ANTI FREEZE AND WE HAD TO PULL TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION TO HAVE IT FIXED ….FOUND UPPER PART OF COOLANT HOUSING SEPARATED AT FACTORY SEAL – OVERHEATED CAR – THEN 2011 CAR WENT WITH NO WARNING – NO LIGHTS – LOUD NOISE BANGING, AND BLEW ENGINE. hAVE NOT HAD THAT REPAIRED YET, BUT TOLD W/ BE APPROX 2,000 + TO FIX!

With no warning of any kind (temp gauge or oil presure light or any noise) the motor shut down while traveling at 65 mph in heavy traffice on a major highway (75) in Tulsa okla. The car had to be towed to the Chrysler dealer (East Tulsa Dodge) who examined the vehicle and found the motor to be damaged due to sludge build up in the motor. The oil looks fine. It was changed in the last 60 days. Chrysler is telling me we failed to maintain the vehicle to factory specifications. I don\’t beleive it is normal maintance to have the oil pan dropped to wipe out the sludge build-up every time you change the oil.I have been told by an engine installation company they are regularly seeing this problem with the 2.7 motor. Even when the people have records proving they changed the oil every three thousand miles. The motor installation company said the problem is an oil pump not big enough to do the job and also the oil ports through the motor block are not large enough to allow the oil to flow correctly. Chrysler has denied any libality and refuse to stand behind their product.

When I brought my vehicle to a family owned repair shop to have the brakes done, he told me he heard a familiar sound in the engine that flashed warning lights in his head. He worked for the Chrysler/Dodge service center for 3 years, and knows the Intrepid engine like the back of his hand. He checked my engine, and it was ready to die. He advised I take it to the dealership if I have an Extended Warranty. I do, paid $2000 extra for the warranty to 100,000 miles. The dealership says the repair or engine replacement will cost $6,400, and put through the request with Chrysler. Chrysler sent an inspector, who is requesting maintenance records. The only thing I can provide is bank statements showing purchase amounts for the oil and filters, as I had a friend change my oil for me, and a signed statement from him showing dates the oil changes were done. The dealer service manager says it probably won\’t be good enough for Chrysler, and I\’m probably going to be stuck. I\’m a single mother, sole supporter of my 2 children, this is my only vehicle, and I still owe $14,000 on this car! Since I am in field sales I can\’t work unless I have a vehicle, I drived approximately 100-200 miles a day. I was advised by a friend to call the state inspector, and they might be able to help me? We\’ll see, I guess.

We have been told that we have engine failure due to sludge from the oil. They claim that it is our fault for poor maintenance. We change our oil every 6 months. It seems like a design flaw.

was driving and all of a sudden engine stopped and would not start again..car is at the shop waiting to be fixed,,had the car for 4 yrs

Vehicle’s engine threw a rod and the engine was destroyed.

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ENGINE LIGHT OIL LIGHT

The timing chain making noise. Water pump is making noise and bad. There is anti-freeze in the engine. I didn\’t pay for these things to get fixed yet because I want to make a claim.

The repair shop says that I need a new engine. There was a low level sound from the engine compartment that sounded like something was loose. A few days later, there was a fairly loud tapping or knocking noise in the evening. I planned to have it looked at the next day. I planned to call from the office for a repair appointment. I was driving to work, and the knocking noise got worse. Before I reached the office, the engine failed. I have never had any problems with this engine. The oil has been changed on a regular basis, and the records to prove it are available. There is no reason why this engine should have failed, even with the high mileage. I believe that there is a defect in the engine.Last year, I also had a problem with the transmission. I was driving on the interstate and it suddenly shifted to low gear and would not reset.My engine has not been repaired yet and I’m going to contact the maufacturer to request compensation.

The powerlocks and window stop working. Engine light came on. I just I had an oil change. I took my car back to the dealership in which I got the oil change they, said I was a quarter over. How is that possible when I just checked my oil,when I checked it,it had no oil. I personally believe, there is a problem with engine and the way the oil is flowing through the engine. I\’ve also, notice tickling noise in the engine. All of these problems and only 30,700 miles on the 2003 Dodge Intrepid.

The engine lite was coming on constantly despite regular oil changes, I had a mechanic look at the car and was told of the problem with the engine. I don\’t know what to do my warranty is up and I still owe 10 grand on the car. I was told I needed a new engine soon but do not have the 6000 for one. I\’m took out a loan from chrysler for 20,000 to put my children and myself in danger. Thank you chrysler I thought I was buying a car!

The car stopped on me on the way to school. Don\’t have warranty; only had it for six months. I was told my water pump fluid leaked into my oil. The mechanic told me it was the wost engine he ever seen with all the sludge build-up. I was told to buy a new engine and I just got this car from a dealership in August. I will be charged $4000 to fix the car with the same 2.7 engine.

The 2.7 liter engine in our 2003 Intrepid seized without warning while driving on a two-way, two-lane bridge with no shoulders at 60 MPH, in-between two large motorhomes. Only by sheer good fortune we were able to safely coast across the bridge with no power steering and limited brakes and get to the shoulder of the road. The car has only 62,000 miles and has had the oil changed at intervals less then the factory recommended 7500 miles. It failed due to excessive sludge build-up, and they so far refuse to fix it under warranty. I have not gotten a price to replace the motor from the dealership yet, but most sources say to expect $6.500.00 to $7,000.00. Currently the car is stuck at the dealership 300 miles from my home.

SLUDGE IN ENGINE REPLACED JAN 2006 AT 60159 MILES NOW LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER THIS ENGINE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND IS COMPLETELY SLUDGED UP AGAIN NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THEY SAY THEY DON\’T KNOW IF THEY CAN BECAUSE THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I GOT 2 OF MY 4 OIL CHANGES DONE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS SO I DON,T HAVE DOCUMENTATION THE NEW ENGINE MILEAGE IS 75705

See failures

Re: Malfunctioning 2003 Intrepid/ Dissatisfied CustomerCOMPLAINT!Please be advise that on the evening of Tuesday 4/25/06, my 2003 Intrepid overheated severely (without warning) after a ten minute ride. Sadly, the dashboard indicators and temperature gauge were not working properly and thus I was not aware that the vehicle (which was recently maintenanced by the dealer) was in such distress. The vehicle was towed on 4/26 and I received a call from the dealer during the mid-afternoon of 4/27 stating that two cooling fans had failed (due to electrical malfunctioning) and a gasket pertaining to the thermostat had broken, all of which was believed to be responsible for the overheating of the vehicle. It was recommended that thermostat be replaced as a

oil lite comes on because its the chrysler 2.7 engine that ther having a lawsuit about

Needed new engine after only having the vehicle for 2 years,the vehicle is only 4 years old. My parents had to pay forthe repairs with a credit card because they didn’t have the cash on hand.

my engine is blown-up.

Main concern is the engine. Light came on last week and I have took it in to the shop 2X with all repairs that SHOULD have worked, paid by me, that solved nothing. Learned from Chrysler mechanic that 2.7 engines will fail (blow) without any warning. Even if we replace, it will only happen again and cost between $4,000-6000. I am afraid to drive it and being a disabled and single mother, I do not have the money to do any more repairs or trade it with still owing $11,000 on it and trade in value at $4000. Chrysler need to step up to te plate and realize it is THEIR problem, not the consumers. What will it take, for someone to loose their life for Chrysler to wake up. 2.7 engines are dangerous to the consumer and to everyone that drives around us.

Like all of the other complaints, I have a piece of crap that I still owe $17,000 on with an engine that is shot due to a failing pump and apparent sludge. Warranty is gone. Dummy lights did not work. We have no money, and no way to fix it. I am a full time student, my wife travels for work, and we have three kids. Yes, we are a family with NO CAR, and it looks like NO HOPE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING RELATED TO CHRYSLER, DODGE, MITSUBISHI ETC… AGAIN!!!

In March of this year I was driving on a major interstate highway, as I exited sitting at a stoplight, my engine light came on. I was able to maneuver the car into a strip mall out of traffic as the engine had completely shutdown. I was told that sludge buildup in the engine caused it to shutdown. The auto dealer I had the car towed to said it would cost approximately $7,000 for repairs ($4,600 for a new engine + labor to install).I called Chrysler corporate customer relations, they were not interested in discussing the problem, they dismissed it as lack of maintenance that caused the oil to change to sludge resulting in the engine shutdown. The irony of it all is I have owned a Dodge product since 1968 when the Polara was popular, and the real heartache is that I gave up my 1994 Dodge Intrepid with 309,000+ miles that was operating very well to upgrade to the 2003 and it failed me miserably. I don\’t think Chrysler cares, the only thing that may get their attention is when someone is driving on the interstate and the engine shuts down and they are killed resulting in a lawsuit. Even that might not deter them from manufacturing faulty equipment. Small wonder many Americans have abandoned the US auto market, seems the foreign imports for the most part still put quality ahead of profits.

In April of 2006 the intrepid was taken in for service for overheating. A faulty water pump was discovered and replaced. Over heating occured again in April of 2008. This time mechanic indicated no external leaks, no coolant at water pump weep hole, Run combusion gas test turns yellow. Headgaskets leaking or cracked head. At this time repair has not been done. Engine overheats. I was told the Chrysler 2.7 liter engine has had lots of problems. My mechanic will not even work on the engine. He states it needs to be totally replaced.

I suffered from a catastrophic failue of my engine. This failure occured without warning.

I only had the car for two years bought the vehicle with 30, 000 miles did not think I would need to obtain an extended warranty due to the car being in such good condition. I faithfully had my oil changed every 3000 miles. Then out of no where I heard a knocking in the engine, as I was heading to work. I pulled over to the side of the road because I have to go over a 3 mile bridge over the Escambia Bay and did not want to get stuck on the bridge. I was already upside down with the car note wanting to get out of debt this year when to my amazemnet I was told that I would need a new engine with the car barely being 5 years old. I have the 2.7 liter engine on my vehicle. Every mechanic I have spoke with just states that I will need a new engine, with those being very difficult to find. I located an engine for $1700 with a 90 day warranty with 146, 000 miles on it and my car does not even have 80, 000. This is a shame and a crime to take advantage of consumers in this way. I really can not afford this set back. I had to rent a car for a week, borrow my sibling’s car the next week until I just had to get a side car with low payments because I am still having to pay on the Intrepid. I NEED HELP DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE!!!! PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP!!!

I have a 2003 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7L engine. My engine light started coming on and I was told that it was just a sensor when I replaced the sensor and the same problem happened again, the dealership told me that my engine was gone. The car will start but it very uneasy to drive and knocks loudly. They said the car could stop at anytime and potentially cause a fatal accident. I have been researching this problem for months and found out that there is a impartial group helping Dodge/Chrysler with this issue however they will only help you if you car is a 97-2002. So I guess my 2003 with the same problem doesn’t get acknowledged until 2008 or 2009. This is complete failure on Chryslers part. They have sold millions of unsafe engines and don’t have to do anything about it. My car only has 72,000 miles on it and I have to keep paying the payments while it sits in the garage unuseable. They should be ashamed of themselves.

i bought this car used from enterprise. The engine stoped working.was driving on the highway and the engine died. This almost caused an accident. Mechanic said that i needed a new engine. The total repair cost is 5000, which i do not have, and i still owe money on the loan.

I am writing to inform you of an event that has affected me and may be a concern to others. In 2004, I purchases a 2004 Dodge Intrepid from the now defunct Tony Pesce Chryler, jeep, Dodge (predecessor to also defunct Labate Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge) located on North Market St. (SR 170) in East Palestine,OH. The vehicle had normal preventative checks done and had undergone all applicable recall service. At one point, the vehicle needed to be serviced for an immense amount of black smoke coming from the exhaust. There was a full diagnostic test ran on the car and the result was that everything was a ok.Approximately three months later, I had been informed I was in need of a new engine. The vehicle is out of warranty and I am stuck to pay for a vehicle that has yet to reach its payoff. I am a single mother of two who hoped to better serve my family by purchasing a “dependable” vehicle and am now faced with a terrible “lose-lose” dilemma. I am very discouraged and feel that I have been mislead by Chrysler Corporation, and “Authorized service technicians.” I always returned my vehicle to my original seller (or certified Dodge dealer) when a problem would occur and I am more hurt than anything as to how no one could see this problem coming (especially given the above stated). I have never been a mechanic or someone who knows a lot about vehicles which is why whenever I felt the slightest problem I would seek help from a dealer. I had the natural thought of letting a technician tell me what I did or did not need.I feel as if I have no where else to turn with a once reputable dealership closing its doors. Living paycheck to paycheck while trying to figure out if my vehicle will take my little girls to school or get me to work and back I simply have no room to breathe. The thought of putting $7,000 into a $30,000 vehicle that is less than half way paid off is absolutely absurd. I am unable to trade without owing or receive any assistance from Crysler. I have previously purchased two other Crysler products but their inability to stand behind their vehicles is leading me to explore other manufacturers.The purpose of this letter is to inform you and the country of my problem so others can proceed with yet even more caution when it comes to an auto purchase.

Engine Siezed. Auto Repair Center checked and all fluids were OK. Only Solution is to replace engine

engine quit working making whining noises and rod knocking and split.

engine problems, mechanic states engine must be replaced.

ENGINE IS MAKING BIG CLINK CLINK NOISE AND IS BANGIN. cRANK SHAFT GOING OUT

Engine failure. Starter went out in early September. Paid to replace it and a new battery.

engine completely broke down

Engine “Locked Up”

During normal driving conditions my oil pressure light went on. Within one block I heard knocking coming from the engine. I had the vehicle towed to two separate mechanics,bolt came to the same conclusion. I needed a new engine. I then called Chrysler and was advised I was over my warranty by 8,000 miles. It should be noted I changed the oil on a regular bases (every 3-4 thousand miles). It should also be noted I received in the mail a notice from a company called Warrant Services. They had sent me a solicitation to extend the warranty on my vehicle. However after giving them my ID number I was advised the company would not insure this engine. This leads me to believe Chrysler may be hiding somethingThank YouRalph B. Hayes III

Driving on a Hwy approx. 60 mph, the car started slowing and then died. No warning signs whatsoever. Plenty of oil in the car. Oil had been changed 1 1/2 months prior to this.

Driving home from work two week ago, car stopped. I tried to get started but was unable, so pulled to side of the road. I had to get tow truck to pull the car home for $125.00. I am aggravated and frustrated being told I have to buy a new engine, costing $7,131.32 when I still owe $8600.00 on the car. I can\’t afford to buy a new engine and continue to make my car payment. Please, help me cause struggling week by week trying to rent a car in order to get wotk. I only had the car since May 12, 2004.

Check engine on, Lacks power engine area noise Diagnostic tests and inspections Update software in power train control module That engine had a low end knock

Always changed oil at manufactors rec. Owned car at 8800 miles purchased on 4/4/03. Heard lifter noise, shut car off. Towed to dealer. Dealer reported sludge in oil pan and also a aluminum residue in pan that came from a bolt that mounted a bracket of some sort onto the block of motor. The bolt had become corrosive and residue of bolt was in pan. Dealer changed bolt/bracket, new oil pan /filter/ gasket, bore out passageway so oil could flow up to top end of motor. $850.00 no luck, lifters still tick. Dealer reccomends new motor/ or rebuilt. Called Chrysler customer service no remedy as of 11/5/07. No money for a new car or motor at this time and 8 payments remaining.

03 dodge intrepid 2.7l Engine light came on while driving and stayed on. While driving, hit 60mph a knock sound was heard and the rpm went straight to 5 and just started to climb higher the faster I went, called the dodge dealership told me a engine diagnostic would cost me $95.00. Had it done at {performance exhaust for free}. told me the problem was the shift solenoid in the trans and other problems in the trans. Total cost of repair would be $735.64

We have a 2003 Dodge Intrerpid 2.7 Ltr which we purchased during November 2004 from Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville Fl. At that time the car had 13,000 miles on the odometer. Shortly afterwards at around 23,000 miles the "Check Engine" light came on so we made several attempts to fix and the light kept coming back and costed us approx $1200.00 in aggregate….up to this day the check engine light is still on….as we just gave up on it. My husband drove a lot on the highway due to the work he did and we religiously changed the oil at around 3000 miles or 3 months whichever came first but on several occasions over the years the oil change attendants told us that there was sludge build up in the engine which would require flushing and this we did. In 2007 at around 90,000 miles the transmission gave way and had to be rebuilt at a cost of around $500.00 at the time, then the oil light started flickering when car is idling or slowing down so we took it to the mechanic who flushed again and changed the oil sending unit sensor. In 2009 the very same thing happened again. The car would just shut down while slowing and turning into a parking lot or at stop light so we had the mechanic check it again and could not find anything wrong. Then while we were on our way out of town on the I95 the oil light came on and we saw what appeared to be a cloudy mist in the rear view mirror so we pulled of the highway and by this time smoke was coming from under the hood….our two kids and elderly mother was in the car. When we jumped out and opened the hood the was a fire blazing in the left compartment by the exhaust, brake lines & transmission lines. My husband then shouted for everyone to get out of the car and he then ran to the trunk for a jug of water that we always carry (just in case) This we then had the car towed to a shop and was told first that the water pump needed replacing and was later told that we needed to replace the engine for around $3,500.00 as water was mixing with oil in the crank case. We then had the car towed to another mechanic who told us the same thing. So far 4 mechanic told us that the engine need replacing for $2,500.00 to $4,500.00. The car is now parked at home and my husband is attempting to fix as I am the only one working and we cannot afford such costly repairs. And when we opened the valve covers there was gooey-hardened sludge buildup about 1 to 2 inches thick inside the valve covers and camshaft area ( we even have pictures to prove). I am therefore requesting that DDC replace this obviously faulty designed and manufactured engine in my vehicle or reimburses me for all towing, parts, and labor for repairs that are due to regular maintenance. I will be sending the pictures per request to anyone who needs to see… and they look really bad.

Oil line on engine didn’t allow enough oil to be fed to engine causing the engine to blow.

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 mount broke. The loose tensioner put slack on the timing chain and caused 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 have had alot of problems since I purchased the car. The brakes went out 1st. then in june of 08 the engine completely failed and i returned it to the dealership where the said they put a new engine in it and its been down hill from there.

Engine: Timing chain broke, busted valve covers. Just happened 4 days ago and hasn’t been torn down to see total extent of damage. Water Pump: Total failure, was leaking coolant faster than could be poured in and had to be replaced.

2003 dodge intrepid interior door handle. consumer feels that the door handle failure is a safety issue.*nj the consumer stated the failure occurred at the attach point of the control rod and the hinge/lever for the door.*jb

2003 intrepid makes a thumping noise when brakes get hot. *ts when the consumer applied the brakes, the thumping noise was heard. the consumer stated it sounded like there was a problem with the caliper. *jb the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to find the cause of the noise. *nm

The car has major engine problems like all the 03 2.7 l eng se. connecting rods is falling out, and etc. the car is unbalance. i took the car today to find why the oli light was coming on when the vehicle thermostat rises. turn out the engine isn't allowing the oil to reach the upper part of the engine and that is causing my vehicle to overheat and make noises on startup. and also when you reverse you hearthe car make a bad knock sound and feel the vibration. this car only has 86000 miles and the mechanics could only shake their heads. this car should be in better condition then this. anyways, the cost for new engine with warranty is over $6000. and that includes everything! now who has that type of money and why didn't dodge recall this problem on the 03 dodge intrepid??? all i want is the engine replace and dodge could do that at any of their companies or auto lots. i'm a simple person. i just want to work and be at peace.

While traveling at freeway speed a scraping noise was heard followed by the rear passenger wheel locking up. tire and rim were ground down, while i brought the vehicle to a stop. mechanics notes: "ebrake came apart passenger rear and locked brake up, causing backing plate to rip apart from ebrake mounting. ebrake adjuster bracket damaged as well. the bracket adjusts the brake shoes and holds the brake cable in place. the part is not available from any vendor and has been discontinued by the dealer. consequently new ebrake shoes and hardware can not be installed." of course a part can fail on a now 17 year old vehicle, but it seems that the routine failure mode and effect analysis overlooked this part. a less able driver might have lost control of the vehicle and crashed. as far as i know, the emergency brake has never been used in the 17 year life of this car.

My car just went from fine to not fine. i felt like it was in 2 gear while driving it. so i had to pull over stop it and make sure i was in the right gear and i was but it wouldn't shift to drive. stayed in 2 gear. then check engine light came on and i got two codes. po700 and po871. i love my car but cant pay thousands of dollars for the repair. this should be recalled, because to many people are having the same issues. dodge should stand behind there cars or people will stop buying them. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. the contact stated that after shifting into reverse the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a concrete wall. the contact indicated that during the failure the vehicle would not stop when the brakes were applied. the contact and the front passenger both suffered headaches and the contact also suffered an upper back injuries. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 153,874. the consumer stated on june 13, 2014, immediately after she put the vehicle in reverse, the vehicle jerked suddenly and accelerated out of control. she tried to apply the brake but the vehicle would not stop. the consumer stated the air bags failed to deploy. updated 09/03/14

Driving on the freeway in az the car started to loose power and than trail smoke.... as we pulled off smoke rolled out the front of the vehicle... checking the passenger side, there was melting plastic running to the ground and the top of the hood was hot.. car later burnt before fire department was able to put out the fire.. time from it lost power to when it was consumed by fire was less than 10 min.. i can only assume a transmission line, power steering line, or fuel line started to leak and started a fire by spraying the fluid on the catalytic/exhaust system on the passenger side of the vehicle... car was a total loss.. i've owned this car for 11 or 12 years... it was in good shape... we later looked at the car and in the same storage lot was a second 03 dodge intepid with the exact same failure and brunt front end... i believe the two failures are related..

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. while driving 55 mph, an unknown light illuminated on the instrumental panel. the contact drove onto the emergency lane, turned off the vehicle and noticed smoke and fire coming from the engine compartment. the fire and police department were contacted and reports were filed. there were damages to the wiring harness and the front end of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the insurance company. the dealer was contacted and stated that there were no recalls for her vehicle. the contact does not know what caused the fire to occur. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 149,000.

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

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving at speeds of less than 65 mph, she heard a loud sound under the hood and suddenly, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to her independent mechanic who stated that the engine failed. there were no related recalls. the failure and current mileages were under 110,794.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid with a 3.5 liter v6 engine. the contact stated that the engine misfired; however, prior to the failure the cam-shaft position sensor was replaced twice, and the crankshaft position sensor was replaced. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, and a technician concluded that the engine needed to be replaced at an expense of $7100.00 . no repairs were made. the manufacturer was notified and since the warranty expired they would not provide any assistance. the failure mileage was 91,008 and the current mileage was 100,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 55 mph the vehicle stalled, and then smoke engulfed the engine. he was able to extinguish the flames using the fire extinguisher. the vehicle was towed to a local repair facility, and a mechanic concluded that the engine misfired. however the head gaskets were not replaced. the failure and current mileages were 88,000. the vehicle identification number was unavailable.

My car overheated on the expressway traveling 60 mph and completely shut down. i was lucky to have not been killed.i have replaced the crankshaft, crankshaft sensor, and water pump. my car stalls/hesitates every time i stop at a light. my mechanic has informed me the cadillac converter is shot, i need a new timing belt and my engine is full of sludge. the air conditioning stopped working about 3 years ago, recharging the system does not work. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. the contact stated that the oil warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. he attempted to maneuver the vehicle off the highway, but the brakes were inoperable and the pedal extended to the floorboard. the contact observed smoke rising from under the hood. upon further investigation, he discovered a small fire underneath the hood of the vehicle. the contact managed to extinguish the fire and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the mechanic stated that the water pump failed and blew out the engine. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 140,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 40 mph, the contact heard strange noises coming from the engine compartment. he pulled the vehicle over and shut off the engine. the vehicle could not be restarted after several attempts. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic, but it could not be repaired. the contact towed the vehicle to two different chrysler dealers, but they stated that it was not their responsibility and did not acknowledge the warranty. the vehicle has not yet been repaired. the current and failure mileages were 60,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. when the contact arrived at his place of work, he noticed a ball of flame coming from the engine compartment. there were no warnings prior to the failure. a report was filed with the manufacturer and they sent out an investigator, who concluded that they were not responsible for the failure. however, the fire department report stated that the fire was caused by a faulty gas line because the wires were not damaged. the fire department report number was unknown. the vehicle will not be repaired. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Ongoing problems with---brakes---screeching sound when braking and grabbing/thumping sound ,a/c & vent musty odor, squeaking sound from rear struts. *tr

The 2003 dodge intrepid 2.7l engine has a "design flaw" that causes excessive oil sludge and engines to seize up with no warning. this puts the driver and anyone else on the road at risk of collision. my car has 85,000 miles on it and has never missed scheduled maintenance it should not need a new engine. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving approximately 65 mph, the contact noticed that the oil warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. he pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the vehicle had an abundant amount of oil. he attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and they stated that the engine had internal damage, which would cost $8,000 to repair. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 72,000. updated 01/07/09. *lj updated 01/08/09. *jb

2003 dodge intrepid with 2.7 l engine- experience sudden and catastrophic engine failure while at highway speeds. very dangerous that these engines experience this type of sudden loss, and it could have caused a major accident. public web sites state this engine is a constant problem for dodge. here's the real kicker- i called dodge and the zone office said they would do a 50-50 split on the bill. $8000.00 split in half would still be $4000 to fix a car only worth $6000 in resale value. a local auto repair quoted me $3900 for the same repair. so dodge ups the cost to repair, then discounts it by half, and it's still the same cost to repair it elsewhere. sounds like a real racket to me. and here's another sticky point- i wasn't sure of the mileage because the car was at the shop, so i guessed 65000 miles. the guy at dodge was all set to call the dealer and make them fix it for no charge, but when he called me back and said the mileage was 7000 miles more, or 72000, it was now "past warranty" and they could only do the 50-50 split. so how does 7000 miles make the difference? the warranty was 6 years, 60,000 miles, it was already past the 60,000 limit when i called dodge the first time, now that it's only 7,000 miles more they changed their mind. *tr

2003 dodge intrepid interior door handle. consumer feels that the door handle failure is a safety issue.*nj the consumer stated the failure occurred at the attach point of the control rod and the hinge/lever for the door.*jb

The air bag system in my dodge has failed four times since march/april 2007. it has been repaired 3 times. each time for a different reason. the car has less than 34,000 miles on it and has never been involved in an accident or damaged in any way. this will be the fourth service call for an air bag alarm. *tr

I never had a major problem, except cloudy smoke coming from the tailpipe and an oil. all of a sudden the oil light came on it began to over heat and stopped in the middle of the interstate. i had it towed to landmark dodge, the mechanic said it was the timing chain (upon my arrival, i explained the mechanic, what happened to get to the point where the vehicle stalled, he immediately told me it was the timing chain and i needed and engine, without doing a diagnostic. i asked the mechanic to do a diagnostic to be exact and not guess what the problem might be. they responded by having a sales rep call to try and sale me a vehicle). i wanted a second opinion, therefore, i had it towed to steve rayman dodge that's when the mechanic discovered i needed an engine for sure after a diagnostic was performed. the mechanic said it lost oil pressure, and had sludge build up. at first, the mechanic said he could replace the head gaskets for $3000.00 but he could not guarantee the motor would last. upon further investigation, that's when the mechanic discovered the sludge build-up, no oil pressure and i needed an engine. the mechanic at landmark recognized the nature of the problem without a diagnostic and tried keep my car for non payment of service that was never performed. is this common for dodge/chrysler vehicles? as a consumer, i have the right to investigate, protect and pursue legal action. *tr

2003 dodge intrepid -problem started approximately one week ago. air bag failure light flickers when motor is running possible deployment without warning and with cause anticipated by manufacturer will be corrected when time and funds become available. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving approximately 35 mph, the engine stalled and would not restart. prior to the failure, the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and they stated that the failure was related to sludge build up in the engine. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 84,173 and current mileage was 86,000. update 09/10/08 *cw the engine seized due to lack of oil to the upper part of the engine. updated 09/10/08. *jb

Engine light w/diagnostic codes showing o2 sensor bank one and bank two failures. all sensors professionally replaced. codes showing speed control kicking in although engine at idle. engine dies at acceleration even on expressway. vehicle serviced professionally as manuf. directs. *tr

My dodge intrepid 2003 with the 2002 2.7 liter model engine locked up on me for no reason at 76,000 miles apx. i spoke with another individual with the same engine and it locked up at 15,000 miles. luckily i was not in the main road, but i was in the process of pulling out into a busy intersection and may have not turned out good. the car was in motion and when coming to a stop the engine just locks up and it wouldn't even turn over again. i had to have local law enforcement help me get the vehicle off of the roadway, which happen to be passing by at the time. the vehicle is currently sitting dead in the driveway. i was always under the impression chrysler products were good and dependable and this will probably be the last time i buy one of their products due to this. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 40 mph, the engine locked. the contact pulled off the road and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. the mechanic stated that the engine was low on oil. the contact took the vehicle to an oil change service shop, where oil was added in the vehicle. a few miles down the road, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken back to the local mechanic and they stated that a new engine was needed because the current one was completely destroyed. the vehicle is currently at the mechanic's shop. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 78,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 35 mph, the engine failed and the vehicle dragged as if it were in tow. the vehicle was taken to the repair shop and they stated that the coolant was mixed with oil. if the contact continued to drive the vehicle, the engine could explode. the mechanic stated that a new engine was needed; however, the warranty will not cover the repair and the manufacturer will not assist. the current and failure mileages were 84,000. updated 5/13/08 *cn updated 05/13/08. *jb

Engine was running slow and lacked power. took it to local shop and come to find out the engine is trashed. its a 2003 dodge intrepid with 84k miles, 2.7 engine. owned it for 21 months to be exact. was told this happens alot with these models, and he's fixed 6 of these cars with the same engine. as of the moment we are trying to get money together ($3000) to replace the motor with a 3.2/3.5l engine. dodge dealerships were of no help. *tr

Cam position sensor has been replaced twice. check engine comes on frequently but no code can be found by dealer. engine has started with knocking noise. *tr

I own a 2003 dodge intrepid with the 2.7 liter engine . it has died while driving at least 5 times, the engine light comes on frequently and eventually goes off. i've had it to the dealership more than once and they can never find anything wrong. now the oil light is coming on after the car warms up . it only has 60,000 miles on it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard a knocking sound in the engine. when the vehicle reached 2 rpm, the knocking became louder. the vehicle would not exceed 25 mph. a diagnostic was performed that indicated there was an issue with the engine sensors. currently, the engine will not start. the current and failure mileages were 87,604.

I purchased a 2003 dodge intrepid in may of 2007. shortly thereafter i began to have problems with my vehicle. i had a tune up, and oil change, then the camshaft sensor went bad. i had to have that replaced twice (the first sensor was defective) then i noticed my oil light flashing dimly. i immediately took it in for repair the result was a cleaning of my oil pickup tube and screen and another oil change. i used high mileage oil and lucas oil additive i also used plus grade gas and still this happened. from what i now know the 2.7l v6 dohc is "trash" as quite a few mechanics have called it. *tr

My car had loss of power and yet it seemed ok except my gas mileage was not so good, and with no warning, no check engine light, or anything, i heard a really loud knocking noise in my engine and i had almost no power, i took it to a shop and they told me i have a rod knocking and i need a new engine. my car is a 2003 dodge intrepid, i have had it only a year, and i owe $9,000 on it still. *tr

Oil sludge has resulted in engine failure and has cost me $3,500 for an engine replacement. *jb

My 2003 dodge intrepid 2.7 motor had to be replaced. the car had regular maintenance and was just over the warranty miles. the motor was replaced at my expense. this happened in nov 11,2006. i am just now hearing about everybody's same problems. dodge customer service/warranty departments were notified. *tr

July 31 2007 traveling at 65 mph on a major highway (75) in tulsa okla the motor in our 2003 dodge intrepid, a 2.7 v 6 shut down. no indications of any kind of problem. (no low oil pressure light, no high temp., no noise indicating a problem. the motor just died and my wife had trouble even getting it off the road and out of traffic without having an accident. i had to have the car towed to a dealer,(east tulsa dodge where they examined the car and told me the motor was damaged and had to be replaced. the car has 83,941 miles on it. i called the factory rep and they refused to cover any of the expenses saying we did not maintain the vehicle to their specifications. the oil in the car is less than 40 days old and any sludge that the old oil had in it should have been removed as this oil was removed from the oil pan. it is not normal maintenance to have to remove the oil pan and wipe out the sludge build-up or remove the cover on the top of the motor to wipe out the sludge build-up. this is a problem caused from poor design of the oil pump and the oil pick up tubes being to small for the job required to keep enough oil flowing through the motor to protect engine parts from this kind of damage. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. the contact stated that the brakes failed while driving 35 mph. no warning lights illuminated. he applied the brakes approximately ten seconds before the vehicle actually stopped. the local dealer stated that the brake boost pump failed. the current and failure mileages were 62,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 15 mph, the vehicle failed due to sludge build up inside the engine. the dealer stated that the vehicle was not properly maintained. the contact begs to differ and stated that several others have experienced the same failure. the vin, # of cylinders, and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 44,000.

Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. while driving 65 mph on the highway the vehicle lost power and the contact was unable to restart it. there were no warning indicator lights during, before or after the failure. the vehicle was towed. the manufacturer will not honor the warranty. the dealer stated that transmission and the engine needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileage were 53,000. *ak updated 05/21/07. *jb

Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2003 dodge intrepid with 94,700 failure mileage at 25 mph the oil light turned on and the vehicle began making a metal grinding on metal noise, then the engine completely lost power. the vehicle would not restart. the dealer and dodge were notified regarding the engine failure. dodge and the dealer stated that there was nothing they could do. the vehicle has not been repaired. *ak

My vehicle (2003 2.7l dodge intrepid) was being driven on the highway by my fiance. she said that the engine check engine light came on and the car began to sputter. she managed to work her way through the traffic and when she got to the side of the road the car died. it was towed to the dodge dealership and they said that the connecting rod cap came off and blew out of the oil pan. the repairs will cost me 8,000.00. which i cannot afford. *tr

Tl*-the contact stated that while driving the 2003 dodge intrepid, at 50 mph the vehicle slowed and would not accelerate over 45 mph, and then the vehicle made a tapping sound. he stated that the vehicle started jerking and lost power. he pulled over to the side of the road and tried to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle would not restart. he had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic in texas. the mechanic informed him that the engine had seized. the contact had all the fluids changed in the vehicle in september and again after a trip from new york to texas in december. he stated that he purchased the vehicle in february 2005. the current and failure mileage were 79,000.*ak

Tl*- the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid with a current and failure mileage of 58,000 the contact was driving under normal dry conditions about 55 mph when the vehicle pulled hard to left and hit a tree. prior to the crash the contact felt the vehicle shaking. the contact got out and looked at the vehicle and found that nothing was wrong. after the vehicle hit the tree it caught on fire. the driver and two passengers were injured in the crash. the police and fire department came to the scene. *ak

I have a 2003 dodge intrepid with 72,000 miles on it. we have had this car since it had 9,000 miles on it and have done all the suggested repairs and oil changes since the first day we had it. recently while my husband was driving the car it started to shake violently on the freeway (almost causing a few accidents) and the rpm's jumped way up over 4000. then the engine light came on. the repair shop said it was the cam sensor. it was replaced and within an hour the same thing happened. took the car back and they said it was the crank sensor, replaced that, same thing happened within 5 mins of the repair shop. the shop then told us that the engine was bad and there was a history with the 2.7's. we took the car to the dealer for a second opinion and they said we could replace the timing chains and that would save the car for a year or so until we could get it paid off (still owe $6000) but it would cost $1700 plus tax. we decided to do that, however the dealer called us back and said after they got the engine apart they noticed it was full of sludge and the timing chains were fine. they recommended a new engine and quoted us over $6000. i have seen thousands of people with this issue. we have bought 3 dodge/chrysler vehicles in the last 5 years from this dealer and they would do nothing to compensate us. we even offered to buy a new car there if we could get accurately compensated and they said my car is worth nothing! chrysler does not stand behind their products and should be forced to replace these engine that they know have an issue. what ever happened to customer service, especially to a customer that has shown you loyalty?????? *jb

The engine lite has been coming on in my 2003 dodge intrepid despite regular oil changes, when i had the last oil change i told the machanic of the problem and he told me of the 2.7 engine. now i have no idea what to do. it will cost me 6000 to replace the engine and i stillowe 10000 on the car. please help!

I purchased a used 2003 dodge intrepid february of 2006. the vehicle is a 2.7. the intrepid was purchased with 56,721 miles. i would say after three weeks of driving, the transmission began to bang and thrust foward during acceleration and decelleration. i brought tyhe car to the dealership where it had been purchased. the vehicle was under warrenty. the vehicle was then tested for transmission problems. this dodge dealer told me that they felt it when driving the car but that there were no codes regstering on thier equiptment. they told me it is how i was driving the car. the problem got progressivly worse. i brought the car in again, and again. a total of three times in two months.again, nothing. then at roughly 76,000 miles the o2 sensor and cam sensor failed. on january 20th 2007, at 84,900 miles the transmission failed and the car would not go into third gear. the transmission wines. dodge dealer checked today 01/23/2006 the valve body, cylinoids and purge all failed at the same time and now need to be replaced. had this problem from day one there is a defect in the transmissions. now i have a warrenty company that will cover the valve body not the cylinoids and dodge recommends that the cylinoid be replaced when the valve body is replaced but the warrenty company will not cover the cylinoids. each system assures the other is working properly. these transmissions need to be investigated, especially after only 50,000 miles and there is reported failure by numerous people. reported and unreported. thankyou for pursuing this investigation. people are being ripped off, and dodge has a bad reputation for their transmission quality.ad *jb

Car has 94,000 odd miles on it. while driving my car the oil light came on. i had a oil change 2 months prior. checked the oil was 1 quart low, added one quart. drove car a couple hours later it started smoking and the oil starting leaking entirely out of car. made it home crunk the car back up and the car sounded like a lawn mower was under my hood. when mechanic looked at it he informed me that the engine was shot and that it was unsual for the engine to go out so soon because i didn't have a lot of mileage on my car. i have been out of a car since then, the cost estimate for repairs are from 3.000 to 6,000. it is not under warranty. i am in the process of sending information to the impartial services group. and i have filed a complaint with the center for auto safety. *nm

I purchased a used 2003 intrepid police car with 81,000 miles on it. ran and shifted fine until 3 months ago. while braking from about 45 at a light, the mil lamp came on and the car went into limp mode. we were able to reset it and get to the dealer who advised the transaxle valve body and solenoid pack needed replacement. after replacement, the car ran fine for 2 months. now the same issue is occuring again. again, the car went into limp mode while braking (a loud pop is heard each time it does this). the mil lamp comes on and the dtc codes are p0700, p01776, & p0841. from research on the internet, it seems that this problem happens rather frequently with this model dodge, but there is no clear answer as to what the underlying issue is (sensor, computer, valve body, etc). could this be reviewed for possible manufacturer defect? *nm

While at cruising speed on the freeway my 2003 dodge intrepid sxt suddenly and without warning stopped running, leaving me with no power on a very crowded freeway. after pulling to the side of the road (after many near misses with other vehicles, i was able to restart the car and proceed home. the check engine light was on from the time of the incident. after running a diagnostic check the dodge dealer advised that the camshaft position sensor had failed. *nm

When turning into a driveway there was a snapping sound in the steering column and i could feel it in the steering wheel. the air bag light went on and later we found out there was no cruise control. i am familiar with people who work in auto body so i called him as we were out of state. he told me to pull the fuse on the airbags because they could accidentally go off. i called a dodge dealer in the area and he said it needed to be fixed immediately so the airbag did not go off accidentally. we took the car to a dealer whom told us it probably happened because the clock spring was wound too tight causing it to break and even though it is caused when manufactured it would not be covered. thankfully i knew to call someone immediately or it may have resulted in a major accident. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was still under warranty stalling occurred causing problems to the brakes and the steering. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer who determined the tire rod ends were shot and vehicle was not drivable. repairs were made to the censor of the vehicle to repair the problems on the steering and the brakes. the vehicle soon also had problems with overheating causing the engine to smoke and an oil burning smell to occur. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they determined the cause for overheating was due to sludge in the motor and that the cost for repairs were not covered under warranty.

2003 intrepid makes a thumping noise when brakes get hot. *ts when the consumer applied the brakes, the thumping noise was heard. the consumer stated it sounded like there was a problem with the caliper. *jb the vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to find the cause of the noise. *nm

The oil light in my wife's car would come on at an idle. the car had only 70,000 miles on it. the oil was changed every 3000 miles. found very low oil pressure ( under 5 psi ). removed rod and main bearings. the bearings looked like new. used plastic gauge to measure bearing clearance. found the clearance to be .003". the spec is .0015" to .002". i found that dodge makes a .001" undersize bearing for this problem. this leads me to believe that the crank shafts were undersize from the factory. with only .001" of "wear" the engine could not maintain oil pressure. when i ordered the undersize bearings i got another surprise. in all the engines i have rebuilt the bearing kits run about $50. dodge is charging $40 each for the main bearings and $64 each for the rod bearings. the total bill for rod and main bearings came to $500. could there be a little price gouging going on to finance the legal battle with these engines. *nm

Below, please find a partial copy of an email complaint sent to dodge on 4/27/06 complaint! please be advise that on the evening of tuesday 4/25/06, my 2003 intrepid overheated severely (without warning) after a ten minute ride. sadly, the dashboard indicators and temperature gauge were not working properly and thus i was not aware that the vehicle (which was recently maintenance by the dealer) was in such distress. the vehicle was towed on 4/26 and i received a call from the dealer during the mid-afternoon of 4/27 stating that two cooling fans had failed (due to electrical malfunctioning) and a gasket pertaining to the thermostat had broken, all of which was believed to be responsible for the overheating of the vehicle. it was recommended that thermostat be replaced as a Â??precautionary measureÂ??. it was also stated that the situation was "uncommon". when questioned, i was told by the dealer that the distress indicators would not have been triggered off by this event. my question is simple: why not? is that not the purpose of the temperature gauge or thermostat indicator? i directed the dealer to review the fuses, switches and anything pertaining to the electronics of these indicators and was grossly informed that the events leading up to the failure of my car were no more "predictable or preventable" than "knowing when a light bulb in your home will blow". this commentary was both appalling and unprofessional. furthermore, my vehicle will not be available to me until 5/1/06 (6 days since the towing), i was informed that i will have to pay an estimated cost of $500 for repairs, estimated $300 in rental car fees, not to mention the 26k+ that was paid to purchase the vehicle 2 1/2 years ago.........

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45 mph a loud noise was heard from the vehicle and the engine stalled. smoke and fire erupted from under the hood and the vehicle was pushed off to the side of the road. the fire was extinguished; however there were no fire or police reports filed. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, upon inspection a rod had blown through the engine causing oil splatter which caused the smoke and fire. the manufacturer was not alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated 2-3 attempts on the ignition must be made before the vehicle will start. this is an intermittent problem. the vehicle has been to the dealership, but no codes are found on the computer and the problem cannot be diagnosed.

Dt: the contact stated after hearing a clicking noise the dashboard board lights and headlights turned off. the failure only occurred in the daytime. the independent repair shop determined the problem was the headlights wiring. *ak

I was backing out of a parking space, as i turned the wheel i hear a sound like a conector coming undone in my steering wheel. once that happened my air bag light went on, cruise control, and horn do not work. i see alot of recall info for dodge/chrisler for clock spring and thats what dodge told me it was. total they want to fix it is over $350. *nm

My airbag light is remaining on, the horn is not working, and cruise control doesn't work and from it is my belief, that my vehicle has same clockspring problem that chrysler had with some of its 1996-98 minivans. i believe the horn and air bag are safety items and should be repaired. i wrote to daimler/chrysler and got this response: thank you for your recent email to daimlerchrysler motors regarding your 2003 dodge intrepid. a review of our records indicates that your vehicle does not currently require service for any recall campaigns issued by daimlerchrysler. if your vehicle is involved in a future recall campaign, you will be notified promptly by mail. you can also access the self-service recall site on the internet to check on your vehicle's involvement in any/all recalls that are published. simply go to one of our brand sites: www.chrysler.com; www.dodge.com or www.jeep.com and click on "for owners" and then "recall notices" and follow the instructions on the pop up recall page. you will need the last eight digits of your vehicle identification number (vin). your concerns, particularly in view of the expense and inconvenience involved in this issue, are understandable. however, the vehicle in question has exceeded the time or mileage limitations of the manufacturer's warranty. although a more favorable reply could not be provided, sharing your concern with us is appreciated. thank you again for your email. shouldn't daimler/chrysler be responsible for the expense of getting this repaired if this is the case with my vehicle?. *jb

My 2003 intrepid had 43000 miles on it when i bought it in june of 2005. it has the 2.7 liter v-6 engine. the oil has been changed twice since then, once at 43000 and 45000. there was no hint of trouble from the engine and i checked the oil regularly. i also can't vouch for what the previous owner did as far as maintenance either. the incident happened while in farmington, michigan on a business meeting. the oil light came on and then went off while the car was at a traffic signal. it also flickered while driving home to lansing, a seventy mile trip. it also did the same thing on my way home from work to next day and there was still no usual signs of failure such as clicking, etc. not wanting to take chances i took the car where i bought it, i also purchased a warranty with it; that friday morning. they replaced and oil sender and checked the engine. the oil light immediately stayed on and they called me back to tell me the engine needed to be replaced because of sludge and it would in fact be covered under warranty. the dealer, sundance chevrolet has been very cordial thus far. i'm hoping there's a more permanent solution for this fix rather than spending so much money on an engine that might fail again. the car has 47700 miles on the odometer. *jb

Consumer has had 2 replacement brakes and 4 new radios on 2003 dodge intrepid after being told that there was nothing wrong with either. *ts the windshield and both side mirrors were pitted. the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle jerked. the dealer replaced the camshaft position sensor. the second time the check engine light illuminated they replaced the maf sensor. the serpentine belt cracked. transmission fluid leaked from cooler hoses. the front brake pads were replaced and the rotors were machined. the consumer request that the dealer reimburse his some of his money and return his trade-in vehicle. *nm

Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle stalled and lost power. there were no warning signs or lights indicating a problem. the vehicle was taken to the service dealer, but they have not determined the cause of the problem. the dealer said it could be the engine or an electrical problem. *ak

I purchased this car used, with 24,000 miles on it, 18 months ago. 6 times to shop: 1) about 3 months after purchase, had to have tie rod replaced 2) brakes needed after approx 14 months from purchase 3) engine needed to be replaced 14 months after purchase 4) water pump housing cracked and had to be replaced, at my expense, after dealership crimped water pump housing when putting in replacement power train 5) sway bar bushings needed replacement at 16 months 6) was just driving home from work and 4 miles from home engine began making weird noises and by the time i got home was making very loud engine noises, sounds like transmission? didn't want to accelerate. turned car off when i got home and didn't want to start an hour later, just cranked and cranked. i believe this is a lemon, but since i bought it used, don't think i'm covered under lemon law. will attempt to force dealership to replace car with a different model tomorrow. oh, and also the inner driver's door handle doesn't open the car door. it broke about 3 months ago, and i haven't fixed it because they want to charge $50 for the part and who knows how much for the labor. *jb

The 2.7 liter engine on our 2003 dodge intrepid seized without warning while on the road. we were on a two-lane highway on a bridge with no shoulders, in-between two large motorhomes traveling at 60 mph with no power steering and limited braking ability. we were extremely fortunate that we were able to coast across the bridge and get to the shoulder of the road without further incident. the car only has 62,000 miles on it, and the engine seized because of excessive sludge build-up despite regular oil changes that occurred at less then the factory recommended interval of 7500 miles. *jb

Dt: the contact stated while driving the check oil light came on and there was a loud tapping noise in the engine. afterwards the engine stalled. the vehicle was towed to a local dealership. they said the engine needed to be replaced due to sludge build up. the engine has not been replaced. *ak

Purchased 2003 dodge intrepid 6/3/05, as used. while driving a couple weeks after purchase, engine light illuminated. took car back to dealership while still under dealership 30 day warranty. informed car had faulty o2 sensor and sensor was replaced. august 9th, driving with young daughter at night at approximately 50 mph, car made 'pop' sound, engine and oil light both illuminated, car engine died, but was able to veer onto shoulder of road without being hit by other cars. called dealership where car was purchased and was told to bring it back. car was found to have faulty cam sensor. cam sensor was replaced-at my expense. almost out of the month of september, was driving this car on the 26th, once again with my young daughter when engine light illuminated, car felt as though down shifted hard through all gears, then transmission acting as if not proper shifting. close to local auto zone which i had them run diagnostics on. found "transmission system failure." the computer of the car was reset at auto zone. called local dodge dealership and was told to bring it in the next morning. was informed that because the computer had been reset they could not repeat, nor find the problem. was told that the problem was "more than likely 2 sensors," and to continue driving this car until the light comes on again, then notify the dealership. so, now i have the pleasure of driving a car that i know in the month of october will have some sort of "sensor" failure, if not outright major transmission damage. did i mention i have only owned this car since june? i have no idea if the previous owner was notified of service bulletins. i would think that as much as i owe on the car (over $10,000.00), the year (2003), the mileage (43,000 miles) would at the very least guarantee me a road worthy, safe vehicle. my son owns a '99 dodge neon clunker that i just bought for $1000.00 that is becoming apparently more reliable than my pricey luxury ride. *jb

My 2003 dodge intrepid engine failed while my daughter was driving it in october 2004. the engine had approximately 50,000 miles on it. there were no warning lights, no indication that anything was wrong with the vehicle until it started making a horrible knocking sound. it was taken to the dodge dealership and the service technician told us the problem was caused by sludge. the oil had been changed every 3000 miles. the dodge technician said the sludge could not have built up to the point it was even if the oil had never been changed. we consulted an independent technician who says the sludge is a result of manufacturer's defect in the design of the engine. the cost of a new engine would be around $6000 which we cannot afford, and is in fact about the same as the trade-in value of the vehicle if it were working, which it isn't. even if we could afford it, our research indicates that we would probably have to replace the engine yet again before the car is even paid for. we believe there is a major defect in the design of the engine, resulting in financial and emotional injury to our family.

On may 24, 2005, i received my 2003 dodge intrepid (72,000 miles) back from the dealership after they completed repairs related to a low-speed collision. upon picking up the vehicle, operation seemed 100%. less than 20 miles later while driving ~60mph on interstate 70-west, the car shuttered briefly and then quickly lost forward acceleration. when i depressed the gas petal, the rfpm would accelerate accordingly, but the transmission seemed to be disengaged. at this point, the 'check engine' warning light illuminated. as i attempted to make my way safely to the shoulder, the vehicle continued to de-accelerate to the point where the vehicle came to a dead stand-still on the roadway and started to drift backwards when a tractor trailer swerved onto the shoulder to pass me and avoid a major rear-end collision. after towing the vehile baack to the dealershipm, it was determined that the automatic trnasmission had experienced catastrophic failure and would need to be completely re-built or replaced. when the dealership checked on the availability of parts, they discovered that corresponding components were on national back-order by dodge and would not be available for months. the technician stated that a national back-order of this magnitude was indicative of wide-scale defects from the manufacturer. given that (1) the complete failure of the automobile's transmission occurred without warning, (2) the failure occurred catastrophically while the vehicle was travelling over 60mph, and (3) the extent of the national backorder for the transmission components, i am gravely concerned that there is a serious defect within the dodge intrepid transmission that represents a significant safety threat to other drivers and owners. transmission had to be completely re-built.

Dt: the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. she states that engine will not work. she took vehicle to a repair shop, and they said the engine was filled with sludge. the engine was knocking really badly while was driving. she stopped the vehilce and then that is when she took it to the repair shop. vehicle has 50000 miles on it. *ak

Consumer complained about a transmission problem. owner took the vehicle to dealer, and was informed that transmission needed to be replaced. owner stated while accelerating from a stop light transmission would go into 2nd gear and would only go up to 40 mph, but will not change gears. driver would have to shut the vehicle off and turn back on before the vehicle would climb back up to 40 mph or greater. owner was baffled as to why this happened since vehicle was only 2 years old and had 85,000 miles. *ak

While driving at approximately 5 mph and turning through an intersection, the vehicle shut down completely. after 3 tries, the vehicle began to start up. owner drove to the dealer and it was the cam sensor circuit which was causing this problem. *jb mileage was 10,000 at time of failure. *tt *nm

This intrepid was purchased to use as a patrol unit. we have had numerous problems with the brakes not functioning properly. the brakes failed on about december 22, 2004 just 3 weeks after it was worked on by a dodge dealership. the failure resulted in an accident, seriously injuring a deputy and an innocent bystander. the deputy has since learned that there are alot of complaints about the dodge intrepid brakes (especially from other law enforcement agencies). why hasn't there been a recall or this even been looked into?*ak

The vehicle stopped while driving. the vehicle had to be towed, whereby it was discovered the oil screen is defective and the dealer and manufacturer states the vehicle has not been maintained.

The power steering rack and pinion unit failed. finally the rack was replaced in september 2004. *bf the power steering rack and pinion unit valves had become inoperative and made driving impossible. there was a continual loss of fluid. the consumer was told that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. the most recent incident brought about loud popping and or banging. *sc *jb

While driving vehicle stalled. consumer was able to restart vehicle fifteen minutes later. consumer took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the crank angle position sensor needed to be replaced. *ak

While braking from 55 mph transmission down shifted with a thump the check engine light immediately came on,then it would not shift out of first gear.shut off engine and restarted,,,worked fine till i got home,,check engine light still on , car is in the shop now.*ak

While driving under normal driving conditions brakes weren't functioning properly. the brakes felt spongy, and were hard to depress. a few minutes after parking and exiting the vehicle it burst into flames. consumer noticed several other complaints related to brakes and brake line fires.*ak

When the consumer applied the accelerator pedal, the consumer heard a loud knocking noise . the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the idle pulley needed to be replaced. it has since been replaced three times. please provide further details. *jb

The vehicle leaked transmission fluid. also, while driving the vehicle, it would shift very hard. the rpm revved very high. upon turning the vehicle off, the consumer was unable to restart it. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer on four different occasions and was told that it was an internal electrical problem. please provide any further information.

Water was leaking inside the vehicle trunk. this caused mildew odors getting inside the vehicle while driving. vehicle was at dealer on several occasions, but problem recurred.*ak

Consumer complained about a transmission problem. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership on several occassions. however, dealership was unable to duplicate the problem, yet will not identify that there was a problem with the transmission. it had difficulty going from park to reverse. this happened intermittently . *ak

Transmission light went on 8/11/04, and immediately, the car dropped into 3rd gear and would not go into overdrive. i took the car in for service. after a $100 deductable, the valve body was replaced. a few days later, it failed again. i returned to the same dealership (town & country dodge in clarkston, mi). they reset the codes, in their description, and test drove it again. when i drove it home, it failed for a third time, same mode. *ak

Dealer replaced at 13,565 miles the front rotors and pads. at 39,092 miles, rotors were resurfaced and replaced the pads. at consumer's expense at 51,000 miles dealership resurfaced the rotors.*ak

I purchased my 2003 intrepid in december 2003 with 20,000 miles.in the spring of 2004 i had to replace the front rotors and discs it is now august 2004 and the same problem is occurring starting with squeaking and pulsation followed by grinding. the vehicle now has 40,000 miles on it and i am once again replacing rotors and discs. i do not have the 1st pair of rotors and discs that were replaced however i will keep this set. another problem i have started noticing is when shifting the car into drive it occassionally does not respond and i have to place the vehicle in park a couple of times before drive will engage.*ak

The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for an oil change. the mechanic informed the consumer that the brake pads and rotors were worn out and needed to be replaced. the consumer drove the vehicle to a dealer for inspection. the dealer informed the consumer that the rotors needed to be replaced due to worn out parts. *jb the consumer found the front brake rotor rusted and pitted. the vehicle had less than 10k miles when the vehicle was purchase. *sc *jb

The vehicle's accelerator drive belts were failing and as a result the vehicle was unable to accelerate properly. please provide any additional information. *nlm *mr

While traveling at 30 to 35 mph, the consumer slammed into another vehicle that ran a stop sign. none of the air bags deployed. the dealer has been contacted. *ph refer to cl 11682195. *sc *jb

2000 dodge intrepid has a total failure of engine and power steering while driving. vehicle has 80,010 miles. fortunately, it coasted into breakdown lane. the engine is completely wrecked and needs replacement. all routine service records on hand. *la

While driving at 45mph engine, and battery lights appeared on the dashboard, a couple second later, no radio and no steering. dealer stated pulley came off completely. *ak

Consumer called complaining about having problems with vehicle. *ak

Nar 05/21/2003. *mr test drives performed on two dodge intrepids concerning brake problems. *cb

Auto is going into forward when put into reverse. *ak

2003 dodge intrepids' brakes caught fire during hard braking maneuvers. the metropolitan government put four intrepids through the metropolitan police department's standard driving course which included many stops and turns requiring repeated braking. two cars were tested on march 11, 2003. the test was repeated with two different intrepids on april 3, 2003. the front brakes on all four cars caught on fire. at least one vehicle was found to have no brakes after completing the course. in addition, on april 11, 2003, the front brakes on an intrepid burst into flames while the car was being driven in normal afternoon traffic by an employee of the metropolitan government working for the parks department. none of these incidents resulted in any fatalities, personal injuries or property damage beyond the damage to the cars. *ak

Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see attached report for additional information.

Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see attached report for additional information.

Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see attached report for additional information.

Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see attached report for additional information.