2002 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

I BOUGHT THE 2002 DODGE INTREPID NEW AND FROM DAY 1 WE USED SYNTHETIC OIL IN THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT WAS THE BEST TREATMENT FOR THE LONGEVITY OF AN ENGINE. MY WIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE CAR AND WE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE PROPERLY. SHE WAS WAITING TO TURN INTO OUR COMMUNITY AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WORK , WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE FAILED. WE NEEDED A MOTOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE COST WOULD BE $7,900. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7-LITER ENGINE IN JULY OF 2005 FROM HOLLEY DODGE IN MIDDLETOWN, CT FOR $9,500. THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT. IN JULY OF 2007 (AT 78,000 MILES) I EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS AND, AFTER BRINGING IT BACK TO HOLLEY DODGE FOR SERVICE, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION AND WAS OFFERED REPAIR OPTIONS OF: 1) TEARING DOWN THE MOTOR WHICH WOULD COST AT LEAST $2,500 DEPENDING UPON WHAT IS FOUND; 2) A REBUILT MOTOR FOR $3,500+; OR 3) A NEW MOTOR FOR $4,500+. THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE COST (36,000 MILES/3 YEARS). I HAD MAINTAIN THE CARE CAREFULLY, CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILE WHICH IS MORE FREQUENT THAN RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MATTER, I DISCOVERED A VAST AMOUNT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS WEB SITES DEVOTED TO THIS 2.7-LITER DAIMLERCHRYSLER ENGINE PROBLEM. EXPERTS BELIEVE THE ENGINE PROBLEMS MAY BE DUE TO ENGINE DEFECTS OR OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP THAT IS COMMON IN 2.7L VEHICLES. I HAVE READ THAT THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY HAS RECEIVED FIVE TIMES MORE OIL SLUDGE COMPLAINTS ON CHRYSLER 2.7L VEHICLES THAN OTHER VEHICLES. APPARENTLY THESE COMPLAINTS INVOLVE QUITE A FEW DODGE AND CHRYSLER VEHICLES FROM 1998 TO PRESENT. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER IS VIOLATING CONSUMER RIGHTS UNDER LEMON LAWS OR OTHER CONSUMER-PROTECTION LAWS. CAN YOU ADVISE ME? THANKS, MIKE VENESKI *TR

2002 DODGE INTREPID. 2.7L MOTOR, WITH A 42LE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WITH ONLY 84000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND BEING DRIVEN QUITE MODERATELY BY MY WIFE, THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED, COSTING ME $1714.00 IN REPAIRS. THIS WAS MY FIRST, AND ONLY CHRYSLER VEHICLE PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD FORD AND GM PRODUCTS THAT HAVE GONE WELL OVER 100000 WITH NEVER A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD DRAGGING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE SENSOR LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT DID NOT TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE WITHIN THE OIL CHAMBER. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7 V6 ENGINE STALLED AT STOP LIGHT, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 MILES TO AUTO REPAIR (NO MORE THAT 20 MPH) ADVISED HAD TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM WAS...ADVISED TIMING CHAIN AND WATER PUMP PAID $1000 FOR REPAIRS, 3 MONTHS LATER ENGINE MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTS... BACK TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, ADVISING ENGINE SHOT, HAS TO BE REBUILT APPROX COST $2500 TO $3500 .. UNBELIEVABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SMOKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD JUST TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND WILL COST $6,800 TO REPLACE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,000.

ENGINE BLEW UP AFTER 70,000 DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT COSTING ME THOUSANDS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 10,000 MILES. COST ME THOUSANDS AGAIN. *AK

AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL MY CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED TO SMOKE. AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ENGINE QUIT, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD.

THERMOSTAT HOUSING POPPED OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY THIS PART IS GLUED ON I HAVE SEEN OTHER CARS AND REPORTS OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS, THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOLTED NOT GLUED, SINCE THEN HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CAR.