2002 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

I BOUGHT A 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE IN MARCH 2003 WITH ABOUT 20K MILES ON IT. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD ALL WAS GOOD. $1,420 TO REPAIR THE WATER PUMP? THE ENGINE MADE A SOUND, SHOOK SLIGHTLY WHICH MADE ME LOOK AT THE GAUGES TO SEE WHAT WAS UP. THE ONLY THING I SAW WAS THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS A LITTLE TINY BIT OVER THE HALFWAY MARK. USUALLY, THIS GAUGE SITS WITHOUT CHANGING ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP BETWEEN THE 1/4 AND 1/2 MARK. RECOMMEND: ANY SERVICE SHOP THAT CHANGES THE OIL IN A CAR SHOULD INPUT THAT SERVICE INTO A NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEM SO THAT ANYWHERE PEOPLE DRIVE, MOVE, VISIT, THAT RECORD IS PERMANENT. THAT IS MY FIRST SUGGESTIONS. THEN SHE ASKED ME IF THE CAR HAD OVERHEATED. ANSWER: NO. SHE SAID THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS $1,300 AND IF THE HEADS WERE CRACKED THAT COULD COST ANOTHER $700. I WAS LIKE, "WHAT?" SAY THAT AGAIN. THE WAY THE 2.7L ENGINE IS BUILT, THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE. I ASKED IF IT WAS WORTH REPLACING AND SHE SAID IT WAS..SHE COULDN'T ADVISE ME...BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM CONFINED TO MY CAR - IT HAS AFFECTED A FLEET OF THEM...SAME TYPE..SAME ENGINE. AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE. I ASKED ABOUT THE NOTES ON THE MECHANIC'S TICKET THAT SAID, "* ENGINE HAS SLUDGE". NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THAT TO ME AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, EITHER, SO I ASKED. WHAT'S THAT? SHE SAID, "THAT'S JUST THE MECHANIC'S NOTES FOR WHEN YOU BRING IT BACK." I SAID, "...YES...BUT WHAT IS IT?" THEN A MECHANIC APPEARED AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT USING SYNTHETIC OR REGULAR OIL (HOW AM I, A LAY PERSON, SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT?) TO REDUCE ENGINE SLUDGE AND YES, "ALL THESE 2.7L INTREPID ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM." I SAID, "SO...WHAT DOES IT DO?" CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THE 2.7L ENGINE PROBLEMS, FIND A FIX FOR THE SLUDGE PROBLEM EVEN IF IT MEANS REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH ANOTHER TYPE. IT IS NOT FAIR TO COST US UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE (WEST) THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE FAILURE OF THE MOTOR REQUIRED THAT MY WIFE, 1 YEAR OLD SON AND I SIT IN THE DALLAS HEAT FOR NEARLY 45 MINUTES WHILE WAITING FOR A CAB TO TAKE MY WIFE AND SON TO THE AIRPORT ($50 EXPENSE) AND I WAITED ON THE TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO OUR HOUSE ($125 TOW BILL). NOT TO MENTION I WILL BE EXPECTED TO INCUR A $7000.00 BILL IN ORDER TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. IN 2003 I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. NOW IN 2006 I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN . I TOOK IT TO DAYTONA DODGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN. THEN THEY CALLED ME ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER AND SAID I NEEDED A ENGINE BLOCK TOO BECAUSE THE EAR THAT LINES UP THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE. THEY ALSO SAID I NEEDED TO CALL MY CAR INS. BECAUSE IT WAS DUE TO A IMPACT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT BOTH CHRYSLER AND ALLSTATE HAVE DENIED ME TWICE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FELL THEY MESSED UP WHEN I HAD THE WORK DONE THE FIRST TIME BY NOT LINING IT UP RIGHT. THE CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE JAN. 26. I'VE HAD TO RENT CARS FOR ABOUT 2000.00 (25.00 A DAY) TILL I COULDN'T AFFORD IT ANY MORE I BOUGHT A 600.00 CAR AND THE DODGE IS STILL THERE I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND ANOTHER LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ENGINE RESTARTED; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT 10 MPH. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE WATER FROM THE RADIATOR WAS IN THE ENGINE. THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE LOCKED UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM CONCERNING THE 2.7 ENGINES. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED.

I DRIVE A WELL MAINTAINED 2002 DODGE INTREPID. MY ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE FOR ANOTHER ENGINE AND FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH POSTS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH INTREPID OWNERS. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BUY A NEW ENGINE AND KEEP THIS CAR IF THERE IS A FLAW IN THE 2.7 LITER ENGINES. IF THIS IS SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, WHY IS CHRYSLER NOT RECALLING THEM. I WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ENGINE FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHICH CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. UPDATED 05/10/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. UPDATED 4/17/2006 - *NM