2000 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

ENGINE OF WELL MAINTAINED DODGE INTREPID 2.7L SEIZED DURING RUSH HOUR ON BUSY ROAD. WIFE PANICKED BUT WAS ABLE (LUCKILY) TO SWING IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC BEHIND HER (TRUCKS). MECHANIC: CHECKED ENGINE: NO SLUDGE WAS PRESENT, NO SIGNS OF SLUDGE (REMARKABLE!) TIMING CHAIN BROKE DOWN AND WATER PUMP IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN (IN THAT CASE ENGINE WOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS). THIS IS THE 3RD INTREPID 2.7L THAT WEEK WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AROUND SAME MILEAGE! SINCE THERE WAS NO SLUDGE THE PROBLEMS SEEM NOT ONLY TO BE SLUDGE RELATED. OIL CHANGE INTERVAL: EVERY 3000 MILES (PROOF) W. SYNTHETIC OIL. NO SLUDGE MEANS THAT PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO MAINTED THE CAR WELL! I'LL HAVE THE MECHANIC STATE IN HIS REPORT THAT NO SLUDGE WAS FOUND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. WARRANTY COMPANY KICKED IN EVENTUALLY SINCE THEY COULD NOT USE THE 'SLUDGE' ARGUMENT AGAINST ME. *NM

ENGINE DEAD. CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OUT, GOT LOUD THEN DIED. THE LOSS CREATED BEING WITHOUT A CAR FOR SOME TIME OVER THREE MONTHS WITHOUT A RELIABLE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AS OF YESTERDAY 3/28/06, I WAS GOING TO HAVE THEM DO WORK ON IT. WHEN I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT NHTSA, I HAD ASKED THEM TO WAIT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY OTHER WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

2.7 LITER ENGINES IN 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITHOUT WARNING STARTS KNOCKING THEN THE ENGINE LETS GO. THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANYTIME OR ANYWHERE. REPLACE MOTOR BECAUSE THE ENGINE BUILDS UP SLUDGE DUE TO THE OILIER BEING TO SMALL . *JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 2000 DODGE INTREPID FOR 22K, NICE CAR BUT PC OF CRAP ENGINE. I WAS AWARE OF THE 2.7L PIECE OF CRAP ENGINE ONE BEFORE MY ENGINE DIED.. I CHECK/CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY AROUND 2800-3000 MILES... DODGE DENIES CONSUMERS DO THIS THOUGH.. FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, EVERY 1500 MILES I WAS ALWAYS DOWN A QUART OF OIL...? NO LEAKS, CAN'T SEE ANY SMOKE.. MY ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS MY CAR WAS ACTING LIKE I HAD NO OIL IN IT.. NO POWER WITH ENGINE. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY RIGHT NEXT TO A DODGE DEALER WHICH WAS CONVENIENT. THEY HAD DIAGNOSED THAT MY CRANK AND CAM SENSOR WERE "NO GOOD".. AND REPLACED THEM FOR $400.. A MONTH LATER I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON...? I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT TO CHECK THE OIL.. I WAS ONLY DOWN MAYBE A PINT. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED/ADDED THE OIL AND WENT TO WORK. I NEVER MADE IT TO WORK. ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM WORK THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE I WAS OUT OF OIL?? I BROUGHT TO THE REPAIR SHOP NEAR WORK. THEY SAID IT WAS INTERNAL AND WOULD TOUCH IT AFTER DRAINING SOME OIL AND SAW METAL FLAKES... I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THE LOVELY 2.7 ENGINES.. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE READ HORROR STORIES ABOUT THIS ENGINE, AS WELL AS DODGE DEALERS WOULD DO NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER. I'VE BEEN TELLING EVERYONE I SEE WITH A DODGE 2.7 TO GET RID OF IT FAST. AND NEVER TO BUY A "DODGE/CHRSYLER" PRODUCT UNTIL THEY RECALL AND REPLACE THIS ENGINE.. *JB

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED, HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH PREMIUM OIL AND MAINTENANCE WITH NO AVAIL. ON DECEMBER 15, 2005 MY ENGINE LOCKED UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. NOW I MUST PAY $5000 FOR A REBUILT MOTOR ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAD 111,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILDUP. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7L ENGINE JUST TURNED 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THEN WOULDN'T START ONE DAY AFTER WORK. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY 2 MECHANICS WHOM BOTH TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN AND ROCKER ARM WAS COMPLETELY SHOT AND CAR BASICALLY WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF SLUDGE BUILD UP. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR THIS CAR. APPROXIMATELY COST OF NEW ENGINE IS $5000, MORE THAN TRADE-IN VALUE SO DECIDED TO BUY ANOTHER MORE RELIABLE CAR. MY INTREPID STILL IS SITTING UNREPAIRED IN MY DRIVEWAY, HOWEVER I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. I'LL NEVER BUY A DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN!!! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE AND LIFTING UP THE VEHICLE THE WRENCH FOR THE JACK BENT. ALSO, A SCREW CAME LOOSE IN THE JACK. THEN WHILE TRYING TO LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS, THE WRENCH BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

2000 DODGE INTREPID ENGINE FAILURE TWICE. REPLACED ENGINE AT LESS THAN 50, 000 MILES WITH ANOTHER DODGE ENGINE. IT FAILED AT 118,000 SAME PROBLEM. *JB