Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 0900204 | 01/27/2004 | 0900503 | 10005587 | Short duration cold engine start-up ticking like sound. this bulletin applies to vehicles built prior to march 31, 2003. *mn | 03/04/2004 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 0900503 | 11/21/2003 | 10005297 | Short duration cold engine start-up ticking like sound. *tt | 02/19/2004 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 1802102 | 08/26/2002 | 635685 | On some vehicles, there is malfunction indicator lamp illumination with possible rough running engine and any or all of diagnostic trouble codes p2302, p2305, p2308, p2311, p2314 p2317, ignition coil secondary circuit. *tt | 10/30/2002 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||||
| C23 | 10/01/2003 | 10004000 | Vehicle emission control information (veci) label replacement - emissions recall no. c23. *tt | 11/12/2003 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 01/17/2012 | 186000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. the contact stated that while having repairs on the vehicle, she was advised by the technicians that the valve gasket was covered in oil sludge. the mechanic advised that the valve gasket cover needed to be cleaned and the oil needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 186,000. kmj | |||
| 01/17/2012 | 186000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 dodge intrepid. the contact stated that while having repairs on her vehicle she was advised that the valve gasket was cover with oil sludge. the mechanic stated that both of the valve gasket cover needed to be clean and oil needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 186,000. pm | |||
| 04/04/2010 | 91000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 10/16/2008 | 88000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 07/25/2008 | 91008 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 07/01/2009 | 140000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 80000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 1 | ||
| Ongoing problems with---brakes---screeching sound when braking and grabbing/thumping sound ,a/c & vent musty odor, squeaking sound from rear struts. *tr | |||
| 12/07/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 08/08/2008 | 130080 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 04/18/2008 | 85000 | 1 | 08/14/2006 |
| 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 | |||
| 10/27/2007 | 5 | 11/04/2005 | |
| 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 | |||
| 12/06/2007 | 87604 | 3 | 05/25/2007 |
| 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. | |||
| 07/31/2007 | 83941 | 1 | 08/15/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/07/2007 | 53000 | 2 | 12/09/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/31/2007 | 79000 | 1 | 02/04/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 12/21/2005 | 47770 | 1 | 06/10/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/27/2005 | 43200 | 3 | 06/03/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 12/24/2004 | 67000 | 1 | |
| 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. | |||
| 12/07/2004 | 4 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 10/09/2003 | 80080 | 1 | 04/01/2000 |
| 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 | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer called complaining about having problems with vehicle. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 04/15/2011 | 136000 | ||
| 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! | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 04/25/2006 | 62000 | 1 | 10/17/2002 |
| 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 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 04/30/2010 | 67000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 01/05/2010 | 110794 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 81000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/01/2009 | 60000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 10/20/2008 | 87000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 12/07/2008 | 72000 | 1 | 12/31/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/08/2008 | 84173 | 1 | 05/30/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/20/2008 | 76300 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 01/14/2008 | 78000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/18/2008 | 84000 | 1 | 08/14/2006 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 65000 | 1 | 10/10/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/29/2007 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 11/17/2007 | 86260 | 1 | 10/20/2006 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/11/2006 | 1 | 02/20/2004 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 135000 | 1 | 09/01/2003 |
| Oil sludge has resulted in engine failure and has cost me $3,500 for an engine replacement. *jb | |||
| 05/06/2007 | 44000 | 1 | 06/01/2003 |
| 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. | |||
| 11/01/2006 | 94700 | 1 | 10/15/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/15/2007 | 72000 | 3 | 07/20/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/17/2007 | 04/28/2003 | ||
| 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! | |||
| 12/02/2006 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 11/03/2006 | 39875 | 1 | 03/28/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 05/20/2006 | 3 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/10/2006 | 70000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 03/15/2006 | 100000 | 1 | 03/03/2005 |
| 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. | |||
| 09/06/2005 | 34960 | 1 | 04/26/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/01/2003 | 1000 | 1 | 02/13/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/29/2005 | 6 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 10/29/2005 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 10/03/2005 | 62000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/18/2004 | 50 | 1 | 10/10/2003 |
| 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. | |||
| 11/29/2004 | 50000 | 1 | 03/27/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 04/10/2005 | 10000 | 1 | 07/01/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/13/2004 | 3 | ||
| 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 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 79000 | 1 | 10/21/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 08/08/2008 | 130080 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/15/2008 | 43500 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||