1999 Dodge Intrepid ES 3.2L
Summary:
Best ride I have ever owned, and I have owned 6different cars and/or trucks in the last 26 years
Faults:
Speed sensor failed at 80,000 miles.
Driver's window does not always open when you push the switch, slamming the door makes it work.
Transmission replaced at 85,000 miles.
A/C compressor replaced at 90,000 miles.
Rear driver's side window has never worked.
Right rear door lock switch making a terrible noise and not unlocking the door.
General Comments:
My Intrepid is the best car I have ever owned. Quick off the line, fantastic 40-80 mph acceleration, rides well, I don't just ride in my car, I DRIVE my car, so I expect wear and tear costs over time.
I saw comments about owners having transmission problems, leaving them with only 1st gear and reverse... this is the how the car tries to save itself in case of trans failure, and is a normal occurrence, it happened when my speed sensor failed. You have just enough trans left to drive yourself to the dealer, and I think it's a great thing.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th January, 2006
11th May 2006, 11:20
I agree with the second comment. Chrysler's 3.3 and 3.5 engines some of the best engines around. They've been using the 3.3 in Chrysler minivans since 1986, so they've gotta be doing something right, don't they?
By the way, if you go to www.Allpar.com, you can look at the 200,000 mile club and you'll see a large number of Intrepids with over 200,000 miles. You can also read about the 2.7 and see why it fails, and what they did to correct the problem during the 2002 model year.
21st May 2006, 19:15
I will also have to agree with the rest of you. The 2.7L is the bad seed of the bunch, I am always hearing something bad about them, even from other places than on this web site.
Although my 99 Intrepid ES has had quite a few issues, the 3.2L V6 engine it has is really good, along with the identical 3.5L V6 they put standard in the Intrepid's sibling, the Chrysler 300M. Too bad the transmissions on all models are garbage.
5th May 2006, 19:16
I am responding to the last comment that the 3.3L is not one of the bad engines. There are only 2 bad Mopar engines; one being the famous 2.7L, and the other is the 4.7L in the Dodge Dakota. In fact the 3.3L is one of the best engines ever built.
I have a 1996 Dodge Intrepid 3.3L with 207,912 miles, and it's still on its first transmission and engine, and has never been rebuilt!
I also got it brand new, and have never had any problems with it! It is an over head valve engine, and it also has only 161 hp, but it seems like it has 261hp. It is very fast and has lots of power!!