Clicking sound coming from the engine.
Interior lights flicker from dim to bright at night when headlights are on.
This is a nice roomy car.
However it has too many problems at 51000 miles.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 13th November, 2004
It has been a great choice.
Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with this car. Routine maintenance has provided a great family car, with lots of trunk space. We have taken it on several trips in lieu of our SUV because it is more comfortable, rides better, and has more storage room.
I am surprised at the number of people who posted that they have had problems with this vehicle. It has been wonderful. We were looking for a family car and have always been pleased with our choice.
At 63,000 miles we replaced the brakes and rotors, had it inspected and commented on what a great buy it was.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th November, 2004
This car is trash waiting to happen
My Thermostat Housing cracked at 38K.
My Cam Sensor (whatever that is) gone at 38K.
Brake Rotors shot at 45K.
My Starter Motor bad at 50K.
Lost oil pressure at 65K.
This was the worst car I ever had.
Thank God for this web site! I sold the car right before the engine blew. My oil light started going on when the engine got warm. By reading all the other postings I knew what was next!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 2nd November, 2004
I replaced 1 speed sensor at 30k miles, another at 34k miles.
The motor started knocking at 52k miles and I was told there was major internal damage. The dealership said the motor would have to be replaced for $4,600.
The cam sensor went out at 54k miles.
The thermostat went out at 55k miles.
I have changed the oil religiously every 3k miles.
At this point I am scared to leave city limits for fear of breaking down.
If only they would last until they were paid for.
Makes me believe I'll never buy Dodge again
The timing chain to the vehicle broke at 50,000 miles. Cost to fix it, $1,500.00.
The timing chain broke again at 77,000 miles. Cost to fix it, $800.00.
I have put 44,000 miles on my car since owning it and the timing chain has broke twice.
The power windows stopped working.
The horn stopped working.
The 2.7 liter engine has a known fault with the water pump being connected directly to the timing chain. When the water pump goes bad and freezes up, it causes the timing chain to break.
After buying the car, I found that a short time later the resale value of the vehicles dropped so much that I am finding it hard to trade the vehicle in. I can't afford to trade the vehicle and yet can't afford to keep fixing it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 23rd October, 2004
Worst hunk of junk I've ever owned, I would rather have my 1984 Chevy back! Just say no to Dodge!
9/16/04 oil leaking from an unknown source, mechanic advises to replace the oil pan gasket at 150.00.
10/13/04 Engine blows at 70,000, repairs to cost anywhere from 3700-6500 and there's no guarantee that it won't happen again!
Never ever buy a Chrysler product if you value money.
This car is an absolute nightmare.
I will never even consider buying another Chrysler again, this manufacturer should be recalling this engine!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 14th October, 2004
I love the look, drive and feel, but I am afraid of the dependability
I do see the gray smoke that everyone is talking about when I start the car. It scares me and I only have 32,000 miles on the car.
I hear a slight ticking in the engine when I first start the engine.
I'd like to know if there is any type of preventative maintenance to do besides the typical oil change. I have it changed on a regular basis, but I am seeing the gray smoke out of the tail pipe. I am afraid that it will die on me, as it is my only car right now. I have sold my Mustang & am completely relying on driving this car each day. If someone knows what I can do, please post it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 17th September, 2004
Sell it!!! your engine has sludge in it.
It might be an emissions issue. I have a 1995 T-Bird and a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. I have never experienced that with my Intrepid es, but I have with my T-Bird. I had a problem with my catalytic converter on my T-Bird, which caused it to shake every once and a while at a stop light like it wanted to die out, then when the light changed I saw grey smoke out the tail pipe and it did have a certain smell to it. Once I got it fixed I never saw it agian. That might be one possible answer. But if it is blowing out the grey smoke it sounds like it would be an emissions issue. Have it checked out and see what it is before it gets worse.
I would suggest having your cooling system pressure flushed to clean out rust, scale, and any blockages that could lead to warping the head. It's good that you change your oil regularly, but I would suggest that you change your oil every 3,000 miles for highway driving and every 2,000 miles if you do stop and go city driving. Ignore the stuff you hear about changing oil every 5,000 or 7,500 miles. Also, if you are worried about sludge, start using Mobil 1 synthetic oil. It's about $5/quart, but it really will make your engine run smoother. I'm not sure what you mean by gray smoke, or whether it's a problem. Do you mean steam? That would be white, and it isn't necessarily a sign of a blown head gasket, it could only be condensation in the tailpipe. On the other hand, if you really have excess colored smoke, it could just be an indication that you need a tune-up (new spark plugs and air filter).
16th Apr 2005, 21:52
I also own a 1998 Dodge Intrepid mine is the ES and I too have the problem with my headlights dimming at night. Also my car is making that whole clicking sound when I try to turn the engine on. I can't always get it to start. People keep saying its the starter, but I really honestly don't believe it is.