7th Jul 2004, 13:54

My car died on June 29th. The car ran perfectly. The car ran so quietly I thought it was off when it was on. Then suddenly tuesday my husband calls me from work wanting to know if the car had ever made any knocking sounds before (i was driving his car at the time). I tell him no I don't have any problems with my car. by 5pm that evening the car had left him stranded on the 64! I thought well surely it must be something minor I have my oil changed regularly maybe a belt came loose or something silly like that. Well this morning the dealer ship tells me I have oil sludge! and it will cost me 7000 to get it fixed. funny that's how much I owe on this car. (i bought it used with a carfax history done on it). and for all you doubters out there. I called the car recycling company to see how much they would take for it. they told me what engine I had (2.7) and it must be the oil sludge problem as soon as i told them the year of the car. I loved my 2000 dodge intrepid. now I'm mad and I don't know what else to do. I don't want to pay on something I can't drive. nor do I want to pay extra for a new-car by using this clunker as a trade in. WHAT AM I TO DO?!!

15th Jul 2004, 11:30

We have a 2000 Intrepid. My family was left stranded in Florida, 30 miles from the nearest town. There was no warning, no noise, just a sudden engine misfire and within a minute we were dead on the side of the road. After a trooper stopped, we waited for an hour for a tow. We were told by the dealership that we had blown the engine. Like everyone else on this board, we had regularly changed oil.

We heard no rod clanging or smoking or oil from the head. I've had the car to an independent garage down there (we're in Atlanta) and am awaiting a diagnosis I can trust. We owe $5000 on this car and if the engine is truly blown, we'll have to eat this loss. We feel betrayed, we feel foolish, and we are mad!

16th Aug 2004, 17:59

16 Aug. 2004

One week ago we bought a used 2000 2.7 Intrepid for our son to drive. Two days ago it just died on him as he was on his way home from work at 11:30pm. We are now either out the $5000 we paid for this car or can replace the engine for $3000-$5000. That is, if we can find an engine to purchase since they are obviously in great demand. The company should recall this automobile and not risk stranding people on the sides of roads. What a joke.

14th Sep 2004, 21:54

I own a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. I bought it used and has been reliable for two years. I changed the oil every 3,000 miles. While on the interstate and without warning the cars engine started to knock. We were thankful that we made it home and into the driveway. We had a small child on board and it was a very hot and humid day. The car was taken to the shop the next day only to find out that the engine is blown. The mechanic stated that the oil looked as though it had not been changed. Metal was also found in the oil. Although, the oil had been changed regularly, it wasn't enough to save the engine. I will never buy a chrysler again and will never recommend one to a friend.

17th Sep 2004, 14:31

I own a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. The car has been great until this year. First, the speed sensor goes, fortunately, I found a good mechanic near-by (I was out of town). Next, I spent $1,000 getting the A/C evaporator core changed out. I have heard from several sources, that this was a manufactures defect.

The A/C is not the worst of it. This weekend the 2.7 engine blew. The mechanic that I took it to said I should have changed the oil. He was surprised when I showed him the records of my oil changes. He and I both suspected that the chain lube company that I was using had been cheating me. According to a company that does factory rebuilds of engines, the Intrepid's engine has under sized oil ports, and because of this design flaw, this problem is very common in these engines.

I have really enjoyed this car until this year. I hope Dodge acknowledges its responsibility. I have been a loyal Dodge customer since I bought my first van in 1974.

21st Sep 2004, 07:48

Just add my name to the Intrepid's gone bad list... I own a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with 54,000 and a bad head gasket. No one is willing to help me - Chrysler - the dealer that I have faithfully gone to for the last TWELVE years - no explanation - nothing. I don't get it?? I LOVE my Intrepid - it's a smooth riding "roomy" car.

Why doesn't Chrysler just accept responsibility??

25th Apr 2005, 00:36

I've had a 2000 Dodge Intrepid since about November. I had no idea there was a huge epidemic and now I'm terrified. Everything about the car so far has been terrific with 70k miles on it, but after hearing these stories, I'd really like to get rid of this car before it turns bad on me so I can get the most money out of it. Any suggestions?

8th Jun 2005, 22:23

It is with great trepidation that I join your club. In 2002, after several good years I was surprised to find that my 1994 LHS 3.5L had rod/bearing problems and that the motor needed to be replaced. I sold the LHS and purchased a used 2000 Intrepid 2.7L. Within five months the motor failed due to rod/bearing problems. Fortunately the drive train was under warranty and we replaced it with a new short block. 18 months later the new motor began to knock. We took it to the dealership and found that the engine needed to be replaced due to rod/bearing problems. The dealership informed me that due to tight mechanical tolerances the oil needs to be changed religiously at 3000. What a crock of crap. We're 3 for 3 and I believe that Daimler/Chrysler needs to take responsibility for a defective design/product.

18th Jul 2005, 11:38

Same issue occured with my 2001 Intrepid. At 124000 Timing chain failed and destroyed the engine. Chrysler is charging $7500 for a replacement I have been told from dealers and phone assistance that chrysler is unaware of this problem and my claim is unique.

19th Dec 2006, 15:36

Dec.19,2006 5:15pm.

Hi am just trying 2 let people no how bad these car are I purchased a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7 engine for $3,600 and the car was running very smooth. The next two days I begin to notice a knocking noise in the engine. As I drove to the dealer the timing chain went out and destroyed the engine. the dealer charge me $3,800 to repair the car and I had to provide them with used cylinder heads because it was going to cost me almost $3,000 dollars for a new one wit warranty. in that hole year I spent nearly 8,000 on repairing the engine and I manege to get the car sold and recurved $3,000 dollar back and lost a large amount of money.

24th Jun 2007, 02:02

2007 June.

We have a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. We bought it used with 32,000 miles on it, and loved the car.

In 2004 our speed sensor went, and then the air conditioner sounds the same, and then our tie rods went bad. When the Dodge dealer replaced them, the steering column crumbled.

Now we are having the problem of the car just dying in the middle of a drive. Some days it will run good and others it will not run at all. We are in the military in Germany, so we are kind of stuck with it. It is hard to sell our car here, especially an american car.

23rd Mar 2011, 06:48

You might be one of the blessed ones that God has his hands on. Same problem in every case, I brought the car because I couldn't afford anything else.