CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Intrepid, Stratus & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.

NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.

Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.

This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,139 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1999 Dodge Intrepid engine problems

engine problem

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1999 Dodge Intrepid Owner Comments

problem #4

Jul 242005

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving down road going aprox. 35 mph. Car died, had to pull over on side of road. Car wouldn't start. Waited about 5 min. Then it finally started up.

- Concordia, MO, USA

problem #3

Mar 202012

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 153,024 miles
Purchased vehicle 01/30/12, test drove, checked fluids, made sure everything was working fine. Seller said he just had oil change and smog 1 month prior, he provided me documents confirming. Had no issues with vehicle, until about 03/20/12, the oil light came on, which was odd. I checked the oil, found it was completely empty, put 2 quarts in immediately, light went off. I started checking driveway daily for signs of oil leaking even though the car drove fine.03/28/12, car stalled, went completely dead, as I exited freeway, leaving myself and my 3yr. Old stuck in lane on off ramp for about 30 minutes.a passerby attempted to jump it, that didn't work, car had no power at all, we pushed it to a safer spot. I walked 2 blocks home. Came back next day, jumped it, it started but now there was a knocking sound coming from engine and oil light was back on. I checked the oil it read full, I drove car home it stalled 3 times in the 2 blocks home. Knocking sound continued I parked the car. The next day I took the car to my mechanic the oil light was still on the engine was still knocking. He checked oil again and confirmed the car did have oil, and detected no signs of leaking. He ran a diagnostic on engine, it detected no issues, he ran it again, and the results where the same. He drove the car, me in the passengers seat so he could get a hear the knocking sound when car was moving.backed out of lot driving about 10 to 12 mph, we got maybe half a block and the car went dead. He was able to guide car to side of road, when he pressed the brake to put the car in park, there was a barely audible bursting sound.we got out and found a thick black muddy type substance gushing out of the bottom from the front end, leaving a puddle the length and width of car. He immediately identified it as oil sludge, and said my engine had blown. We discussed my options and ultimately I had to have the car towed home it hasn't started.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #2

Jul 042012

Intrepid

  • 172,533 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. While driving approximately 60 mph, smoke emitted from under the hood. The contact drove to an independent auto shop and noticed that the engine had overheated and immediately dispensed water into the radiator reservoir. In addition, the radiator hose fractured. There were no prior warnings. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 172,533.

- Stocktown, CA, USA

problem #1

May 012012

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles
My sister bought the car brand new at a dealer in columbus Ohio..took the car to same dealer for all maintenance and repairs...last month the engine light kept going on...they did several repairs to fix it the last being putting in a new catalytic converter to the tune of 2500. The blue book is 3000....the next day the engine blew...the dealer wanted to put in a new engine...Chrysler is not taking responsibility. They claim to know nothing about a sludge problem...but if you google the car you will find page after page of complaints very similar to my sister's problem...and neither is the dealer taking any responsibility...my sister is almost 70 and has a husband who is a stroke victim...her hands are full.......my sister was ripped off and so have a lot of other americans....I would love to talk to someone who can help find some justice...

- Fort Bragg, CA, USA

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