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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,438 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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1999 Dodge Intrepid Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #67

Feb 162009

Intrepid

  • 201,341 miles

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

1999 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 liter 4 door 200,000 miles clean car would not shift into it's parking gear after a short trip. After several attempts I was able to shift the car into park. The next morning the car would not shift out of park. I tried with considerable force and the shift cable broke..I removed the center console and repaired the shift cable arm which had bent and twisted in a forward direction allowing the cable to fall off. I was able to reshape the damaged arm and re attach the cable..the car still would not shift. The engine was running so I know it is not a shift cable inter-lock problem...I have know idea as to what created the problem. I have had regular oil changes and inspection made to the transmission, there was not any slippage..the parking paw would not engage and then not release...I allowed the car to warn to a normal operating temperature..I then tried to shift the car from park and it did without any resistance. I still need to have the shift cable adjusted, the car is operating in park/reverse/neutral and drive only... I am worried that this condition could happen again...have you any further reports of this occurrence?

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #66

Sep 022006

Intrepid

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. The contact noticed smoke coming from the exhaust. The dealer rebuilt the transmission and replaced the air conditioner pump. The failure mileage was 89,000 and current mileage was 104,000.

- Wolverine, MI, USA

problem #65

Jul 082004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles
Several problems with my 1999 2.7 liter Intrepid. First, problems with transmission shifting hard. Sent to dealer and diagnostics came back 'within parameters'. told it must be how we drive it. Since then, transmission would not shift between 2/3 gears. Left me stranded out of town. Had to replace the control module twice ($35 part). Keep a spare in the glove box just in case. Second problem, a clunking sound and ticking noise when turning steering wheel in either direction. Took to an independent repair shop, they wouldn't touch it. Have not had this problem corrected or seen by dealer. However, I have seen many tsb's on your website concerning this issue. Third, engine starting making a banging sound at about 126K. Had to have the engine replaced (bought a remanufactured engine) at a cost of $5000, was told something in the bottom end went. Couldn't afford to buy new car and have car payment. Only had 6 more payments to go. Was also told that this was common with these engines. Why is this engine still on the market if it has soooo many problems?

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

problem #64

May 022003

Intrepid 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

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

The car has had A/C problems. Electrical problems. Window problems. Transmission problems. And the 2.7 motor has been out of service since 2003! I need help. I still owe $8000 plus on this thing and I have not been able to use it since the fall of 2003. Thank you.

- East Liverpool, OH, USA

problem #63

Aug 042004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
First one of the fans went then a few months later the other went. From about 60,000 miles, I have blew blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe had seals replaced but did no good. Still smoking. Transmission went out completly. The the 1st fan is going out again. (hint) the plastic fans are junk!! the 2.7 liter is not enough for the Intrepid body I'm told. I'm planning on trading before we are stuck with another 2,000 repair bill on a vehicle kbbv at 2700.

- Archdale , NC, USA

problem #62

Mar 152005

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles
The timing chain was getting ready to snap. Took vehicle to the dealer because the engine was knocking and making a funny noise. Dealer stated that if consumer had to drive much further it would snap while driving it. There was oil sludge built up in the engine. This happened on March 15, 2005.

- West Milkwee , WI, USA

problem #61

Jun 152005

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The consumer stated the vehicle is making a loud ticking noise that was coming from the engine. The consumer was afraid to drive the vehicle because of the safety hazard of the vehicle stalling in traffic. Transmission was replaced on April 29, 2005. The brake pads were replaced at least once a month for approximately a year and a half. Vehicle has not been to a mechanic or a service dealer. Contact did not have the address of the dealer where the vehicle was purchased.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #60

May 092005

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles
I just had the check engine light on my car fixed, oil leak and transmission leak fixed, and the windows fixed because they were off track. My air conditioning unit is broke and I hate that because I have a newborn baby and its hot! I had to get a new transmission at 95,000 miles. I was unhappy about that. I hate my 1999 Dodge Intrepid.

- Hermitage, TN, USA

problem #59

Mar 242005

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • miles
While driving and upon stopping a stop sign vehicle shut down. Consumer got it started again. Vehicle surged forward before it got going again. Upon turning into a parking lot vehicle shut down again. Upon starting the vehicle again, it would not go into gear.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #58

Nov 282003

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
While driving vehicle was making an unexpected loud noise from the engine. Taken to the dealer for checkup because it was unable to start. Results showed that the vehicle needed a new transmission. Oil light kept coming on. Oil sending unit was replaced twice.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #57

Sep 112004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,207 miles

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

While driving at normal highway speeds the car suddenly downshifted, causing a terrible jolt to my family including two children. The jolt nearly caused an accident from cars behind us (the car does not light the taillights even though the car went from 60mph to 30mph in probably less than a second). We were told that the problem was the input and output transmission sensors. This is the second time this has occurred to us in 33000 miles!! we were lucky but this could easily cause a fatal accident to somesone. I hope the NHTSA will do something about this issue soon before a fatal accident does happen!!!!

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #56

Sep 052004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
My 1999 Dodge Intrepid had sludge in the oil making the engine in the car defective. I recently saw the report on wls in Chicago and I would like some answeres. This car was very well maintained and this should have not happened. I would like the makers to at least he a recall for the repairs my car needs considering that the engine that they put into these cars are not equipped to handle te size of this vehicale. We also have 4 other family members with this type of car and I'm afraid that this is going to happen to them. I'm not alone there are thousands of people, I'm sure that this problem has happened to them as well, but with all these people reporting the same sludgeand the 2.7 engines in these cars going out, this is a defective engine in this car. What can I do with the help of you to get my car runing again. My family needs this car. Right now it is sitting in a shop because to get another engine costs up to if not more than $5,000 which we do not have, and should be covered by the dealer considering that the engins is wrong for the car. Can you please contact and help me with this defect thank you.

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #55

Jun 092004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • miles
Problems with transmission on 1999 Dodge Intrepid. During an inspection, it was noticed that there was a transmission leak. The cause of the leak was due to an insufficient tightening of the clamp on the transmission lines that had supposedly been fixed. There was another incident where the vehicle started to lose acceleration. The consumer continued to press the gas pedal but the vehicle started to go slower than faster. The consumer also viewed smoke coming from under the hood. The service dealer told the consumer that nothing happened and to refill the transmission fluid. The consumer requested a refund of all expenses incurred.

- Maspeth, NY, USA

problem #54

Jul 212004

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles
While driving 60 mph the transmission malfunctioned. As a result the vehicle decelerated down to 30 mph without warning. Please provide additional information.

- Pocahontas, AR, USA

problem #53

Jul 012004

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,825 miles
This is a vehicle that was leased from the time it was new by a colleague and then was sold to me. It was impeccably maintained. With no warning vehicle would not shift and engine ran under strain. Car has less than 74,000 miles on it but two independent mechanics have declared the engine and transmission unusable. No repairs undertaken to date because of value analysis.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #52

Jun 292004

Intrepid

  • miles
While the vehicle was parked, it jumped out of gear and rolled down the street and hit a post. Consumer drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, and the mechanic determined that a pin fell out of the transmission shift gear, and it needed to be replaced.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #51

Jun 292004

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While the vehicle was parked.it jumped out of gea, and rolled down the street, hitting a post. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the pin fell out of the transmission shift gear, and needed to be replaced.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #50

Jun 212003

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
While driving in traffic vehicle stalled. Prior to this incident the engine light appeared. Dealership serviced vehicle 5 times, and provided a temporary solution. A repair shop performed a diagnostic test, and the failure codes were 700 and 701. This indicated a malfunction in the automatic transmission first gear due to a factory defect.

- Champaign, IL, USA

problem #49

May 092001

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,400 miles
Fails to go into overdrive. Safety factor, was on a 600 mile trip, got onto the interstate, and would not shift out of 3rd into overdrive. Was almost rear ended by semi truck, as was only doing 45 mph, as RPM were getting very high.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #48

Feb 272004

Intrepid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles
While driving at 45 mph and without any warning automatic transmission failed. Towed vehicle to the dealer, technician indicated the need for a new transmission, also had a problem with the engine.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

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