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.
6.0
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$800
Average Mileage:
115,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
it was the rack from the rack and pinion steering (1 reports)
I'd like to first say that I love the Intrepid. Have the 2.7L and the 3.5L police version. the 2.7 has a bad steering problem. i have lots of play in the wheel. steering is very loose. i practically have to turn the wheel all the way in either direction to get the wheels to turn a little. when steering right the wheel flips back. on occasion, when steering left, the wheel locks on me. its looking more and more like the play in the wheel is caused by the tie rod bushings, so i think i'll try that. the locking, etc. seems to be another problem. some tell me it's the rack, some say it's the lock plate, others say it's the steering gear. please, if anyone else has this problem, or a similar one, please contact me with your solution. mikey6400@yahoo.com
Update from Sep 11, 2010: Found the problem...the rack (from the rack and pinion steering) went. $800. It's been in the shop for 2 and a half weeks. It took my guy about an hour to figure out what was wrong. He also fixed some other problems (mainly just cosmetic stuff) but was still waiting for the rack until 2 days ago. Hopefully, it'll be fixed soon. Been using my mom's '02 Chevy Malibu since the Intrepid is in the shop....boy do I miss the column-mounted shifter, bench seat, the roominess, and the police console of my intrepid. I hate tiny cars, especially when they have that pointless and space-wasting floor-mounted shifter and no room for a real console that you can actually do something with.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I'd like to first say that I love the Intrepid. Have the 2.7L and the 3.5L police version. the 2.7 has a bad steering problem. i have lots of play in the wheel. steering is very loose. i practically have to turn the wheel all the way in either direction to get the wheels to turn a little. when steering right the wheel flips back. on occasion, when steering left, the wheel locks on me. its looking more and more like the play in the wheel is caused by the tie rod bushings, so i think i'll try that. the locking, etc. seems to be another problem. some tell me it's the rack, some say it's the lock plate, others say it's the steering gear. please, if anyone else has this problem, or a similar one, please contact me with your solution. mikey6400@yahoo.com
Update from Sep 11, 2010: Found the problem...the rack (from the rack and pinion steering) went. $800. It's been in the shop for 2 and a half weeks. It took my guy about an hour to figure out what was wrong. He also fixed some other problems (mainly just cosmetic stuff) but was still waiting for the rack until 2 days ago. Hopefully, it'll be fixed soon. Been using my mom's '02 Chevy Malibu since the Intrepid is in the shop....boy do I miss the column-mounted shifter, bench seat, the roominess, and the police console of my intrepid. I hate tiny cars, especially when they have that pointless and space-wasting floor-mounted shifter and no room for a real console that you can actually do something with.
- mikey6400, Weehowken, NJ, US