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.
When I bought this car last year Feb. 2008, I had taken it back to the dealer for a shifting problem with the transmission, of which has never been fixed, but has not gotten any worse either. But, on the third and last visit to the dealer's garage for the same problem about the transmission, I noticed that there were more than 30 extra miles on the car when I picked it up. I know this because I wrote the mileage down in my notebook before leaving the car with them again. Also, when I went to pick it up, I noticed that there was some dry grass sticking out from under the under carriage in the front end on the driver's side and under the rear li. plate. I know that it was 'nt there before because I had the car. When I mentioned it to the shop manager, he denied anything had happened to it. I asked why there were so many miles put on for a test drive, and he said that it was only driven a few miles. NOT TRUE And every since that incident with the shop and manager, there has been the problem with the front-end. When I mentioned it to my son, he's a Truck Driver that works out in that area of the shop, and frequently on the freeway and the surface rd., in that area, had told me that he had seen a car that looks just like mine off the road in the median of the freeway and there was a young guy driving it and someone else was there also and that they were looking under the front-end of the car. Can't prove anything now, but there is something wrong in the drivers side front wheel area, I don't know if it is the steering relay rod or what, but it rubs and vibrates even when only slightly backing up and just barely turning the steering wheel to back the rear of the car to the right. Also, has some occasional hesitation in the engine too. I can't afford to fix either problem, may have to sell the car.
Hope that doesn't happen as the car is great other than that. I see so many intrepid on the road every where and have talked to many owners of these cars and they all love and enjoy the car too.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
When I bought this car last year Feb. 2008, I had taken it back to the dealer for a shifting problem with the transmission, of which has never been fixed, but has not gotten any worse either. But, on the third and last visit to the dealer's garage for the same problem about the transmission, I noticed that there were more than 30 extra miles on the car when I picked it up. I know this because I wrote the mileage down in my notebook before leaving the car with them again. Also, when I went to pick it up, I noticed that there was some dry grass sticking out from under the under carriage in the front end on the driver's side and under the rear li. plate. I know that it was 'nt there before because I had the car. When I mentioned it to the shop manager, he denied anything had happened to it. I asked why there were so many miles put on for a test drive, and he said that it was only driven a few miles. NOT TRUE And every since that incident with the shop and manager, there has been the problem with the front-end. When I mentioned it to my son, he's a Truck Driver that works out in that area of the shop, and frequently on the freeway and the surface rd., in that area, had told me that he had seen a car that looks just like mine off the road in the median of the freeway and there was a young guy driving it and someone else was there also and that they were looking under the front-end of the car. Can't prove anything now, but there is something wrong in the drivers side front wheel area, I don't know if it is the steering relay rod or what, but it rubs and vibrates even when only slightly backing up and just barely turning the steering wheel to back the rear of the car to the right. Also, has some occasional hesitation in the engine too. I can't afford to fix either problem, may have to sell the car.
Hope that doesn't happen as the car is great other than that. I see so many intrepid on the road every where and have talked to many owners of these cars and they all love and enjoy the car too.
- patricia m, Nampa, ID, US