7.3
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$2,710.00
Average Mileage:
88,909 miles
Total Complaints:
17 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (6 reports)
- new engine (4 reports)
- mechanic removed as much sludge as possible (3 reports)
- change grade of oil (2 reports)
- engine flush (2 reports)
engine problem
Helpful Websites About 2002 Dodge Intrepid oil sludge in the engine
2005Jun 15
Intrepid SE 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 248,000 miles
My Intrepid was owned by my father, who gave it to me for my birthday last year. The car is a mechanical prodigy. You never see these Intrepids make it past 150,000 or even that far. Anyway, my dad used this car as his company car that he traveled in. Many issues came up in the last 7 years of it's life. I think first, to my surprise, the transmission went bad, it was pretty much rebuilt, and that's happened twice. Then, like most of the others the timing belt was a big issue. We had that replaced. Then, the big one, the engine sludge, my dad started out using the synthetic oil for a while, i think about up to 150,00, but then we had the leaking issue. We started used 5w-40, a relativity thicker oil. It stopped whatever leaking there was before that. One major thing you do not need to do with this car, is to never lay out on the gas. This car is defiantly just not made for high stress situations. My father's previous car's have made it past 300,000 and this one most likely will, too. It's all in your driving habit's and that you really on this car just need to change the oil every 3,00 miles, or even less than that. I can definitely say this car is a total piece of crap, but you just need to baby it like it has 500,000 miles on it.
2008Dec 17
Intrepid ES 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 59,100 miles
I have a 2002 dodge intrepid with an engine full of oil sludge...........i haven't even driven the car in 3 or 4 years due to me being in the military......it was in storage.......first it used to run hot, so i had a new water pump and timing belt put in it.....(about $600) then the oil light started to flicker......then it started missing....the cam sensor went out....put that one in myself......now the heat doesn't work it is running at a high rpm and just found out that it has an oil leak somewhere.....this car is a piece of crap....and i just finished paying it off last February for way more than it was worth......
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Nov 21
Intrepid ES 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 112,000 miles
I'll NEVER buy a dodge again !
I've always changed oil regularly and also did engine flush. The oil light came on, along with a knocking sound from the engine. The dealer now says the engine has to be replaced !
2007Oct 01
Intrepid 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
my complaint is you you guys i have a 2002 dodge intrepid and its fine yes my water pump went out yes the oil light came but you know what i fixed it my trep runs good better then any Chevy and passing up stock gt mustangs keep up with you oil changes you wont have these problems ok you say you change it every 3 months or 3000 miles but are you using the right oil your probably not they say use a 5/30 or 5/20 because the pick up tubes are to small wrong use a Mobil 1full 5/30 in the winter and 10/30 in the summer oh and don't be afraid here and there that's why you have carbon build up because you baby it you grandma driver who ever said its bab to get on you car here and there well their wrong mines running fine and will keep going for another 100,000 miles and probably more so stop your crying its not the car its you get off your dead lazy butt and do some work to your car take care of it yes im an american Irish and Indian im sorry to say yes when you buy an american car your going to have to do work to it ounce and a while so get up put the hoho down and take care of your car it could be worse it could be like my p o s Chevy with the dex cool and a 30,000 mile replacing the top end of the motor because Chevy cant do anything write they still are putting dex-cool in their cars today
2008Aug 01
Intrepid ES 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 92,000 miles
After in depth checking, I found out that the EPA required US automakers to reduce the oil galley drains in the heads from 1/4" in diameter to 1/8" inch in diameter. The purpose was to keep the oil warmer. One thing Dodge failed to recognize was that a 10W30 oil is way to thick for the reduction in drain hole size. When I found hints of sludge, I switched to a 5W20 oil all year round, and continued to change at 2500-3000 mile intervals and have put 40,000 miles and the engine has ZERO sludge in it. So when you change your oil, use a 5W20 or 0W20 Mobil 1 if you like using synthetic oil.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Apr 15
Intrepid ES 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
First of all let me say we bought the car in April of 2002 and within two months the engine had blown in it. We took it in and they wanted to put a short block in it we told them no we wanted a new engine or car. Finally after arguing with them for several weeks they installed the engine, my husband was there to make sure the new engine was put in. Then last year the engine light came on and the oil light. We took it in to the Dodge place and he put it on the machine and said it had a bunch of sludge and the engine was no good. So I asked did the warranty cover it and he said show me all your slips where you have changed the oil. Well my husband changed the oil and I wrote it down in our book but I did not save the receipts. So we took it home and ran some solution through it for sludge and after doing this twice the sludge was all gone and the car is running fine. Now it is overheating, we are hoping that its just the water pump. Seems these Intrepids are having a lot of problems with SLUDGE. Need to do something about it.
2008Feb 07
Intrepid SE 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
Do you have a check oil light on your 2.7L engine?
Are you hearing lifters starting to tap?
If your car mileage is reaching about 80 or 90 k miles, it is sludge! If you start to notice the light staying on and any tapping in the lifter's, stop driving it. The best repair for this is to remove the oil pan and clean the sludge from the pick up tube screen for the oil pump. I have tried using engine flush, don't bother it doesn't help, this stuff is sticky, but hard and solid chunks about 1/8 to 1/4" this sludge builds up in parts of the engine then starts dropping into your oil pan. Any way it's about a 2 hour job, not bad at all. reuse the oil pan gasket, you will most likely need to do it again, once this is done and your oil pressure is normal, even more sludge comes dropping into the pan. After I did this the first time I drove 7 miles, the light came on again and lifters started tapping, this time it was completely plugged. I removed the filter ( which had been sucked dry) and did the whole procedure over again. ****Heres the trick, get some steel mesh screen like for a security screen door about 12" x 12" and mechanics wire, bring the edges up around the pick up tube and twist wire it to secure it. you will have a baseball size screening area at the pick up tube to catch the chunks of sludge before it clogs the tube screen. So far this is working well on my 2002.
Tools you will need: ratchet, extension, 10mm., 13mm., 15mm., sockets, 10mm. wrench.
2007Nov 08
(reported on)Intrepid 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 53,000 miles
My husband and I have a 2002 Dodge Intrepid that was purchased in 2003 with 13,000 miles on it. We have only averaged about 6,000 per year on this piece of junk and have done oil changes every 2500 - 3000 miles. Just last month the engine began knocking so we brought it to our mechanic who informed us that he heard of nothing but problems with this engine and that he thought there was a class action lawsuit against Chrysler but I have found no such thing. He said that we needed a new engine @ about $5,000 - $7,000. Well considering that we still owe $3,000 on this car and financed it for $15,000. I will not put anymore into this Lemon. He suggested we take it to the dealer and see if maybe Chrysler would maybe fix it knowing that they put a bad engine in this car. Nope! The dealer was very hopeful and said that Chrysler is very aware of this problem and would probably help considering that it is a manufacturing defect (quoted by the service manager). Chrysler came back saying that the cost would be $6000.00 for the new engine but we would have to pay a $2500.00 co-pay. It is almost Christmas, and I for sure don't have any extra money hand out. What should I do? Please help!
2007Nov 04
(reported on)Intrepid 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,800 miles
The car was in the shop 11/02/07 having the water pump replaced. The mechanic found the sludge under the valve covers. He said he has seen it several times with the Chrysler 2.7L engine. The only thing he could do was try cleaning it with solvent and rags. He had to remove the valve covers twice and change the oil three times. I didn't have an engine failure, but one was probably close.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Aug 21
(reported on)Intrepid 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
In 2003 I purchased a 2002 Dodge Intrepid, a dealership demo. I have had no problems with it until last summer when I had to replace the oil sending unit. Everything seemed to be ok until late July 2007 when the car overheated. I got it to a repair shop and was told that the water pump had gone out and the thermostat and thermostat housing were also bad. This repair shop would not touch it because of the level of difficulty and cost of these repairs. I had it towed to the dealership where I thought I could trust the repairs being done. After a week and a half my car was finally ready. I barely made it home with it. About two thirds of the way home the car started knocking and felt loose. The closer I got to home the louder it got. Just as I turned into my drive the car shut off. I had it towed back to the dealer the next morning. On the forth day of it being in the shop for the second time I get a call telling me that it needs a new engine because of sludge in the oil. The cost of a rebuilt engine $8500 and 6 months worth of payments still due on it. I have recently learned that this is a problem with this car and has been for many years. Why are they still making them? Are we going to have the same problem with our Dodge Ram? This is sickening. How can a company this large care so little about the products they put on the market. They should have their butts sued into the ground. I was considering replacing it with another Dodge - maybe not if this is what can be expected. If you own an Intrepid get rid of it while you still can.
2007Jun 08
(reported on)Intrepid 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 63,029 miles
i had the car less then a year. bought it a year old. had to put new engine in less then a year from purchase. they would not cover warranty because i did not keep receipts from oil changes but half of the time my husband was the one to change oil. less than a year later engine blew again from oil sludge under warranty but had to pay for a rental for one month. cost $5000.00 first time, $1000.00 the next year. crappy service from a 4 star dodge dealer. adrian dodge in michigan. so not happy!!!
2007Mar 01
(reported on)Intrepid SE 2.7 DOHC V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
I have a extended warranty on the car and I wish i didn't get it. You just about have to pull teeth to get them to do anything. I noticed the oil light coming on for about a month now and took it to the dealer and they told me that the oil sensor had to be replaced. Fine, $61 later it was ok for about a month and the oil light came on again. Just like the other complaints I've seen on here, I bought the car thinking it would be a reliable car and my old car was better than this and it was a Ford Taurus. One day while I was at work a customer told me the problems he was having about a Dodge Intrepid, I asked him what year his car was and he said it was a 1995 with a 2.7. He had all the same problems, luckily he was a mechanic, he said the oil light coming on was the oil pump going out, but when he replaced it the engine went out anyways. He then told me that the Intrepid was Chryslers throw away car just like the Ford Taurus.
For the Warranty company to step up to the place and pay for something, I had to authorize a mechanic to strip down the engine and identify the problem. This would cost me $1700 up to this point. Of course then they would send out an inspector to come and look at the car. And no matter what the mechanic said to the claim adjuster, they wouldn't do it any other way. So I told the mechanic to hold off because it would mean I'm out of a car for about two weeks or longer. He told me to power brake the car at lights to keep the oil pressure up so it wouldn't blow... Yeah right!!! I took the car to the dealership I bought it from and the service manager said to take it somewhere and have an engine oil flush done because the oil screen would cloud up and cause the oil light to come on. I found a place and it cost me a total of $135.00, the oil light hasn't come on yet but now the water light is coming on now. Another dealership told me that the sensor is going out on that!! And I CAN'T TRADE IT IN BECAUSE I OWE OVER $9000 ON THE CAR LOAN. You know I had over $3000 in repair costs on the Taurus and somebody out there hates me I know it!! I bought this car because the Ford was dying and after I bought the Dodge died completely, won't start or anything.
2007Feb 19
(reported on)Intrepid ES 2.7L
- Automatic transmission
- 68,923 miles
I HAD PURCHASE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID IN 2003. IT WAS THE PRETTIEST CAR I THOUGHT. UNTILL 1 DAY I WAS DROPPING MY FRIEND OFF AT HOME. I CAME UP TO A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR BEGIN TO LOSE POWER AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. SO THE OIL LAMP BEGIN TO FLICKER AND THEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. SO I HAD TO GET TWO GUYS TO PUSH THIS WHAT I KNOW NOW A PIECE OF SH** OUT OF THR ROAD. I SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE UNTIL A GUY CAME BY AND HELP ME WITH MY CAR. THEN I CUT THE CAR BACK ON AND THE IT MADE A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A DAM 757 JET. THE MOTOR RATTLED AND THE CAR KEPT ACTING LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. THEN IT HAPPENED THE DAM THING CUT OFF ON ME. I HAD TO PULL MY CAR IN A TURN LANE AND WALK ALMOST 2 MILES TO GET TO A PAY PHONE. BECAUSE BOTH OF MY CELL PHONES WHERE DEAD. AND NOT 2 MENTION I HAD 2 WAIT 2 LONG HOURS ON TOW TRUCK TO TOW THIS PIECE OF SH** HOME. SO I CALLE DTHE DODGE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE AND MOTOR IN THIS CAR IT WOULD COST ME $5,000-$10,000 DOLLARS JUST TO REPLACE THIS MOTOR. THATS NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR ON IT. THE DAM CAR AINT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH IN MY EYES. SO DUE THIS DAMING MOTOR MY CAR GOT REPOED. AND NOT TO MENTION THEY SOLD IT FOR $2,000 DOLLARS LOL. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH PAYING FOR A CAR THAT WAS A PIECE OF SH** FROM THE GET GO. THAT I DON'T EVEN OWN, AND ALL THE DEALER CAN SAY IS THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I DIDN'T TAKE OF MY CAR. I BABIED MY DAM CAR, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY ONLY MEANS TO GET AROUND. BUT I WILL NEVA EVA BUY ANOTHER DAM DODGE. AND I HOPE THEY GET WHAT THEY DESREVE. BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THAT THEY CARS HAVE.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Jan 28
(reported on)Intrepid V6
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
I've had my Dodge for approximately 3 yrs. I bought mine in October 2003. I Like many of the other Dodge owners had always heard about how badly Dodge sucked and that they were very problematic. I was positive that it was all BS because I hadn't had any problems with my vehicle. Until July of last yr, my car overheated and caused the coolant to explode all over, it was indeed a mess! I took it in to repair and it cost me $980.00 , and that was supposed to be a deal! So I was sure that I wouldn't be having any more problems, then like a month ago I started to hear a knocking sound in the engine so I took it to the shop and the Technician mentioned that he knew of many other Dodge owners having the same problem and that the engine failed around the same miles as mine. He recommended that I buy a used engine and have it replaced. He said that would be my best bet, but now after reading all of the other complaints I realize that eventually it will end up happening again to the used engine! Also My fiance and I are in the process of buying our 1st new home and we still owe $9,000 on this peice of s**t vehicle, now I find myself in dept because of the simple fact that I don't have $4,000 in my budget to spend on the repairs for this vehicle. I'm just waiting for the engine to blow up on me any f**kn min......... I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A DAM DODGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006Nov 10
(reported on)Intrepid SE 2.7L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 94,600 miles
Car was running fine. Engine light came on one morning. Took car to reputable service center and was told car engine if full of sludge and timing chain needed to be replaced. BAM!!!! $2400 bill. I still owe over $5000 on this car and it is only 4 years old. If I trade this vehicle in for another car, I won't even get the payout on the loan to break even. Chrysler flooded the market with this vehicle by selling them to rental centers and used car lots - why? Again, an American consumer gets taken!!! That's not all though. After paying to have sludge removed and timing chain replaced, two weeks later, engine light comes on again!! This time it's the transmission. BAM!!!! "What will this cost?" $2200 Ma'am!!! "What the hell?" With the money spent in less than a month, I could have practically paid off the balance on this car loan!!!!!!@@@##$%% Thanks again Chrysler! Your corporation knows this problems exists and you choose to do nothing. Well, this is what I choose to do - NEVER will I buy a Chrysler/Dodge product again and I will tell everyone that I know that knows someone else what has happened to me. Somehow, I hope this will make a difference to your profit line. Buy American - yeah, right!
2006Jan 26
(reported on)Intrepid 2.7L V6
- 78,000 miles
B.S. 20 miles before the warrenty was up the car's heat went out. I took it to chrysler and they told me that it was the water pump. They also recommended that I fix the timing chain. The timing chain was not covererd because it was not broke. I declined. Lucky for me I still had a warrenty. I later took the car to get the belts replaced. The shop told me that the 2.7 engine was dog sh*t.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 07
Intrepid LX 2.7L
Replaced my cam shaft in July because my engine light kept coming on. This was determined to be the problem. A few weeks later I was on my way to work and the car wouldn't shift. Found someone to rebuild it for about a $1000. I was then told to " Sell it while it is still running because these engines are crap!". I can't afford a new car so I continued to drive it until I was on the way to work this morning and it died. Guess what?? Sludge on the engine. I am a single mother with two kids. I just started a new job and this car has made me be late for and on some occasions miss work. Don't buy this car. The whole thing is done! I hate Dodge and will never buy one again!
mnessel
Eau Claire, WI, USA
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