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.

9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,680
Average Mileage:
101,850 miles
Total Complaints:
46 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine (40 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
  3. changed oil pump in motor (1 reports)
2000 Dodge Intrepid engine problems

engine problem

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2000 Dodge Intrepid Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #46

Nov 092012

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,032 miles

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

I was on my way to work and I heard a weird knocking noise so I went to pull of the interstate like you do and the car lost all power all the gauges dropped and the it quit running. I barely made it onto the shoulder. I popped the hood and the oil filter along with a large piece of metal (still attached to the oil filter) fell the hell off the car,like,fell off and all the oil ran out. The motor is locked up and from a first glance they think it threw a rod through the block and the oil pan or something of the like. I will never buy another dodge. Ever. I'm out of a car I'm looking at about $3,000 (rough estimate from the garage) to repair it and I have no form of warranty left and I'm just pretty much screwed.

- hgoins, LaFollette, TN, US

problem #45

Jun 292012

Intrepid 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles

I guess I was somewhat lucky considering what all others have gone through with their Dodge. I had mine for 10 years 138,000 miles before it too fell victim to the engine failure so many Dodge owners have experienced. I was driving to work one morning when all of the sudden, without any warning whatsoever, the car stalls at a stop. Could not get it started again so I pushed it off of the road. It was towed to a shop only to find out the engine had a blown head gasket. The cost of a new engine was much more than the value of the car so that was the end of the road. It wasn't until now that I find out about this major engine problem with this vehicle.I will certainly do my homework next time I purchase another vehicle.

- dodge2000, Flower Mound, TX, US

problem #44

Sep 012011

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,100 miles

Please help. My 2000 Dodge Intrepid is working on it's 2nd 2.7L motor in 5 years

- roymichay, Killeen, TX, US

problem #43

Sep 162011

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 182,000 miles

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

I have seen the complaints many times over the years with this vehicle... the timing chain went out at about 60000 miles and pistons pushed into the valves causing the head and valves and water pump to completely be damaged. The mechanic I had work on the vehicle told me it was a flaw design in Chrysler's 2.7 engines. the tension of the timing belt is oil driven with a very small hole for compressing the timing chain. It cost a pretty penny to fix and no not at Chrysler's great service dealer ships.... Luckily I figured this problem out and had the tensioner replaced when it started knocking and banging lightly... guess I knew what to look for in this faulty engine. I had it replaced twice just to keep the vehicle running for as long as I possibly could. I wasn't enough though. Frequent oil changes... tlc couldn't help this design. It finally has to go to the bone yard even after struggling with it for another 120,000 miles. I think Chrysler should live up to what they have done to so many people and take responsibility for what they have done....

- Robby S., Fostoria, Ohiio, US

problem #42

Oct 202011

Intrepid ES 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

2.7 dodge Intrepid I need to say no more . This engine is junk!!!

- Charles M., Keyser, WV, US

problem #41

Jul 202011

Intrepid SE 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

click to see larger images

engine failure

I've had my 2000 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L for 5 months. On the test drive, I asked the salesman what the ticking sound was and he said it was the brakes. Funny, I've had cars for 27 years and that was NOT a brake sound. Car drove great besides that so I bought it. With hindsight being 20/20, I now know it was the beginning of the end. I seemed to get the coolant to stabalize without a mechanic. It was running great even in 100 degree heat. The dealership I bought it from had a free 27 multi-point inspection so of course I took advantage of it. I told the service tech when I arrived that I was on unemployment and couldn't afford anything but the free inspection. Long story short, the car was running fine when I got to the dealership. Upon picking my car up I couldn't help but notice a thick milky dried spray all over my car from the very front to the top of my windshield. Long story short and many calls to many people later, the dealership swears they never touched my car. Strange, because I brought it in for the FREE inspection. Also, where did all this milky fluid come from? It wasn't there before. I caught the tech lying to me on several occasions and confronted him on these issues. The biggest one is that it never even made it into a bay. Funny, I saw it in the bay myself and the plastic was over the seat and the paper floormat was down. I insisted on knowing what the milky substance was and I heard a mechanic tell him it came from the coolant system. So, help me figure this out, if my car was never touched then how do you know how to explain what happened? This all happened on 7/20/11. I got in contact with Dodge Corporate and have a case number. That's all I know at this point. So I JUST called the Service Manager at the dealership and he went balistic on me. Screaming and yelling, wouldn't listen to reason, said he didn't care and if I didn't like it to contact Chrysler. He said my actual facts were nothing but heresay.

All I know is I went in with a car with a few problems and left with a car that suddenly has no oil and was smoking. It won't even start now. My only problem previous was the coolant system and I got that fixed. They created an oil problem and now are making me out to be a jerk? Chrysler cannot be allowed to get away with this! I have six chronic illnessess and am unemployed. The only reason I had the money to buy that car was because my mom passed away and it was all I could afford. In a way, that car is my Mom to me. My very first car was a 1968 Plymouth Fury III. Guess I was lucky enough to buy only GM's and Ford's after that. But, here we are with a 3,500 lb and $4000 paperweight. We bail the auto companys out when their in danger of folding and this is the thanks we get? Anyone know of a lawsuit? The BBB is my next step. I'm just lost!

- glotzback, Commerce City, CO, US

problem #40

Sep 092011

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 180,000 miles

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

Other engine bites the dust because of Oil sludge.

- Michael J., La Mesa, CA, US

problem #39

Nov 132010

Intrepid LS 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

THIS CAR IS THE WORST PIECE OF MANUFACTURING BS THAT YOU CAN HAVE! ITS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. IF ITS NOT THE TRANSMISSION, ITS THE ENGINE AND IF ITS NOT THAT THEN ITS THAT RACK OPINION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EITHER WAY ITS SOME BS. DODGE SHOULD PAY ME BACK FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

- jamilkhalid, Canton, MI, US

problem #38

Mar 232011

Intrepid 2.7L Dohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,169 miles

good for nothin' piece of junky ass sh*t had sludge in the oil pan. It froze the oil pump & I had to take the damn thing apart and put the new oil pump in. And now just pray to f@ckin god it works

- firemanwolf, Sand Fork, WV, US

problem #37

Sep 062010

Intrepid ES 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 183,000 miles

I have been hearing about engine failure on the 2.7 and now it has finally happened to me. Thanks Dodge!

- rockm30, Grayson, GA, US

problem #36

Aug 142004

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,100 miles

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

going home from work and the car just stop running. call my son and we toll it to his shop . and the engine had to be replace brought a use one. I have alway keep up with all the oil change's and tune up . and so . I love my car but dodge need to come up with the replace for the engine . once a year I have to change the temp thing 104.00 . because the car will get real hot . and all the water will come out . I am new at this and I seen this on the web site and need to put my two cent in. It cost me $4995.00 to replace the engine and then the gas filter need to be replace . I think the money I have put into the car I could of have a new one. Are money so I can go on my Vac. now I just pray that it will keep me going to work and home . At this time I can not buy a other car .

- Linda M., Stockton, CA, US

problem #35

Aug 112010

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 199,000 miles

we bought this car not even 6 months ago,and while I was driving the motor just stopped out of no where.The car was running fine up to that point,and my husband has worked on cars his whole life so the oil and everything else was done regularly.We have 2 little ones and my husband works construction so hes layed off during the winter so having to buy another car right now is such an inconvenience.We have heard from everyone we called about finding another engine that these 2.7 motors suck and they all fail evetually so its not even worth fixing the engine or getting a new one.

So now money that should be used to get ahead for the winter or on my children has to be used to buy another car,not even 6 months after buying this piece of sh*t dodge.NEVER AGAIN and I will make sure everyone I know doesnt buy one either since dodge cant take responsibility for their sh*tty vehicle.Customers are always right,especially when there are hundreds of thousands of people with the same problem...hmmmm it might just be dodge and not the people who have the cars.Just sayin,use a little common sense dodge!

- Samuel A., Chicopee, MA, US

problem #34

Jul 172010

Intrepid 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

we had just purchased our dodge intrepid (2000) in February 2010 , we loved the car, lots of room, lots of power, great condition. didn't know that there was an engine problem in the intrepids? we had our oil changed every 3000 miles, the engine light came on "just" one time, engine made a loud noise..... I stopped at the next gas station, about a mile up the road. Checked the oil, NOTHING ON THE DIPSTICK...I couldn't believe it. I had the car towed to the garage. Had to have the engine replaced, had a hard time finding a used engine for it. The really bad part about it is I just purchased it in February, now added expense of $2500.00 for engine, and now as soon as we get it back from the garage, not sure if we should trust it, or if there is anything that we can do? But, I guess we should trade it in, while it is still running?

- Julie I., Karthaus, PA, US

problem #33

Aug 152003

Intrepid SE 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I was told repeatedly, that the engine failure was due to my neglect in changeing motor oil. I personnaly changed my oil, and had Lightening Lube change it when I was unable.

- jwv58, Hudson, NH, US

problem #32

Apr 222010

Intrepid 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,500 miles

The 2.7 Liter engine started knocking, the check engine light came on, the oil light came on, and the engine died. There was fresh oil, oil filter, and air filter installed less than ten miles before. When the engine started knocking, I drove less than 10 miles in an attempt to get it home and parked (it did not make it). I understand Chrysler has made changes to newer models to correct this problem, but has done nothing to compensate the customers that bought this defective product. So much for Chrysler standing behind its products.

- Karen L., Harvest, AL, US

problem #31

Mar 272010

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 134,000 miles

car was running great, no indication of any problems. Jumped time and broke engine components.

- klnewsome, Springfield, KY, US

problem #30

Mar 042010

Intrepid 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,300 miles

I bought this car after Easter 2009 for $3,300.00 kept oil changed and no problems until March 4 2010 heard funny noise under the car but it stopped right away continued to drive to work parked car. 15 minutes later get in the car and it won't start, engine turning but no ignition. Car towed and report given your radiator was empty, we poured water in it to check it and it fizzed up like a milk shake which means there is leakage from oil pan to the engine? and it will cost $3,000 or more to replace the engine.

Since other things were breaking down it was not worth it. I called five auto wreckers and was offered from $100 to $250 for the car even though the body is in excellent condition. they all said same thing. It must be the 2.7L engine I have several of those with great body and no engine. Nobody is asking for any body parts or other mechanical parts for this car. The guy who will give me $250 said he can probably sell the tires to make his money on this car. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THIS PLEASE LET ME IN. Thank you.

- altaaz, Tucson, AZ, US

problem #29

Jan 282010

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 174,000 miles

This is just the icing on the cake. This car has had so many problems. I will never get another Dodge/Chrysler car ever again

- Mahrquise P., Tallahassee, FL, US

problem #28

Dec 042009

Intrepid ES 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I bought this piece o crap brand new. at about 50000 miles I found out that the 2.7 motor was a timebomb just waiting to expode. nothing I can do about it, at 85000 mls. it started sounding like a diesel motor. i took it to a garage the mechanic tolled me it was the timing belt tensioner and he would not fix it. several garages said the the same thing we don't want to fix it. so I now have to replace the motor with a rebuilt one. no more dodges for me and been driving them since I was 17.

- Hugh C., Middleboro, MA, US

problem #27

Feb 152005

Intrepid LX 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

My hsuband was driving it, heard a loud pop and it died. We took it to the dealership where I purchased it, they said they could replace the engine for about $7000. With all the complaints about this particular engine with this problem I agree that there should be a recall on this. My parents owned only Dodge vehicles and never had a problem with any of them. The company really needs to step up to the plate on this one and make it right,

- Diantha B., Wichita Falls, TX, US

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