Wife was riding along and talking with me on the cell phone when we hear this loud noise that was coming from the engine. She was less than 2 miles from home, so I told her to just continue driving. I met her outside and it sounded like something was stuck in the radiator. I checked it out and found nothing. The engine was ticking and I checked the oil and the dip stick was bone dry. We had just checked the oil a week prior. There had been no evidence of oil leaking or anything.

We took the car to a Meinke dealership that always treats us fairly and he stated that the engine looked bad and to take it to the dealership. We went to Sunflower Dodge and they told us the timing tensioner was broken and couldn't guarantee us how long it would last if they fixed it since the engine had so much sludge built up in it. We spent $700 for them to fix it and the mechanic called us and told us that it jumped time (tensioner broke) after the first start up. Recommendation: A new or reconditioned engine at the price of $6000 on the reconditioned and $8500 on the new engine.

The dealership offered to work out a trade, but we opted to keep the car rather than go deeper into debt. We owe $8000 on this junk and will have it fixed soon so we can trade it in and get some money off of it. This engine is a nightmare... Stay away from it.

I only had my Intrepid for 1 1/2 years. I got it at 49,000 miles and on January 2nd, 2004 the engine was knocking, it did get me all the way to work, but wouldn't start back up. I found out the timing tensioner broke which loosened the timing chaing and ruined my valves, cam shafts, etc. We are in the processing of replacing the motor because I still have almost $11,000.00 owed on it. This is the newest car I've ever had and I really like it until the engine blew and now I will wonder what will happen next when I start driving it again. I ended up buying a piece of sh*t 1990 taurus that was in an accident to get me back and forth. I think it's pathetic when a 14 year old car is running a hell of a lot better than my 4 year old car.

My problem is the as everyone else I had my oil regularly (3500 to 4000 miles). A few weeks ago we went on vacation glad we didn't drive our Intrepid so to make a short story shorter my wife went to Walmart and got our regular oil change 7/12/04 a few day later on way home from work it started making a ticking sound two miles later I stopped at first gas station left car there had it towed to dealer now the bad news we need a new engine at my cost. We purchased the Intrepid used didn't know about problems until now if anyone know anything about a recall please make it known.

1/2004 timing chain derailed which caused a clicking sound. Took the car in and after two days the mechanic called be in to see sludge to the nth power. the cause I was told was failure to get regular oil changes. Now I'll admit I'm not an every-3000-mile kind of guy, but all my previous cars have had in excess of 120,000 miles before I had to put a bullet in them. The $1,800 cost of dismantling, draining, cleaning and four oil changes and repair to timing chain left me gasping for air (or in this case oil)

Two weeks ago, 6/2004, the timing chain clicking returned and now the news was a real kick in the jewels. Blockage of the interal oil distribution system was the cause and cure - a rebuilt 2.7 with modifications - 3 year -75000 mile warranty included.

On an upnote. I checked with a salvage company to see what I might get for the car in that the rest of the vehicle is in very good condition. They told me I could get all of $200 because of the engine and the fact that the transmission were of no value because they "last forever."

I never realised the 2000 Intrepid had such a a serious defect. Intrepid 2.7L engines build up sludge which permanently damages the engine over time. Damage may range from a running yet damaged engine to an engine that siezes up without warning. For more info, see this site.

My story: At 60,000 miles, my engine started ticking loudly. and I took the car to a Chrysler dealer for what I thought would be a timing adjustment. The chief mechanic informed me that the engine has been damaged due to sludge build-up and that it will not last much longer. He suggested that the car may not have had sufficient oil changes every 3,000 miles which accounted for the sludge build-up, but I have receipts for every oil change the car has had on a regular basis. I even had a complete tune-up (over $500 bill) performed at a Chrysler dealer when the vehicle had 31,000 miles. I still owe $13,000 on my car but I can't even sell it for $6,000 - no one who knows about this problem wants to touch these vehicles.

I HAD a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with the 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine in it, purchased used in September 2003. At just a bit over 58,000 miles, the engine started making a horrible sound. I took it straight to my mechanic. The next morning, he called me and told me that the problem was the timing chain and timing chain tensioner were bad (but NOT broken), and that this was caused by an oil sludge buildup. The oil sludge problem was common to the 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine, and a known problem at Dodge dealers.

He repaired the engine and I got my car back. That's when I found out via the Internet that I wasn't the only person who had spent a bunch of money on this engine. Many people had blown engines, and some had it happen more than once.

About 2 weeks after my car's problem, my boss' car (1999 Intrepid, with the same damn 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine) died, and hers was not fixable. Her engine was ruined (she later got rid of the car). After hearing this news, I determined to get rid of my Intrepid before I had more problems.

About a month after I had my Intrepid fixed, I was able to trade it off. I took about a $2,400 loss to do that, too (counting the difference between my loan payoff and the tradein allowance, and the cost of the high-powered stereo system that I had put in my Intrepid). However, I now own a 2004 Sebring with a 4 cylinder engine, and most important of all, A WARRANTY!!!!

Daimler Chrysler should recall every last vehicle with the 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine in it, and change the engines to the 3.5 liter V6. (Prior to my 2000 Intrepid, I had a 1996 Intrepid with the 3.5 liter V6 engine in it; best car I ever owned - that engine had over 161,000 miles on it when the car was totalled by a lady driving an SUV who ran a stop sign and hit me). Problem is that this would literally run into millions of dollars for DCX. Also, the 3.5 liter V6 might not fit in the engine compartment of every vehicle that currently has the 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine; if not, possibly the 3.0 liter V6 might be used instead.

The 2.7 liter DOHC V6 engine is a piece of junk. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM CHRYSLER, DODGE OR JEEP THAT HAS THIS ENGINE IN IT - YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.