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.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
121,000 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
2001 Dodge Intrepid engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Dodge Intrepid:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2001 Dodge Intrepid Owner Comments

problem #5

Oct 142009

Intrepid SE 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

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

Information I have shows that early timing chain replacement was cused by oil sludge, something I noticed around the oil filler cap soon after I purchased the used vehicle. Since the timing chain replacement, the car appears to still have sludge problems such as oil-starved knocking at idle and frequent instances of oil light coming on at idle. My mechanic did not know why, but a temporary fix was to put oil stabilizer (Lucas) that immediately quiets engine knocking and COMPENSATES for the reduced oil presssure.

- Steve W., Miami Springs, FL, US

problem #4

May 072009

Intrepid SE 2.7L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

My poor mother...she bought this car 2 years ago from a trusted (but not anymore) car salesmen in our hometown...unfortunately, it cost her about $7,000 cash for this worthless peace of junk...then, when she moved, she sold it to a friend for $2,800. Long story short, I moved back and saw the car sitting. So i approached the man that my mom sold it to, and asked what was wrong with it. He said he didn't know, he thought the engine was shot. Being an 18 year old know-it-all, i said, i can fix it. how much you wanna sell it for. So far, $600 bucks too much. As of right now, i know that they put a glass-pack on, and when we sold the car everything was factory. Engine ran great, 88,000 miles and not a single problem. He said that it only ran for 6 months...and to tell you the truth, when my mom had the oil changed, my mechanic said there was no problems with sludge...he said it was surprisingly clean for the 2.7 litre... I have a friend watching the car at the moment and he said that the oil came out like tar...only good sign...no metallic shiny stuff...so hopefully its just sludge at this point, an nothing got seriously wrecked...it taught me a lesson thou...DON'T LET MY MOM GO TO A CAR DEALERSHIP WITHOUT A CAR-KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON WITH!!!!

- punkie, Fergus Falls, MN, US

problem #3

Feb 092009

Intrepid 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

Dodge cars are beautiful. But the 2.7's are pure crap. And I was hoping and praying that the federal government wouldn't bail any Chrysler out. Due to the fact of it's 2.7 motors (crap motors). The 2001 one car that I have is a beautiful (red) car. But the problems that I have with it, I should have poured some gasoline on it and burned the whole car. And for all who have a Dodge car or truck, take my advice. Get rid of it. The money that you invest in it is not worth the look. If you don't believe me just keep that car. Keep Dodge in your life and you will see. Last but not least, to the CEO, GM, and owner of Dodge, I really hope your business goes under. GOOD LUCK DODGE OWNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am trading mines.

- baatls, New Orleans, LA, US

problem #2

Jun 272008

Intrepid SE 2.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

I bought the car in July of 2004, it had 45,000 miles on it. The car ran well until late 2006 when the check engine light came on while driving to work. Between then and July of 2008 the engine light came on 10-15 times. Adding to that the oil light started going on when idle and eventually was constantly on. When doing research on the 2.7 Liter engine, I learned that this was normal.

In most cases the engine light would disappear but I had to replace sensors 4 times. I always asked the repairman to find out if there were any deeper problems but was never told that there was any. Even during the last two years, the car drove well unless I went 50 miles or more at once, if this happened there was be a constant high pitched sounds when accelerating over 2000 RPM and occasionally a check engine light. Since I didn't drive far distances often, I was hoping that the car would hold out until my payments ended but when the car barely got me to trip In june of 2008 that was an hour drive and sputtered the whole way home, I knew something major was going on.

I go the car looked at and found out that the transaxle was bad, adding to that the oil pump was going to go bad any day. I was able to get a new car and trade it in but I was upside down a few hundred. When seeing other stories, I feel fortunate that I wa sin position to purchase another car and get rid of the interpid when I did.

I maintained my car and changed the oil every 3000 miles. A car should not be known to break down and cause an owner thousands in repairs before 100,000 miles when an owner takes good care of it. It's a shame, the Intrepid was a nice car and drove great otherwise. I enjoyed owning the car the first two years that I had it. I know two other people with Intrepids that have different engines(one is 2000 the other 2001). They have had no serious problems. This tells me that it's the engine, not the car.

Hopefully the people they really got screwed over with engine repairs can work on a class action lawsuit and get some money back.

- Daniel G., Rochester, NY, US

problem #1

May 282006

(reported on)

Intrepid ES

  • 240,000 miles

We have used full synthetic oil since 60000km and our car's oil light came on and then the motor seized. Our car is only five years old and its not even drivable. This thing is junk.

- Brian D., Comber, Ontario, Canada

Not what you are looking for?