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.
ok so yea i was driving home day after Christmas from my family get together and bam bleader valve shot off and steam out from under the hood i had it towed to my house (i was on the interstate) replaced the water inlet valve and the thermostat changed the oil spark plugs and had the system flushed to get the antifreeze out of the block then had a diagnostic done because the check engine light was still on so they replaced the camshaft sensor and the crank shaft sensor and charged me 300$ not including labor so then they sa its still over heating and i will have to replace the water pump and that my transmission is going that the lower gears are almost shot WTF. i am still paying it of for christ sake (i bought it used so no warranty and i have a minimum pay job no $ and am in school so no time and my incurence is liability only) my life jut got shot to hell after all this and its now march of 09 and its still not fixed because a water pump is $300+ and the trans is $1000 used
i have had so many problems with the cooling system. for the last several months i have been fixing so many things and still it is not solved. this engine is a piece of crap and i feel like dodge should be ashamed of the quality of workmanship they put in this engine. i will be driving down the road and it will out of the blue start acting like it is hot but gauges will not show that it is. blew the bleeder valve completely off of it. parts are hard to find. i have put so much money in trying to fix this problem that i have lost track.
I was pulling into my driveway and without any warning, steam began billowing out from my hood and my car just died. I opened the hood and the whole radiator intake cover had been blown off. We towed the car to the dealership and were told that most likely the damage from the overheating ruined the engine. Quoted over $6000 to fix.
Unbelievable that there is no recall on this stupid engine - Dodge needs to step up to the plate and make things right. Ebay even has these cars for sale with blown engines! This is not fair to any of us who have paid good money for this car new, or those that bought theirs used and still are paying for them.
Mine sits in my yard as I contemplate what legal recourse or help I can get to have it fixed.
We had no warning from the gauge, the bleeder valve blew off, took it to the dealer who said # 3 cylinder was not working, heads were warped. basically we needed a new engine. They have not ansered my question about why the bleeder valve blew off or why ther was no indication by the gauge. The technician who first looked at it did say that part was reengineered but when i mentioned this no one knows what I'm talking about. Right now we are getting double talk and bull-----
- Theresa B.,
Imperial Beach, CA, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
ok so yea i was driving home day after Christmas from my family get together and bam bleader valve shot off and steam out from under the hood i had it towed to my house (i was on the interstate) replaced the water inlet valve and the thermostat changed the oil spark plugs and had the system flushed to get the antifreeze out of the block then had a diagnostic done because the check engine light was still on so they replaced the camshaft sensor and the crank shaft sensor and charged me 300$ not including labor so then they sa its still over heating and i will have to replace the water pump and that my transmission is going that the lower gears are almost shot WTF. i am still paying it of for christ sake (i bought it used so no warranty and i have a minimum pay job no $ and am in school so no time and my incurence is liability only) my life jut got shot to hell after all this and its now march of 09 and its still not fixed because a water pump is $300+ and the trans is $1000 used
- Cody H., Bondville, IL, US