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.
Engine light on. Checked codes, 5codes for auto transmission. Car drives fine shifts up but when you stop shifts down then will not shift up. Have to pull over shut it off and start again and drives away fine!! Till the next stop or when it gets down to 20 mph it thunks down. Big Pain!! Told it would cost over$2000 to rebuild. Have driven it over 50,000 since light came on still going except for this problem!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Engine light on. Checked codes, 5codes for auto transmission. Car drives fine shifts up but when you stop shifts down then will not shift up. Have to pull over shut it off and start again and drives away fine!! Till the next stop or when it gets down to 20 mph it thunks down. Big Pain!! Told it would cost over$2000 to rebuild. Have driven it over 50,000 since light came on still going except for this problem!
- pamvermont, Windsor, VT, US