1998 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

I too am the not so proud owner of a 98 Chrysler Intrepid. I am on the Internet as I write this to investigate an all too obvious transmission problem with our car. We bought this vehicle used in 2000 with 35000 Kilometers (we're in Canada, thus the Kms!) and have experienced many of the same problems listed here. Namely, we had to have the transmission rebuilt at 50000Km. The dealership performed this, and we only billed for the labour ($800.00 Canadian), the cost of parts were given from Chrysler. So why, you may be wondering, am I writing this now? Today, as I drove from work, the transmission just seemed to stop working. This was preceded by absolutely no indication that a problem was coming. As I proceeded from a full stop at a red stop, my "trusty" car attempted to switch from 1st gear to 2nd, yet was unsuccessful. I was forced (after trying numerous things in a feeble attempt to "fix" the problem) to drive home at 30Km/Hour in L (low) gear. The car now has no other gear other than 1st...not even reverse. There is now 80000Km on the car. We keep up good maintenance on this car, as we rely on it working properly very much. I have been reading so many owner comments here and in other areas that it is becoming obvious that this is a completely (and unfortunately) common occurrence with 98 Intrepid vehicles.

Our vehicle is scheduled at the dealership tomorrow to now diagnose the problem. Although I am completely a lay person with vehicle mechanics... I think I can successfully diagnose this problem:

The 98 Intrepid is not worth any amount of money you pay for it or are forced to invest into it to at least keep it operating.

Other Problems

>>Complete transmission rebuild

>>Uni-belt worn out and replaced

>>Air control working on HIGH setting only (TWICE REPAIRED 2 months apart)

>>Front brakes and rotors @ 45000Kms

>>Driver's window support clip broken and not functioning

>>Passenger power window switch operating sporadically.

I could mentally handle all the problems better if it wasn't for the obvious transmission problems which is ongoing...

If anyone has any advice or if you simply want to console us, you can contact us at:

Topwopbello@hotmail.com.

Thanks for reading,

Tom.

Well I guess I am not alone. I have a 99 intrepid with the 2.7.the car has 65,000 on it now. The timing chain replaced at 49,000 and again at 57,000,not to mention the power window issues. Now the car is a (in town car).The car will go about 30 miles on the highway and then sputters and completely shuts down, kinda scary at 65 mph.oh, but it gets better.If you wait for 20 minutes or so it will start back up, only to run another 5 mile before the same scenario starts again.Again same situation I see is happening, sludge in motor. I run a auto center and Castrol is all that has been used.I could go on and on... would like info on this class action suit.Any info please send to jimjoelynn@aol.com. thank you Jim Shoffner.

Hi, I'm Luis cossio from Peru, and I live in Louisiana. I was wondering to buy my dad's boss car (1998 Dodge Intrepid).

He is selling it for 500 bucks, because the engine is not working and it ONLY has 50000 miles.

But now that I'm reading all these comments, I'm kinda afraid to buy it, and to buy a new engine.

Well, if anyone want to advice me, please send me an email to chachi_peru@hotmail.com,or I'm to chachidpimp in aol.

I am a 19 year old former college student. Former student because I invested $5,700 in a 1998 Dodge Intrepid. I purchased my car on January 16, 2003 with 83,000 miles on it. On January 18th, I had my oil changed, just to be sure that I, as the new owner, would know when I was due to have my oil changed. My car ran great, no noise, smooth steering, clean engine, working air... everything was in immaculate condition. I was so excited that I finally had reliable transportation!

At just over 87,000 miles, my oil was changed again in March. After that, my idler pulley warped, and (on the way to the repair shop 1 mile from my home) my power steering belt broke. That cost just over $200 to repair. Two weeks later, my passenger side cooling fan went out... thank goodness my father has a experience as a mechanic. We purchased the repair book, new cooling fan and motor, and my father did all of the repair work. Approximate total, $180.

On May 21, 2003, my car started making a funny knocking sound and my oil light came on just outside my fathers subdivision. My boyfriend checked my oil (only a centimeter of oil registered on the dipstick), we added several quarts. The next day, my engine started knocking on the expressway in a construction zone (one lane of traffic) engine quit just after getting off at nearest exit. I haven't had a car since. I owe just over $4000 still, have put my car on storage insurance to cut back the payment on a piece of scrap metal, and am currently saving to pay the fee of rebuilding or replacing my cruddy 2.7 V6 24 valve engine.

I cannot attend college this fall because I have no reliable transportation, no way of paying (already have loans out and still owe tuition from winter). So, here I am. A 19 year old wanna-be college student, with a $4000 debt to pay off for a piece of scrap metal, plus the cost of insurance, plus the cost of a rebuilt or replaced engine. The greatest part about the whole deal was that when I called several local Dodge dealerships and explained my problem, all of them said " Once the oil light comes on, it's after significant damage has already been done!" Thank you, Chrysler.

We also bought a 1998 Dodge Intrepid. We purchased it at a used car dealership in March. After having the car for only 4 months the engine threw a rod through the block. Upon taking the engine apart, all remaining main bearings were loose. We also would like information on the class action suit. Contact us at joelisaosburn11@aol.com.

Thank You

Joe and Lisa.

I, too, have endured the same problems with my 2000 Dodge Intrepid. To make a long story short, the engine burned out at 93,000 miles, was rebuilt, and burned out again at 99,000 miles, this time while traveling at 65 mph. The car is a death trap and a money burner. I owe more on the vehicle than it is worth, and refuse to put any more time or money into it. After all, what's next? Transmission? Steering?

So if you are a glutton for punishment, go ahead and buy that Dodge!!

Dana

Former Dodge Owner, California.

I bought a used 1998 Intrepid in 2001 with 116,000Kms on it and suspected that I had gotten my self a nice car that had already been broken in well. From the sounds of things I've had much better luck than everyone else.

So far I've had a belt break, replaced new brakes and rotors, 1 window motor, and now I'm told that I need new valves and rings to stop the clouds of blue smoke.

Thus far using Bardahl's No Smoke at every oil change has stopped the smoke problem and the other things I can live with.

I thought I would let every one know what I found with my window motors. The mechanic at the dealership (I use the term loosely as he didn't look old enough to drive to me) who claimed he couldn't find anything wrong with my window that hadn't gone down in months finally agreed to replace the motor. The same window that was replaced failed again on the five minute drive home. I was appalled with the treatment that I received and vowed never to return. I opened the door panel myself when I got a moment and found that the motor was not the problem. In fact the wire connectors connecting the switch wiring to the motor terminals were too large for the blade connectors on the motor. I crimped these closed until I had to force them onto the motor terminals. Now almost 18 months later I haven't had a single window problem. While tearing apart my door trim was probably a 1/2 hour job the actual fix took less than 5 minutes. I hope this saves someone from the expense of replacing a window motor like I did.

I have been informed by a Chrysler service manager that the oil passages in the 2.7 are extremely narrow and that oil changes must be performed every 3000 miles otherwise trouble is to be expected. We have owned a 2000 Chrysler Intrepid 2.7 for two years and changed the oil regularly, but now we are hearing the same loud knocks coming from the engine. This is definitely an engine design problem that needs to see a complete recall from the factory. Add me to the list for class action please!!!

We also have a 2000 Concord ls with 79,000 miles on it...

For two years we have replaced the cooling fans, engine, all switches for the windows and mirrors, power window tracks, back door locks. and now with a engine knock we have been told by the dealer we need another engine. this is three engines in 80,000 miles 2.6 liter of course...

If someone has a answer to this please let us know.

Lcereghin@charter.net.

My 98 Intrepid 2.7L had 57000 miles when I purchased it in 2001. After 13000 miles and going 4000 since the last oil change, I heard a knock. Sick feeling. Upon checking the oil, I found it was over 3 qts. low, meaning I was burning about a quart every 1000 miles. This was a company car when I purchased it, with regular maintenance. I was fortunate to have an excellent mechanic in my small town and got it rebuilt for $3000. This morning, on the way to work, the car hesitated once and quit while on a side road (fortunately). Upon trying to crank it, there was a sick clunking sound, but I could tell the engine itself was not turning over. I am awaiting a call from the garage where I had it towed (I work out of town), but I suspect a failed timing gear. I hope nothing worse. After having the rebuild, the car has run great with no problems until now. My private e-mail is dnrp10@netzero.net. I would like to know about any class actions suits.

I am amazed at the amount of engine problems the Dodge Intrepid has. I purchased my Intrepid brand new in June of '99. Besides having to replace the thermostat housing, I haven't had any real problems with the vehicle. On my way home from work this morning I heard a clunk that seemed to come from the driver side of the vehicle, I didn't pay it too much mind because I thought maybe some small debris was thrown from another vehicle that may have hit my car. Well, about 12 hours later I was driving my car back to work when I noticed the automatic transmission shifting between gears at relatively low speeds, something I have never noticed happening before, then two minutes later my check engine light comes on and I pull over to see what the hell is going on. I checked my oil and the levels seem to be OK, and there is proper tranny fluid level. Well, now I am waiting to take my vehicle in to have it checked out. I am extremely nervous now because I am seeing many people who are now stuck with replacing their engine. I came online to see whether or not anyone else may have had this problem only to see in amazement the amount of issues associated with this brand of vehicle. Hopefully I can get this problem fixed with a resonable amount of money, because as soon as it's fixed, I am getting rid of it, ASAFP! The sad thing is, next year I was to have paid this car off and I was hoping to save what little money I could without having no car payment, but now it looks like I will have to get another car and another 5 years of payments... I regulary get my oil changed every 3000 miles at the local Jiffy Lube and I recently had a transmission fluid flush at 28K. My car is almost 5 years old with only 31K miles, I am a student and work fulltime, how can a company not take responsibility for their piss poor engine design. Please include me in any class action lawsuit, I have a feeling after tomorrow that I am going to be in a world of hurt.

Thanks. Please email any comments/suggestions to yeyo1990@hotmail.com.

I have a 2001 with 140,000 miles uses no oil and no problems ever with the car. I use havoline oil I was told by dealer not to use pennzioil or quackerstate what kind of oil is everybody using.

I have a 2001 Dodge Intrepid SE, it has 65,000 miles on it, it has been parked in my driveway for over a year, the engine light came on Sept. 2002, I had it towed to the dealership, a complete diagnotic testing was done, they couldn't find anything wrong with the car, the salesman that I purchased the car from told me " Girl there's nothing wrong with that car, It could have been a little air pocket in your gas line causing the light to come on".

I drove the car 23 miles and it made a funny noise, no warning light came on, oil light flased once, I had it towed back to dealership, was told later that day that we needed a new motor, $7,000.00. We're paying a $312.00 car note every month on a car that we can't even drive. I need any information that you have available about a class action lawsuit, there are to many people being hurt by Chrysler and something must be done. HELLP.

Read more about the badly designed 2.7 L engine from Chrysler and all its problems at http://intrepidhorrorstories.blogspot.com.

/GS.

I also have a DEAD 1999 Dodge Intrepid with a 2.7 Liter Engine with only 56,000 miles. I Leased my vehicle for 3 years and at the end of the Lease I decided to purchase the car Jan 2002, since I found out I was loosing my job of 17 years. I was in no situation to Buy another new car, my wife and I would not have 2 car payments forever. Since I knew my car and took good care of it, also had low miles. Why buy another car with problems! I took a loan out from my credit Union I would pay it off in 2006 ouch. Well I can say I had very little problems with my car until July 2003. I took it in for my next oil change they told me I had sludge build up. 3 months later the car would not start took it in sensors bad $500.00 charge. The auto repair tech told me to get rid of the car it has sludge build up. I took the car in to trade it in they wouldn't give me what I owed on it 1500.00 less, I wish I would had taken it. The next Day on my way to work the car died. They wanted 6500.00 to replace the Engine. I owe 6000.00 on it and have to keep Full coverage Insurance on it. I have to walk by it to get into a 1990 GM car a family member gave me. Please put me in on the CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

John Barron.