1998 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

My wife and I purchased our 1999 Dodge Intrepid with 28,000 miles in 2000. We decided to "play it safe" and purchased an additional warranty until 75,000 miles. This was a smart move, however, we had no idea what was in store for us to come. Our first adventure was the coolant reservoir burst at around 50,000 miles. Both fans were replaced and I think a pulley or two, as well. At 74,000 miles the transmission died. Both were under warranty, but cost several hundred dollars for car rental while we waited for parts and labor. At 103,000 miles the engine died. That was not under warranty and cost just over $8,000. At 109,000 miles, the front end (steering) needed replacement which was somewhere around $1,000. There were several small annoyances that have gone wrong which are too numerous to list. To name a few, the power windows are (still) intermittent, the remote trunk release does not work, the driver side window shattered one day while I was driving (still a mystery), and we have changed the serpentine belt at least three times since we purchased it. I would sell it if I didn't owe more than it is worth. Sign me up for the class-action suit! You can e-mail me at intrepid@thelavalounge.net if anyone has any questions.

I also own a 98 Dodge Intrepid. It has 109,000 miles. Today my check engine light came on during my commute to work. So I searched the Internet for possible problems before I went to the mechanic to have it fixed. Having read all of the comments, I'm afraid what the estimate is going to be! When my check engine light came on this morning, I was only able to go 45 miles/hr and it was running at over 3500 rpm, which was odd because I thought surely this would be a transmission issue. perhaps the check engine light monitors the transmission as well. anyway, I have many of the same problems listed from the other posts, including:

*had to have the brakes repaired four times in one month period

*car shakes when stopping

*air conditioner not blowing cold air

*power windows frequently do not work; sporadic

*headlights are fogged from water infiltration

*front speakers do not work

*lights on AC/heat panel do not work

*now the check engine light is on, and will not go over 45 mph.

If there is a class action suit under way, I would also be interested in the information. If there is not, then there should be one. Please contact me at dsignstar@hotmail.com if you have any information.

Rich.

I have a 98 intrepid that was purchased at 30,000 km. I have had some of the problems that are stated above. I have had to replace the one cooling fan, drivers side window switch, fan level transistor, and front and back brakes. I had to find the pcv valve myself cause the dealer told me it didn't have on, found out the valve was plugged and the line going to the valve cover was torn, 40$ to fix. I run 100% synthetic in it. I had the front and oil pan gaskets replaced, got to take a look at the inside of the engine and timing chain... no sludge, cleanest engine I ever saw. the oil light flickering I fixed by replacing the sending unit, it was plugged by oil from the leaking oil pan. I just replaced the coolant, thermostat, belts, starter, lower radiator hose and air filter. make sure these things a flushed every two years, and make sure the cooling system is burped before you drive it around, or possible head gasket failure, I think only dealers know how to do this properly. it's a complicated procedure. oil burning now at 195,000kmh, put in cd2 oil treatment, fixed the problem for now. again use synthetic oil... Mobil 1 is the best, and synthetic long life coolant. other than that this car needs attention, it's a maintenance hog, but I love the car.

1999 Dodge Intrepid, 53,000 miles. My engine also went... without any warning. Oil had been changed everything 2500 to 3000 miles. I baby my vehicles. I am just lucky nothing happened to my expectant wife and 2 babies when the car committed suicide on the Garden State Parkway. Chrysler is ignoring the situation and it is time for action. I have been investigating this and on another site an attorney looking into a class action law suit.

David Roloff 800-321-9199, I left a voice mail today, and am waiting for a call back.

Also these cases should be reported to:

DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) and a NHTSA representative will record your complaint information.

By Mail.

You may also print the web form out and fax it to (202) 366-7882 or mail it to:

U.S. Department of Transportation,

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Office of Defects Investigation,

NSA-10.01, 400 7th Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20590.

General Information.

Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must fix it at no cost to the owner. Your complaint is the first step in the process.

Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to initiate a recall.

We do not have to receive a specific number of complaints before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. Your complaint is important to us.

For a prompt response from NHTSA, send your information request, suggestions, or comments to webmaster@nhtsa.dot.gov.

The Privacy Act of 1974 - Public Law 93-579, As Amended: This information is requested pursuant to the authority vested in the National Highway Traffic Safety Act and subsequent amendments. You are under no obligation to respond to this questionnaire. Your response maybe used to assist the NHTSA in determining whether a manufacturer should take appropriate action to correct a safety defect. If the NHTSA proceeds with administration enforcement or litigation against a manufacturer, your response, or statistical summary thereof, may be used in support of the agency's action.

Thanks for this site and hopefully together we will accomplish our goals.

Diana.

Reading all these Intrepid posts is very depressing. Have a 2000 with 78,000 miles, now same engine noise. For the record, I have used Havoline 10-40 since I bought the car new. The only other similar problem is with the brake rotors and steering wheel "chatter". I would like to be added to the class action list as well. Contact is dvrme@aol.com.

I have a 99 Intrepid that has given us nothing, but problems. At 38000 the transmission sensor failed while we were going down the highway, causing us to almost wreck. The radiator fan motor went out at 42000. The power window clip broke off causing the window to not go up or down just sideways, this was 2 weeks ago, now yesterday as we were coming back from the hospital 3 hours away with my 4 year old the air conditioner stopped blowing cold air and the car started running hot. Pulled over at a auto parts store and replaced the rad fan fuse pulled back out and it blew again. Went back replaced the fuse again turned the air, radio everything off and was able to get it home, but smelled something burning the whole way. This is unreal that this many people have the same problems and nothing is being done. Include me in a class action. jktkmatheny@centurytel.net.

I have got a 99 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 Engine. The cars shakes in the morning when I start it and it also smokes. None of the windows work and th a/c is not working also. I have to pour oil every 500 miles because it is burning oil. I am getting roasted in my car because it is summer time.

Can somebody e mail more info on the class action law suit.

E mail add is: tamuka_dube@hotmail.com.

I have a 99 2.7L intrepid and I have some of the same problems as the rest of you. Car makes a funny noise on start up, wheel shakes when slowing down, 1 window doesn't work at all, 2 work only at certain times, cannot open my trunk with button or key-less entry, oil light comes on when I'm at a stoplight, makes a weird clunk noise when I turn sometimes. But I mean jeez, at first I thought it was a great car, was real fast for such a small engine, but the maintenance isn't worth it.

I also have a 98 intrepid with 98,000 miles on it. the vehicle has regular maintenance preformed on it at the lube center at my work. the car has never had a problem in the two years I have owned it until now. it started with oil consumption far greater then average, and then exactly one week after I changed the oil my engine quit. I also would like to know about the class action law suit. jayro26@hotmail.com.

I have a 2000 Dodge Intrepid I purchased about a year ago with 80,000 miles on it. The check engine light has come on multiple times. Got the transmission fixed twice. Light would go off for a day or two, then come back on. Went to auto store, sensor still showed transmission problems. Car runs great, light will go off periodically for a day or less. Anyone else have this problem? I would like to sell car, but who wants it with a check engine light on?

I have a dodge intrepid 1999 and have oil sign flickering at idle. Have had lot of problems with the dodge intrepid now the check engine sighn comes up the car runs. I am not sure what to do or does anyone know what the problem is.

I own a 98 Intrepid with the 2.7L engine with 88k miles on it. This weekend the engine started making "clanging" noises, sort of like a pan rolling around on the floor. Today, a mechanic informed me that the engine is "knocking really hard" and that I need a new engine. I have had fairly regular oil changes and several $500+ garage visits on the darned thing. I'm not too pleased with Dodge and cannot wait to purchase a vehicle from a different car maker.

8 Aug 2004.

I have read the comments on this website and I am amazed that all of us are having the same problems. My 1998 intrepid went through the phases as well. First was the flickering oil light then the Passenger window stopped working. The next problem was the A/C condenser fan, white smoke out of the exhaust then the engine quit. The estimated cost of repair $6000.00. If there is a law suit please contact me. Thank you

unclelotion@cox.net.

I guess now it is my turn. I bought a used 1998 Intrepid with the 2.7 engine in 2001. I have managed to get 116,000 miles out of mine which makes me feel fortunate. (I had a 1997 Intrepid that had 175,000 on it, a 1995 Hyundai Accent that had 176,000 and still have a 1993 GMC Safari with 211,000 on it, so that number is low for me.)

Two weeks ago my wife was driving through a construction zone. Stuck behind a slow semi, she pulled into the other lane and accelerated to pass, I heard the engine rev up abnormally high and saw the tach momentarily reach 6500; ouch. I thought I heard something there, but wasn't sure. From that time the engine would knock on startup for a few seconds. Immediately checked the oil and saw that it was not registering on the dipstick. Added oil and had planned on doing an oil change in the next couple of days.

Fast-forward three days; took the car on a short trip with the family for an outing. On the return, the car started knocking with the RPM higher than 1500. I was trying to baby it home, but about 15 miles from home, the engine started to hesitate. I managed to make it to an exit and about 1/4 mile from the on ramp, put the car in neutral to coast, and the engine died immediately. Without the power brakes, stopping took a little effort, but managed to get it stopped.

It did start back up and I got it into the parking lot of a truck stop. While there I thought I would check the oil to see if there were any metal flakes on it. The oil level was good.

The next day I towed it to a shop to have it looked at. They told me that the crankshaft position sensor had failed. They replaced that and it started. They heard the knocking and checked the oil and it was not registering on the dipstick. Somehow I lost the oil while it was being towed. There was no oil on the ground when I towed it, and the shop did not have any on their lot.

Now I find out about all of the problems. Had I known them I would not have taken the trip with the family, even though it was only 30 miles. I have already replaced one Intrepid with a Toyota.

Here's another, I have a 2000 Intrepid 2.7, 75000 miles, same as all other complaints. Oil light was flickering then quite, AC is out, was told it was something in the dash approx $1500 to repair. Had a few start ups in the past 6 months with what sounded like valves clattering that quickly went away, had the oil changed Sat, now it is Monday and it is clattering non stop, it is not drivable. I purchased the car with 20,000 miles, changed the oil every 3000 miles give or take a few miles. Any info on the class action lawsuit, I'm in zimbass@aol.com.