1998 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

I own a 1998 Dodge Intrepid with the beloved 2.7L engine. I have replaced the engine twice once after 84,000 miles and then again after 4,000 miles. So if anyone has info on joining a class action suit please email me at scupton@aol.com.

Thanks.

I own a 1998 Dodge Intrepid (Bought with 49000 miles) I drive a lot and now have 116,100 miles on it (still get about 25 mpg). The engine for me has been extremely responsive and true. I change my own oil and use 5w30 only (5 weight gets through the engine quick at start up) and have added dura-lube treatment (cheap maintenance for $20) and the engine performs quite well (I must admit that I drive hard (constant 80 mph) - Atlanta interstate - however never seemed to have a lick of engine problem (and quick response on the acceleration)! The power window on drivers door has died though! I am actually thinking of buying another one! God speed to all who do have problems... I must say though that with hundreds of thousands Dodge's on the road - the number of complaints may be quite low - not sure!!

Don Austin

Atlanta, Ga.

I have a 2000 Chrysler Concorde that has recently developed an engine noise. I brought it to the dealer where I purchased it so that they could check it out. I bought a 6 year/100,000 warranty for $1,199 when I bought the car and figured that if this noise was anything major I would be covered. The service tech. informed me that my engine had sludge and, because of this, the warranty would not cover the damage. In fact, he told me that my engine was sure to fail. My warranty does say that. In fact, it says that sludge nullifies the coverage of any parts that fail due to this sludge. It says nothing about how well I took care of the car. If sludge exists, no coverage of the effected parts. I want to join this class-action suit. From all of these complaints, I am sure that this engine has a problem. Please E-Mail me at emmmdee@juno.com with the class-action details. Thanks.

99 Intrepid 2.7 Liter junk.

I also have been blessed today with my engine not receiving enough oil. I have not attempted to contact Chrysler Motor Co. and after all I am reading what's the point? I am very intrested in a class action law suit. I have had my car maintained to the manufactures guidelines. I was also informed by my brother-in-law who is a certified mechanic for a large dealership in my area (thank goodness he is not at the dodge portion of this mega plex) the dodge dealer by him has replaced 27 engines this month. Today is 10/26/04. Any info on a class action suit please post. What really bugs me is that every time I complained to them about the noise the engine was making they looked at me like I was a 3 headed lady. I thought it was because I was a female ? I guess not it's because they knew all along what the problem was and why bother informing me. They were not going to fix it any way.

I have a 98 intrepid with the glorious 2.7 engine in it!!! I love this car, it's the best I have ever driven. it has about 130000 miles on it. it still worked great and no sign of sludge. I have been putting in mobil 1 synthetic for a while and I have replaced the PCV valve as often as I can. I think the problem is with the design of this engine. it needs synthetic to flow properly. regular oil gets turned into sludge. I had the front timing cover and oil pan gaskets replaced and the chain looked great, no sludge anywhere. there was no sludge or even residue in the pan. I did have the oil pick up tube replaced, just in-case. I am sorry to hear about all the bad stories I guess I was lucky.

I'll add to some of the same problems that have been mentioned above. I have a 99 Intrepid with 60K miles. First off, I thank God that I haven't had any trouble with the engine (knock on wood). However, spring of 2003, (at about 45K), the speed sensor went bad. Last month, I had to have the oil sensor replaced and today my car is back at the tranny shop because the ENGINE light went on and the car would not shift out of 2nd gear. This is depressing... I would be happy to join a class action lawsuit if available. My e-mail addy is: redfaun@juno.com. Thanks!

I feel Lucky. I own a 99 Intrepid with 2.7 liter. I got 143,000. miles on it before the famous "knocking noise". I did have the oil light come on when I pulled up to a stop sign or red light before I reach 100,000. miles. What is up with that. I would give it a little gas, while still holding the brake and it went away, like it was idling too low. No mechanic could tell me that anything was wrong with the engine. They put it on the scanner and it showed nothing wrong with the engine. Well I reached 143,000 but still had a great car in great shape except the engine knocking was the engine GONE. So I just spend $3,000. to have a used engine put in my car. I hated not too, I still have a good car. I'll never buy another DODGE. NEVER.

M. Richard

Moulton, Al.

I am in the process of finding out how much pain Dodge has poured out on the Public. In May 2004, I purchased a used (53000 miles at purchase) 2001 Dodge Intrepid. It was for my daughter to drive to school. Now Nov 19 2004 I had it towed into the dealer. The engine is completely gone. The cause... you guessed it low oil pressure to the timing chain tensioning arm.

Dodge dealer price to replace with rebuilt $7000. Jasper wants around $4100 for rebuilt and a local junk yard is selling 10 used engines a week because of the 2.7L failures.

I called Dodge customer care and they could only tell me there was two recalls on the car for the seat belts and some headrest issues. They "knew nothing of any increased rate of failure" for the 2.7L engine. I had purchased an extended warranty, but my daughter failed to change the oil for 6500 miles. The warranty company told me they could not cover the damage since I had not followed the required maintenance schedule. I'm not at issue with that. However the insurance guy told me that he has at least three of these 2.7L engines each week they are having to replace. That to me says Dodge and Chrysler have engineered a product not worthy of their reputations and should belly up to correct and compensate the consumers for having faith in an American Built Car.

If there is a class action suit please include me.

Tpadilla@erols.com.

Tony Padilla

Manassas, VA.

I too have a junk 2.7 liter motor in my 1998 dodge intrepid. I has 110k and the motor is shot! I pulled the oil pan off and it had a thick sludge in it and the it was full of metal (from all the bearings in the engine).If any one has info on the class action lawsuit please contact me at josh_mullis172@yahoo.com

thanks josh.

I have a 98 dodge intrepid es, this is a great car, but leather seats hurt my back after a few minutes, but not always, in the past I have had back problems, but I just hang on to this car, an I use a back pad thing that helps a little, this car will fly, an has easily been the best most reliable car iv, e ever owned, and I'm almost 50 an have had a lot of cars, and also have had lots of fast cars and through the years have drag raced quite a lot, also have owned nothing, but mopars for at least twenty years an because of their looks and power, would never even ever think of owning another brand, though we have rented other brands some being quite good, like toyotas, ford and maybe a few others, the mopars from the 60,s and 70,s though are so beautiful and fast, my intrepid is a strange looking car, but low slung an tuff looking too, I just wish I could have got the stiffer more firmer fabric seats, well that's about it, and I promise you, for racing or driving, or whatever mopar or no car for me, now I have a 1971 scamp and plan to put in a magnum late model, good used 360 and make it scream.

Lovely car, you agree, NOT. I have a 2000 Dodge Intrepid, I had sludge build up in the engine, which eventually led up to engine failure. I religiously had the oil changed and even had a master mechanic do a diagnostic check on the engine. I have been without my car since September 2004 and I am still making payment. I am having my car repaired for an outrageous amount of money and will be able to drive it again in a couple more week. Yeah, not.

Well... I have joined the club of disgruntled Concorde owners! After having owned Chrysler products since 1987, this may be the end of that!

Here are the problems we have had... none covered by warranty.

1) Trans speed sensor (thought I had another A604 failure like I had on my 1989 Chrysler minivan) but thank goodness it was only a speed sensor to the tune of $300+ While C-P stepped up to the plate and covered my 89 with 60K miles evidently the new Teutonic parent Daimler-Chrysler looks at profit first and doesn't need to have elated customers.

2) At 25K the stabilizer links went out. Not covered even though by today's standards that is extremely low mileage for those to "wear out". Both my daughter's have had the same problems on their newer minis... not covered $350 each.

3) Power window failure... just out of warranty another $300+

4) Power door lock failure... yep, you guessed just out of warranty another $300+

5) A/C quit and being in the business I am well aware of premature evaporator failures.. not yet repaired, but at labor of approximately $1,000 and a new evaporator at $274 we have put off the repair choosing instead a trivial thing of putting our daughter through college and replacing a much needed new roof. Sorry Daimler-Chrysler that I cannot afford to give you more money at this time.

6) 2 more door locks failed at about 85K... again we have yet to fix them... refer to above for reasons.

7) And now the scariest... we now have classic symptoms of impending premature engine failure... erratic heater operation (not blower, but temperature) and sudden extreme oil consumption. We changed oil and filter between 3K and 4K even though D-C recommends 7.5K under normal driving conditions.

With modern cars giving excellent service, and looking good with over 200,000 miles one wonders who long such a company can continue to do business!

I TO HAVE JUST BOUGHT A 1998 DODGE INTREPID WITH THE CRAPPY 2.7 LITER AND I Can't FIND A MOTOR FOR IT EVERYONE I CALL SAYS THEY ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE MOTORS, but THEY Don't TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE JUNK AND IF I WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE I Wouldn't HAVE PURCHASES THIS CAR THE CHEAPEST ENGINE I HAVE FOUND IS USED AND THEY WANT $2000.00 FOR IT WITH EXCHANGE MOST PEOPLE WANTED $2800.00 I WONDER IF WE COULD PUT A 3.2 LITER IN IT BECAUSE SOME OF THE INTREPIDS HAVE THEM AND I HEAR GOOD ABOUT THEM SO I THINK ILL FIND OUT AND I ALSO THINK THAT DODGE SHOULD RECALL THESE 2.7 LITER ENGINES IF ANYONE HEARS OF THEM RECALLING THIS ENGINE COULD YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME dna45885@yahoo.com THANK YOU.

I too own the bad Interpid. I have had nothing but problems. Please contact me with any information regarding the class action suit. Steel3470@yahoo.com.

As owner of 98 Intrepid, I too have had most of the same problems mentioned including a frozen shifter last winter that would not allow me to shift until the car fully warmed up. 10-20 min. in WI. I had dealer install the shift lever push rod. Engine still freely shifted when ignition off. Dangerous on slope! Now they put a shifter in and wanted $227.00 more to replace the cable that was stretched when shifter was freezing up on me. I have knocking noise and it's a matter of time for engine to go. My son who is in auto-tech program says the engine is "going" from evidence of smoke and engine noises. How do I, a single mom, help to pay for college for 2 and a dodge??? Include me on class action lawsuit. Use sjk53707@yahoo.com to notify me. Thank you.