1996 Dodge Intrepid from North America - Comments

I just bought a used 1996 Interpid today. I feel like I should have browsed the net a bit before I bought that car. I only paid 2k for it, and tommorow its going to the shop. The guy at the dealership told me it has problems. Even though it feels like transmission problems, I think it's a bad clyinoid that makes it feel like the trany's slipping. Looks like a little oil leak up in the head gaskets, really it don't look bad. Also, driving it above 80 mph there is a horrific wooble. Now this could be just a tire needing balanced, or something worse. The car looks cool. Everything works, a/c, radio, windows, mirrors, lights, brake lights, oh wait, no the break lites don't work. Oh well, if ya buy something used, remember there is a reason why people get rid of cars. Reguardless of what the dealers always say... oh this little old lady wanted a newer car so she traded this one in. My grandma is a speed demon. There is plenty wrong with this car that I just bought today, hopefully its not as bad as everyone makes this model out to be. I know people who swear by thier dodge intrepids. I know of at least 4 people who have them, and don't have problems with them.

I just purchased a 1996 Dodge Intrepid for 2,000$ with 147000 miles on it. And I really really want to love this car. But so far it has died at stop signs at least a dozen times. And jerks when I accelerate occasionally. Now today it has killed (not sure if this is the correct term because it lagged and then started right up again. without igniting). Now I'm really frustrated I've only made one payment on the car and I'm a broke college student. I was going to take it into diagnostics this week, but after reading all of this it seams like they won't find the problem anyway. How am I supposed to fix the problem if I don't know whats wrong. But why should I shell out for tests if they're not going to give me answers. The car looks gorgeous. I'm going to fix whatever is wrong, but and if I get any more problems I'm trading it in. Not buying Dodge again.

I currently own a 97 intrepid es 3.5L. Its has a 180,111 miles on it and purrs strong. The problem I'm having is that its overheating randomly. Replaced water pump, radiator, heater core, t. stat, hoses, anything that has to do with cooling. Now this is weird, if I release the pressure at the nipple on the thermostat housing it cools instantly and stays normal for a few days. Also just started idling at 1.5 rpm, but is normal in any of the gears (drive, reverse, etc.). It's also normal when the A/C is on or heater. But all in all it hasn't been a bad car. If anyone has had these problems and knows how to fix it, please toss a comment.

Try running without the thermostat for a while, just in case the new one is faulty or by some fluke, also failing.

My 96' Intrepid goes through about 1 thermostat every 3 or 4 months. It is not faulty thermostats, it is something in there design. It is also VERY hard to get all the air pockets out of the coolant system when changing hoses or a thermostat. My local dealer took 3 times to get it correct.

I owne a 96 Dodge Intrepid with a 3.5 engine.4 months ago the motor started to knock, with lifter clang noises when starting up. After it fires up, and putting it in gear it's silent... then when I stop at the light it does it again until I put it in neutrual (But does not do this all the time).No engine lights come on and I was told no reasons for this to be happening.70,000 miles, oil changed every 3500 miles, tuned up 2 years ago, still good gas mileage and smooth power. Can anyone help me?

I just bought a 1996 Dodge Intrepid 3.5L from a guy that lives near me. He had a transmission for it (how he got it I do not know) and told me that the car had transmission problems. So I get the car, thinking, he has the transmission, I'll buy the car now and have him put it in later. I'm driving the car one day and I'm at a light. I hit the gas and the car doesn't move. So I have him put the transmission in for me and I'm driving it again, and what do you know, at light, hit the gas, no movement. So he checks it out and says that the filter is dirty and he needs to change the fluid. So he does these things, and the car has been running fine since then, which is probably like 3 or 4 days. Now, when I go to put the car in gear, I'm having a difficult time doing so. I like the car and everything, but my plan is to hold on to it for a few more months (like summer time) and then trade it in. It's already cost me over $1100 to get it fixed.

I have a 1996 dodge intrepid 3.5 liter v6, and I bought it used with 121000 miles on it. it now has 140000 and the tranny won't shift past third gear, and it slips. the tranny place said that it was some "hub" thing, and that it is gonna cost me like 1800 because I need to get the transmission rebuilt and this "hub" installed. does anyone know what this is, where I get it, and what to do? I really love this car, and have had no problems with it before this. can anyone help me?

I bought my 1996 Intrepid in 2003. When I went to take it for a test drive, I did not try to see if all the windows were working. Big mistake. Not only does the driver seat window not work... nothing on the driver seat door works.

I was a senior in high school and the car had a really nice aftermarket CD player in it and that made me buy it.

I had to buy new tires for it which were hard to find.

The AC compressor went out.

Transmission slips when it's cold outside and you don't let it warm up.

It cracks or squeaks when turning, probably needs a CV joints.

Also, the paint quickly oxidized. I tried to put all different kinds of waxes, polishing compounds and rubbing compounds, nothing works. Dealership guy said it needs to be repainted. Last thing I would do to that car is repaint it.

The only good thing about it is that it does run great and average gas mileage.