Faults:

During quick take offs the engine would slip. The problem was taken care of through a recall campaign. Power windows occasionally do not work and the doors tend to stick. When you open the the trunk, after it has rained, the water tends to leak inside as you are opening it. The front brake pads lasted until 100,000 miles and the rear were replaced at 117,000 miles. Currently the gas gauge is not working. The dealer claims that it will cost at least $500 dollars to fix because you have to replace the sending unit and the fuel pump are one piece.

General Comments:

Overall, I am very satisfied with my Intrigue. The only thing that I don't like is you do not have control over the headlights. When you enter a military installation at night, the MPs want you to turn your headlights off and I always have to tell the guard that I cannot turn them off.

Faults:

Both rear windows quit working after about 5000 miles, but since we hardly used them we waited until about 35000 miles to have the dealer repair them under warranty.

The "idiot light" for low coolant occasionally comes on until the engine reaches operating temperature.

One of those tiny light bulbs in the rear view mirror recently started to flicker. Won't replace it until the bulb fails.

The car stalled once while my wife was driving, happened while the engine was warming up. She was able to re-start the engine after about a minute.

Last summer, the outside temperature display acted screwy for a few days before returning to normal. Probably had a piece of dirt on the sensor.

General Comments:

I really like this car for its performance and handling. I have taken several 2000 mile trips with it and find it a joy to drive, especially when passing some 18-wheeler going up a hill. Its Northstar engine is super!

In the interior, the Bose sound system can't be beat and the power seats with leather are very good for long trips.

Since the exterior styling is going to stay "in fashion" for quite some time, I plan on keeping the car indefinitely.

Faults:

Replaced crankshaft position sensor in the first month of ownership to the tune of $200.

Occasionally the "Service Engine Soon" light lights up for no reason. It has done this 4 times since I have owned the car. Every time no error code registers in the diagnostic.

When the rear windows are opened at about 40 mph, loud, reverberating wind noise engulfs the cab.

My transmission broke after 74422 miles. I had changed the transmission fluid 3 times since ownership (<2 years ago).

I have spent well over $3,000 on maintenance, both major and minor. You would think $14,000 would buy some quality and a 4-year-old car would be less problematic.

General Comments:

I originally bought this car for its high performance engine. Now I regret my quick decision. The engine is fine and responsive. When the car behaves, I love to accelerate onto the freeway or pass some slowpoke. I have treated the car well, too. I have changed the fluids regularly and have avoided harsh driving conditions. However, other than the engine everything seems to be going mechanically and electrically wrong with the car. I haven't had 6 months with the car without some major and expensive malfunction. I doubt it is all due to excessive wear and tear.

I wanted to keep this a good 5-8 years. Now I am contemplating selling it after just 2. The transmission breaking is the last straw. In the past when these problems occurred, I deluded myself into thinking the current problem is the last problem I will have with the car. I am through.

If I could, I would rather buy my old 1992 Sunbird back than keep the problematic Intrigue. The Sunbird's problems were mild compared to this. It made it to 130,000 on one transmission and one crankshaft sensor. This lemon has soured me to GM.