Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Power steering pump replaced at 70,000 due to leaks.
Front main oil seal started leaking about 85,000 miles.
Valve cover gaskets replaced at 72,000 and again at 90,000.
Steering rod bushings replaced at 75,000. Mechanic told me this was common on this model about every 40,000 miles. Cost $140.
Windshield wiper bushings worn and allow slop and slack in the wipers.
Driver door window support began cracking before 50,000 miles.
Car handles well. I was very pleased with my first Dodge purchase until about 50,000 miles.
I probably will not own another Dodge/Chrysler product.
I take care of my intrepid and it has done very well.
I agree. I got rid of this piece of crap after spending thousands $$$$$$ for repairs. Topped 90K with bruises.
Overheated constantly; changed the water pump THREE times.
Replaced the tie-rod bushings after 55K; and whole rack-n-pinion after 75K. Mechanic told me the same damn thing about these cars. Transmission was also a pain that would have finally cost me $1500 to replace - so I ditched her. Chrysler-Dodge, never again.
As for the valve covers leaking that was the mechanics fault.
If you are an Intrepid owner my sympathy. I have had one for 2 years and only for I can claim mine for taxes as I use it for business its repairs do help with the Feds.
Problems I have had to replace
Tie rods/bushings like rice at a wedding $35/$55,Transmission $1500, Ball joint/control arm one unit $85 (like rice as well),Steering rack $600new/$100used $250 to install I got lucky an purchased one used that came off a car with 27000, water pump $55 twice. Transmission mount $135, If you start to have electrical problems buy a complete harness $1200 because your old one is toast.
There are some others, but I don't have time to go there.
Those prices Quoted are mostly my price my parts/mechanic realize I'm not rich + my brother has his 1999 Intrepid in this week getting the 2.7 motor replaced only 50000 miles no settlement yet, but the cost there is going to be over $3500.
All parts are twice as much as other makes/models I have a Ford Sable and have had minimal repairs and have found that the parts are half the cost. Knowing that no car is perfect some should not incur additional costs to maintain. Dodge Management seem to turn a deaf ear to the buying public. my 2 cents.
I have to agree with what's been said previously. I purchased my Intrepid used in January 2002. I have never had more problems with a car than this one. When I hit a bump in the road the entire front end of the car shakes so bad you can barely keep it on the road. The fuel rail (which I have since found out has been recalled) leaks gas onto the engine which fills the interior with fumes so bad your eyes burn. And, has caused engine fires. DANGEROUS!!! Sometimes the dash lights will come on when you start the car sometimes they won't. I just had to replace the water pump and timing belt at 70,000 miles which set me back $500. Had it back for 4 days and now my check engine light is on and it's staying on. I can't wait to pay this loan off and get rid of the car. I've had a horrible experience with it and will never purchase another Dodge product again. Maybe I won't wait for the loan to be paid off. This car is dangerous. I'm so angry with the dealership and Dodge. Oh, don't write to the main corporation about any problems. You're wasting your time. They never wrote me back and it's been months now.
I've got a '95 intrepid with a 3.3l engine and have had no major problems with it that I haven't caused myself (two wrecks of the front end nature) The engine doesn't smoke, use oil, still has good compression. I recently (10k miles ago) replaced the power steering pump which had been going bad for the past 80k miles. (Bearings wore out) Oh, and I'm up to 180k miles. Over all I've been VERY pleased and would recommend the car to others.
I bought my first Dodge Intrepid last summer. A retired 1996 police car. It has the 3.5L v6 and goes great. Handles very well, great get up and go power, comfortable also. I bought it with 150,000 and the same day had to replace the thermostat. Also replaced ball joints (both sides), tie rod ends, both, map sensor twice in 2 months, and an arm bushing for my steering. Which I was told was only on the Intrepid. About 165,000, I was on my way to a resort for vacation and the water pump went on me half way there. At the same time had my timing belt replaced, and new belts and hoses. From the cop I paid $3,400. for it. About $1,000. in repairs. All in all I do love my Intrepid. The motor went at the beginning of Oct. and were still driving it. I blew the rod bearing is what a mechanic told me. Still runs great, has 184,000 miles... now I'm looking forward to buying another...
I own a 96 intrepid. it is still in the shop getting the struts replaced among other things. I have lost all faith in my intrepid and I WILL NEVER own another intrepid or chrysler/dodge made vehicle again they are made very poorly. I'm sick of all the crap that goes wrong with pile of poop since I have bought the car about 2.5 years ago (12,500.00) I have put now almost 8,000.00 into it what a pile. CRAP on chrysler for making poor vehicles and not caring. are any of those chrysler guys/gals ASE certified? if so why build a death trap on wheels and sell it as a great car. well poop on chrysler
very disgusted ut intrepid owner.
Proud owner of a 1996 Intrepid with the 3.3 litre engine. Have spent zero unplanned dollars on this car. Very reliable. Has 206,000 km and gives 34 mpg highway as well as decent performance. Would buy another in a heartbeat.
I own a 96 intrepid with the 3.5l engine, I'm at about 176k miles and and now running into some engine problems, but I'm luck though cuz these problems are weak and will most likely get another few 10k miles out of it before it becomes a fix issue. The problems are those of the valve cover gasket has begun to leak, not any worry though, can't tell the difference in oil volume between oil changes so not a big one, but the one that faces the biggest concern to me and my back pocket so far is the struts and shocks have started to rattle and are in need of replace ment. I have don't general mantance to the car and have had a few lights pop up on the dash, but no worry inexpensive fixes. People, your tires, your breakes will have wear. And these days its almost impossable to find a decent car that will not require you to take some money out and fix it up, but one you find one that has good power, roomy, and looks, you should be willing to spend a few buck and some time. I own a very reliable intrepid and hope the best to you who have not as much luck.
I have owned a 96 3.3L Intrepid for 8 years. Have run the odometer up to 171000 miles. Only replaced a water pump, brake pads and rotors, tires, and done regular oil changes. Glad I didn't get one of the many that so many have had problems with. Am going to take it into the shop for struts soon.
94 Intrepid with 167,000, 3.5 engine, original owner. I have a love hate relationship with this car. When it is running it's a great car. Over the years I have had the AC resealed 4 times. Finally took it to an independent shop and it has worked fine since. Two timing belts, ABS sensor, two water pumps, engine mounts, 2 trans-axle mounts. 2 sets of shocks, a bunch of front end stuff. The car still screams with the engine and transmission doing great. Just developed a power steering leak, need new tires and getting some rattles can't identify. Don't plan on getting another Chrysler, too bad, great looking cars.
OK...peoples...I own a 1996 Dodge Intrepid it has 279,000 miles only major thing I had to replace was the transmission at exactly 150,000 miles. This car is the best car I ever bought in my life and I love it! Never ever had any other troubles as spoken above. However, My car at 279,000 miles sits at a dealership with dodge dealership mechanics scratching thier heads wondering why after putting a new computer board inside it it will not run. I have faith in Dodge and believe they will trouble shoot this problem... so I can run her another 200,000 miles. Secret to keeping this particular car running is actually no secret at all...do the preventive maintenance as scheduled timing chain water pump every 75,000 miles oil change tune ups and this car will run forever. As it did for me for 279,000 miles... Thanks for your time... Hail to MOPAR!
As the 2nd owner of this '95 Intrepid, I can attest that I've only had 1 problem with the car. At the 194,000 mile mark (I'm now closing in on a quarter million miles!), the transmission decided to act up. From time to time, it would go into "limp in mode" and only come out if I turned the ignition off and then back on. The repair cost all of $230 and I'm back on the road again.
The engine is purring along like a kitten. No smoke, or anything like that.
The Dodge cars are MUCH better than they were in the '80s. This Intrepid has only left me stranded on the roadside due to a blown tire! OUTSTANDING car and it has served me well. My next car will be a '09 Dodge Charger. I look forward to putting over a 1/4 million miles on that!
The long and the short here is this: You must take care of your cars. Buying a car that has been beat (or neglected) and expecting it to last (or beating & neglecting it yourself) is just foolish. Change your oil and do the other recommended maintenance like Dodge says and you can manage to get a quarter million miles out of it.
I am a satisfied owner of a 1996 Dodge intrepid 3.1 V6. I love my car, I have only had a few repairs, overall it has been a very dependable car. The car overheated once, but it turned out to be air in the lines, no major damage. I have heard of people loosing control of the stearing and having accidents, so when my car started pulling to the right, I took it in and it was a bad tie rod. I had it fixed and the car is doing fine. I'm not a car expert, but it just seems that preventative routine car care, i.e. oil changes, rotating tires, break checks and tune ups, will keep you on the road longer and help identify problem areas before they get even bigger and have the chance to cause wear and tear on other systems. I was lucky and got a well cared for car second hand. For other second hand owners of dodge intrepids, perhaps they were not so lucky and are now dealing with the engines that have been neglected and are in serious need of repair. I prefer to by cars that are a few years old, and hope that some of the kinks have already been workded out. I also prefer a V6 and four door sedan, my idea is that the V6 is a tried and true engine and sedans are usually family cars and better cared for because the driver is motivatied to take care of their precious cargo, their kids.