1995 Dodge Intrepid Standard from North America - Comments

I purchased a used 1995 Dodge Intrepid powered by the 3.3L engine with about 70,000 miles. I was impressed with how roomy and good looking it was.

Shortly after purchasing the vehicle I smelt a burning oil type smell. With this mileage I figured these things could happen and it was no big deal. I traced the smell to engine oil leakage, replaced the valve cover gaskets and oil fill cap. I performed a tune up and replaced the oil, oil filter, vacuum hoses, spark plugs, PCV valve, fuel filter and air filter. I thoroughly checked everything and all fluids. I also had all four tires replaced because they had excessive inner wear.

The problem was corrected, the engine seemed to run strong. I did notice that the transmission did not seem to kickdown consistently. A squeal did develop in the steering and the brakes usually squeaked loudly, which was not a big problem for me, only annoying. I had the brakes sanded down, cleaned, adjusted and inspected, but the squeaking would just return. I was told by a five star Chrysler dealer that they had a memo from Chryseler stating that the brake noise is normal and that nothing could be done.

The vehicle was stalling out at idle and when reversing sometimes, then would not start due to what I found to be a defective cheap OEM negative battery terminal, which I replaced.

I had a feeling that the transmission mounts were broken because of a hard clunk in the front end after acceleration at times, also not a big deal.

At nearly 80,000 miles I noticed transmission fluid leakage evidence and smelt the strong odor inside the vehicle at times. I decided to take it in to a Chrysler dealership, which notified me that the transmission cooling lines needed to be replaced along with the transmission mounts.

I was told that the power steering pump needed to be replaced.

I was told that the brake squeaking was normal and that nothing could be done. Unfortunately, I was also told that the transmission seals also needed to be replaced, which would require the transmission to be rebuilt resulting in expensive labor. I was quoted $2700.00 and besides, the OEM snap on wheel covers were falling off, which DaimlerChrysler sells for $100.00 each as a rip off.

C-Pillar plastic was sun damaged and needed replacement.

The Paint was starting to wear and the interior plastics and paneling were faded and worn.

Basically, the vehicle was starting to fall apart pretty quickly.

Although I liked the vehicle otherwise, I decided that it was more cost efficient and time to move on to something newer and better figuring these things were mainly due to the vehicle mileage or overall usage.

I think that the only really good part of this vehicle was its 3.3L engine that was still running strong, had nice power on the freeway, burned no oil and had good fuel ecomomy. The only thing I can really praise Chrysler on is the 3.3L engine in this Intrepid. After experiences with other Chrysler (DaimlerChrysler) manufactured vehicles, I would not purchase another Dodge, Chrysler vehicle. Many of the newer ones are far worse and are even more likely to start falling apart. I didn't know it at the time, but this was actually considered a very good Chrysler manufactured vehicle compared to many others.

The 1995 Intrepid with the 3.3L engine has been a lot of trouble to me. The car, I learned later, had been through six owners before, including an auto-auction after it had just over 12,000 miles. When I purchased it there were about 55,000 miles.

After 4 months I had to have the transmission rebuilt, all the seals were gone. There's been trouble with tie-rods and I have gone through two sets. Yesterday the third and fourth gear went out of the transmission and so I'm looking at over 2 grand for a rebuilt one. It has a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty and is supposed to be much improved over the OEM, but the car now has 124,000 miles.

In the past I owned a 1968 Newport Custom and a 1972 Newport. The transmissions never wore out and both cars had over 150,000 on them. Even after driving at 70 mph with practically no transmission fluid in the 1968 car, the transmission was as good as new, once I had the leak repaired and filled it up with fluid. It was the motor of each that wore out on these.

My 1988 Toyota had 197,000 miles and it was the transmission that started slipping and then suddenly locked up.

The motor on the Intrepid still runs great, and the mileage is still excellent. The car can really scream when I have to pass someone in a short distance or if the space is tight trying to get onto the freeway. It's just a shame Chrysler had to make such a wimpy transmission.

Oh yes, the blue paint is peeling off the roof.

It's strange. I own a 1995 intrepid, the only things that went wrong with it was the transmission, water pump, and the sensors. but other than that, it's been fine.

The 1995 Intrepid 3.3L - Well it was a great car until it started to fall apart around 105,000 km. First thing to go were the transmission hoses @ $100.00 apiece not a inexpensive fix. That summer the air conditioner seized up and had to be replace. Three months later, the car stuttered when shifting and sometimes it stuck in one gear. Shortly after there was a pronounced squeal and the torque converter went. Five months later the transmission went and had to be replaced with a rebuilt. In between all the major repairs came a leaking water pump which I replaced and the paint on the car started to peel. I went to my local Dodge Dealer where I had purchased the car and there was no satisfaction about the paint. It seems everyone in the paint industry knows about it, but the manufacturers aren't doing anything about it.

I bought my 1995 Dodge intrepid in 1997. It had about 26,000 miles. I have had different things go wrong, but all in all it has been an awesome car. I still love to drive it. I now have 190,000 miles. One thing I have always done was keep the oil changed and flushed the fluids. Too bad all these people have had such problems, because I really love my car!!!

I own the same car and it has been a maintenance nightmare. Three transmissions, lifters, paint is dead, transmission cooling lines, new engine, dipstick, and air conditioner. I was a real sucker. Just bought a Toyota. I drove a Toyota truck and something finally went wrong at 167,000. Dodge broke down at 17,500. Should have sold it then.

My '95 Intrepid 3.3L is working quite great actually.

I replaced the tie rods and brakes and the rest is just regular maintenence.. the transmission is a bit weird.. but nothing major.. it kinda hesitates between 2nd and 3rd gear. A/C doesn't work. The paint in the front is chipping.

But it has 155,000 miles now and its still working. I am actually quite amazed. I thought it would have fallen apart and broken by now. I only paid $1500 for it 3 years ago when I bought it and it had 120,000 miles then; now its got 155,000 and still feels the same.

My next car is gonna be an import though, definitely. I want better gas mileage than the 18mpg I get right now.

At 350,000km I finally had to give my Intrepid to my Nephew. I was the second owner and purchased the car at 138,000km... So after 9 years of service (just winters for the last two) I would say that at the $11,000 I paid for it in 1997 I certainly got my money's worth. Not that it was without its troubles, the Transmission was replaced by the first owner under warranty at 50,000km. I did two major R+R's of the front suspension and tie rods, but that's not completely unreasonable considering this is a big car and those parts do a lot of work... the AC went in 2001 I finally just snipped the belt... In the last couple of years the transmission has started to be a bit grabby, but the oil isn't smelling burnt at all... The 3.3 was just the right engine for this car. Power when you needed it, but not so much that it tore the drive line to shreds over stressing it... This car has always started even at Minus 35C here in Ottawa the last couple of winters... Quite amazing. A couple of years ago I put 4 new all season on it and WOW.. I couldn't believe how this car was on snowy expressways... Nothing could shake it loose...

As far as I'm concerned Chrysler got this car just right... unfortunately 12 years later I think they've forgotten a lot about making cars... I couldn't buy anything they make with out feeling guilty of smoking out the planet with CO2... HEMI's weren't green in the 70's and they still aren't very green now... I'm now iVTEC or better...

Cheers.

J. Poel

Ottawa.

I bought a used '95 Dodge Intrepid, the 3.3 liter one. It always smells like its leaking gas. Is there a known cause for that? Also I just changed the oil about 1 week ago; now its making a loud knocking noise around the oil pan. My oil is already burnt-looking, and has little metal particles in the oil like it has glitter in the oil. I was thinking that it was metal shavings. The car still drives the same though. Then there's times at low rpm that my power steering will go out and i'll have no power steering at all; I rev it up a bit and I get it back. Any help would be great, Jon Phillips. jonphillips1234@yahoo.com.

July 26 1997.

My husband and I purchased the intrepid about 5 years ago, fortunetly I don't have it anymore. I am looking for people who have had a unexplained fire. On the way back from mexico ours practically exploded killing our 15 month old daughter. I am still in litigation with Chrysler. I have been told it was due to the vehicle construction. If anyone has had a similar incident I need to hear from you. sybl-juarez@charter.net. It is possible that you had an accident and you just assume the fire was from this as I did, until I seeked a lawyer. To my understanding you only have 10 years to discover these problems and your statute of limitations may be up, but It may help in my case against chrysler. Desperate greiving mother Help.

We purchased a 1995 Chrysler intrepid at 90,000 miles in 2003. There was only one previous owner, who we also knew. In the first few months, we had to replace a front wheeling bearing. Since then, we have had to replace the head gasket, one back wheel bearing, radiator and re-do the timing chain, etc. We now have 180,000 miles on the car. But that isn't too bad.

We have had no problems with the transmission. A friend told us to keep the transmission in 3rd gear instead of overdrive in speeds below 60 miles per hour. This is to keep the revs above 2,000 rpm.s. Since we drive on a lot of gravel roads at speeds below 60 miles per hour, we have heeded this advice and used 3rd gear for these trips. AS well, we try to change the transmission oil with filter every couple of years.

However, from what I have observed, none of the trunk locks will work with the key. One has to use the

automatic trunk opener, which requires two people in our case to open-one person to push down on the back of the trunk and one person to push the button in the glove compartment.

Now, we have a problem in starting. It takes two sequences of starting to start the car, of two times engaging the starter.