1999 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

Replaced leaking thermostat housing through factory warranty.

Replaced leaking power steering coolant lines through factory warranty.

Replaced both front struts due to failure through factory warranty.

Replaced leaking oil pan gasket through factory warranty.

Replaced both rear window motors through factory warranty.

Soon after factory warranty expired, speed sensor went out causing speedometer to quit working and transmission to quit shifting. Fortunately, it was only a $25.00 part.

Within two weeks, both radiator cooling fan motors went out. The first fan caused the A/C to go out due to the fan drawing too much amperage resulting in the fuse blowing which also feeds the A/C compressor.

If you buy one of these cars, do yourself a favor and buy an extended warranty once the factory warranty runs out. Parts can be expensive, especially if you are replacing radiator cooling fans at $160.00+ per fan motor. The labor rates from the dealers are now $70.00 an hour, so repairs can add up quickly if you don't do it yourself.

I also own a 1996 Intrepid. They both are now costing me a mint to keep repaired. It would be nice if cars these days would hold together until you have them paid off. I am trying very hard to remain a Dodge fan, but am getting annoyed at all of the repairs.

I have taken it upon myself to use synthetic motor oil and transmission fluid in hopes to keep these major items from failing. Everyone needs to do the same.

Quote:

"Soon after factory warranty expired, speed sensor went out causing speedometer to quit working and transmission to quit shifting. Fortunately, it was only a $25.00 part."

I'm having the same problem with my car, THANKS FOR THE INFO!!

I have a 1999 intrepid with the 2.7 engine. Within the first month the starter went out. My speed input sensor went out at 60,000 miles, the drivers side glass came out of its bracket, now one of my electric radiator fans is vibrating so bad that I will have to disconnect it in order to get it to the shop. I do have the extended warranty, but 90 percent of these items were not covered by it. The car is a terrific ride, but it seems that most of these cars have the same problem at close to the same intervals.

I, too, am experiencing the wonderful driver's side window problems. However, both the front and the back windows are involved. As a new annoyance, the driver's door is now not opening properly either.

Is it just me, or does anyone else notice a trend here? It seems as though the same problems are being reported repeatedly.

I came across these postings and decided that I might as well add another one! I have a 1999 Dodge Intrepid also. I have owned it for a year and a half now. First, the dealership sold me a extended warranty, but never sent off the paper work to the company. Did not find that out till I had to take it in to the shop because the engine ceased up! After a strong struggle with dealership, they gave me another dealership warranty. Actually, I did not take it back to the dealership, I had to get it towed to the dealership!

Also before that, one of my sensors for the transmission went bad and would not shift out of second gear. That I had to pay out of my pocket. The cost of that repair was $100.00.

The most recent problem that I'm undergoing as we speak is the notorious cooling/air conditioning fan problem. First the A/C fan when out, then the radiator fan 2 weeks later. You will notice the motors going bad by a highly acrid oder from the engine compartment. Me personally, I think that is a serious fire hazard. You would think they would recall something like that. Actually, they should recall the whole car if you would ask me!

I don't think I now have the nerve to by anything from Dodge ever again. This was my first Dodge and the last. If anyone thinks that this is something to go to court over, email me at good1973@bellsouth.net.

Ditto to everything. Driver window glass pops out of its track, both fans went out within 2 months of each other (parts from Mexico),PCV elbow disintegrated, starter motor going bad, 4th heater resistor, and what a place to mount the battery. None of this was covered by warranty and Dodge people just shrug their shoulders, Oh well. They have my money and could care less. I'd be willing to support a hungry plaintiff attorney. John at donatucci@hotmail.com.

I own a 1998 Intrepid with the same problems. The fans went out and were replaced. Now, they are going out again. The driver side window keeps popping out. The seal around the back door ripped clean off, and the windshield frame paint is peeling off in large chunks. There is a slight rattle beginning when it is driven. I am actually afraid to drive it in fear that something else is going to happen! I can be reached at johnanddebbie@nwinfo.net if anyone knows how to correct these problems for good without paying more than the car is worth...

I also have a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. While I have not experienced most of the problems that others have commented on here, I did have the leaky thermostat housing, and the infamous driver's side window problem. I think that this window problem is so common that they ought to be recalled! I know another person who has a '99 Intrepid, and their driver's side window just shattered all by itself when they were driving one day.

I also bought a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. I have owned it for about 1 1/2 years now, and was really happy with the car when I had some terrible problems. First the transmission sensor went bad, and the car wouldn't shift out of second gear. This cost me over $100 to get fixed. Then a timing chain guide broke, causing the engine to go out of time and now I have to replace 12 of the 24 valves, not to mention the $300 I already spent for timing chain and guides and various other parts necessary to fix this problem. And I'm doing it myself. Could you imagine what the dealership would charge to fix these problems? Anyone that can help with this problem please email me at bjlandt@yahoo.com. Thanx!

Although the car has been a nice ride, I have also been experiencing the dreaded radiator fan/air conditioner problem that a few others have. My radiator fan problem was originally caused by a furry critter that decided to take a nap inside my engine compartment. The right fan was damaged in the incident. We took the right fan blade out and figured that it would have to work with one fan until summertime. So, one fan down, but I still have one... well now its gone too. Sitting in the parking lot of Target I began to smell that burning/electrical fire smell that others have mentioned here. Then, quick as a flash the other fan stopped, and wouldn't you know it, the air conditioner had stopped working. I'm getting the full shroud assembly to replace the fan, but I have no idea what it will take to fix the A/C.

99 Dodge Intrepid- Bought new- back windows never works-heater went out- transmission stop changing gears-interior lights blink on and off at any given time- and now the oil light is flickering- If any one else has had the oil light blinking please e-mail me and tell me why this is happening.Truman_007@yahoo.com.

Wow, I m so glad I found this page on a random search on google.com. I thought I was going insane, our extended warranty ran out last fall. Luckily the air condition fan problem mentioned above was covered by it, just months before it ran out. Then about a month ago one of our radiator fans ripped itself off the engine and made a horrible sound. That cost me $160 from a salvage yard to replace, new I think it was $300. The driver's side window is always popping off it's track, been doing that for some time. Passenger side window stopped working about a year ago, then suddenly started working again, seems to have fixed itself now. Today suddenly my speedometer went to zero and the car would not shift out of first gear.

Sounds to me like they need to recall this car and fix the same problems EVERYONE is reporting. My wife and I found it very humorous reading this thread and seeing the exact same problems we were having. Least we know it is nt us this time. ;-)

I purchased a 1999 Dodge Intrepid in 2000. The car now has only 60,784 miles on it, but I need a new Engine!! I cannot believe this! After checking with several Automotive Repair shops I am being told that the Engine for these Intrepids (2.7 L) is getting a reputation for being a HIGH FAILURE ENGINE!! I was also told that if the Oil gets low by only 1 quart this triggers what they call starving your Engine. I do not want to spend $6000-$7000. for another Engine! I hope that a Class Action Suit will be brought against Chysler-Dodge Corporation in the Near Future! I now have to purchase another car as my warranty is long gone. These cars are being called throw aways!! I wish Someone would publish these findings for others before they are in our situation!!

My mother has a '98 2.7 liter concorde. I took it to the dealer and had him "adjust" the valves, because it sounded as if they were tapping. He said that the valves on this engine are not adjustable. He said that My mother would have to pay for diagnosing the engine to find the problem, which he said was sludge in the oil. I told him that I change the oil religiously... I became suspicious... and drove the car home instead as this dealer duped me twice before. As I was reading all over the internet with regard to this specific engine, I became even more enraged. This car only has 46,000 miles on it and is driven by a 75 year old lady. My discovery is massive in it's scale and specific in it's findings. I have discovered from calling all of the engine REmanufacturers (all of them, about 13),that this specific engine for the years 98 and 99 were consistently generating sludge specifically for 2 reasons: 1) the oil pickup tube is too long and has too tight curves in it... restricting the oil flow; and 2) the water pump inside the engine has a weep hole which commonly lets coolant flow inside the engine rather than outside the engine... like it is supposed to... when it gets plugged. So.. what happens is that every single bearing in the engine is starved for oil on a consistant basis. Please notice that Chrysler changed 1 aspect of this problem in the year 2000...by changing to a much straighter pick-up tube. I have also noticed that the oil pressure from the year 1998 was 25-80 psi@3000rpm. was changed in 1999 and 2000,25-105psi@3000rpm. Then in 2001,45-105@3000rpm. Source:Hayes repair manual. This is really getting interesting, isn't it? Why on earth would anybody want to do this. Maybe they didn't want to... but rather had to. Now... how about that class action lawsuit concerning this engine??? I am going to file a lawsuit in district court... and I am sure that I can win. I have too much evidence. Please provide any and all facts and evidence and other things you can to help me. I have good amunition, but I want to be loaded for bear. Please help me with all of your ideas as this engine will not last much longer and we cannot afford another car.

I have experienced the same problems with my 1999 300M. Less than 25,000 miles on the odometer and the transmission has failed twice, only one forward gear and reverse. The driver's side window motor replaced twice. Rear door lock failed on passenger side. This car is babied and driven by my wife who is very, very conservative.

My 1996 intrepid is a very nice ride. But, the rack and pinion is bad due to the bushings wearing out. I have read a lot of comments of this nature. The bad part is that they don't sell just the bushings for this part. You have to buy the whole rack and pinion system which is $250.00. Almost anyone I know with these cars have had this problem with the rack. The radiator fan constantly runs which I think is due to a sensor. And I can't tell you how many center caps I see missing from these cars. Mainly the front ones, but never the less there is something wrong with them. I think the intrepid is a very sleek looking car and would probably buy another one. But Dodge should definitely have some recalls if they want to keep the Dodge Warriors driving.