1997 Dodge Intrepid from North America - Comments

I changed the oil the next week after I bought the vehicle. I put well over 3 quarts of oil back into the engine even after the initial 5.5 quarts that it required on the oil change.

The only thing I really had a problem with was the engine; I didn't really own it long enough to see any other problems.

The timing chain broke partially, causing an extremely annoying rattle from the engine (not a rod bearing). It was also smoking very badly. Soon after that, the engine locked up.

The valve seals went bad causing the car to smoke.

The Mitsubishi 2.7L Engine installed with the car had serious engineering flaws in the head. The oil delivery spouts going to the top of the valves were way to small causing the head sludge up.

I owned the car for 2 1/2 months and the motor blew. From what I've heard from other people, this car has a junk motor in it. I talked with a local Dodge dealer about the problem and the mechanic said that he changed 3-4 2.7L engines a month. Later that day, I was flipping through the AutoTrader and I found 12 Dodge Intrepids with blown motors. Seems to be a real problem with Dodge.

For the good points, interior is great, rides like a dream. Very nice interior, stock stereo system is very nice. The feel of the car was very comfortable.

Well it is a good review, but I can tell you right off the start why the motors lower then the 3.5 blow it is because the oil pickup sits to low in the reserve and no one cahnges there oil at the right time so it cloggs up and blows. Hope that helps you.

I have a 1997 intrepid with a 3.5L and I must say I'm impressed... i have no problems with the motor at all... i always ride it to the floor and still no problem.. i have 103k miles and it still runs like a dream... i put a 45 horse chip... cold air intake...exhaust...and it MOVES... love my car... not getting rid of it for a while...

I just bought this car today actually, been looking at it for a while, and it's been well taken care of and I plan to do so as well, I'll keep you posted in a while about it.

You might have been able to recover the engine if you'd stopped when it started rattling, and smoking heavily, rather than just driving it on until it dropped dead in harness.