2002 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

About a month ago, I discovered when stopping at a red light after coming back from a 90 mile round trip drive at an average speed of abot 75, my oil light started to flicker. I did what most who have posted at this site done, is to stop and check the oil level. All was fine, so I proceeded to get under way. It would take me about 20 minutes to reach my destination and doing so, I didn't see the light flicker any more. But from that point until now it has gotten worst, but only at idle at complete stops. I've very recently had the oil sending unit replaced, but it didn't cure the problem. The mechanic said it was probably the oil pump. Now that I have read all of the complaints, I've very worried about my situation. I have a 2.7 liter V6 in this 2002 Intrepid, and it appears that this engine size is a manufacturers defect. So if there is a class action suit going on, please add me to the list.

Al

I also have discovered that my thermostat housing gasket is leaking on this engine also.

Just prior to the 36000 mile warranty expired, I had the motor in the passenger front door window replaced.

About that same time I was told that the reason my engine warning light came on was due to a fouled fuel injector, so it was replaced.

I've alway been a Mo-par fan, but I never knew that the Intrepid had so many problems until I read these complaints. Good luck Intrepid owners.

Hello everyone that's a dodge intrepid owner. I have a 2002 dodge intrepid se, with 63,000 miles my thermostat housing was leaking, the water pump went out. Now I'm getting my check engine light coming on, as well as my oil light. It just seems that these engines are falling apart, at such low mileage. Does anyone know of any recalls, of the items I just listed. It seems that as consumer were spending more money on fixing our cars, that should have a longer lifespan on the engines. Something needs to be done about this!

I also have a 2002 Dodge Intrepid SE and have started experiencing some problems with it such as the oil light, transmission problems and now the water pump. My mechanic is suppose to get back with me tomorrow about a new water pump. To the person before me, can you tell me how much it cost you to replace your water pump? Thanks.

DP.

I own a Dodge Intrepid 2002 se v-6 2.7 liter

I bought it with 18,000 and have had nothing, but problems. The "check engine light" came on. And Dodge replaced the "brain" twice!After taking to one dealer a dozen times. The oil light flickered at idle, causing the oil sensor to be replaced. The cam sensor had to be replaced. The power window motor was replaced. The plastic upper bell housing was replaced due to fluid leak at top of engine, (where hose goes to radiator) and now engine overheats!and water pump is leaking a brownish liquid. This car has been nothing short of a lemony headache!!and it's only got 72,000 miles on it. how due I get into the class action suit?? rperry7187@sbcglobal.net 916-663-1310.

I am a Dodge Intrepid owner as well. Thermostat housing just started leaking heavily a couple of days ago. It has almost always had the coolant stain around it throughout my ownership. It has 83k miles. Though, it sounds like I have been one of the lucky owners as this has been my only problem so far. Just for protections sake, I am also interested in this class action suit. Please provide details to me via email on how I can help and get involved to <makinmagic@hotmail.com>.

My son has a 2001 Intrepid and as it was his first "real" car he loved it immediately. It was bought used and has been nothing, but a problem for him. It started with a weird screeching type scratching sound in the passenger front wheel well, making him believe it needed brakes, the dealer replaced them, problem did not go away, my son took it back three times then went to other mechanics all to no avail, the problem still exists'. As this was a continuing problem the engine light began coming on and again resulted in repeated trips to the dealer and other mechanics, with no resolution. It has grown to the point that the car just will not start on its own, usually needing a jump, this after a new battery was advised, the alternator checked and "fixed" still did not resolve the problem, and most recently the "brain" was replaced, and even a used one of those are not cheap. My son read the whole owner's manual upon purchase and took to heart how and when to get his car serviced, he has been diligent and trusting in his purchase and all that this car has taken him through financially and otherwise, (as it has left him stranded and has caused him to miss unexpected hours in a days work), is just a shame and Dodge should step up to the plate and correct this problem or at least refund those that can prove they have dumped money into the vehicle to no avail.

I was one of the designers of the 2.7 engine for Chrysler Corporation back in the 1990's. I feel I did an adequate job in design and execution of this design. If you have troubles with it is surely due to your poor maintainance/driving practices. William Hoarst, Detroit.

Lol, laugh snort...

I'm sorry, but did you people not research first? You know, look up these cars in magazines or on the internet first? The problem has been there for awhile and some happy former intrepid owner passed on the "joy" to you and you didn't even know it. Wait till your engine gets oil sludge and it blows a headgasket or something. Toodles lol...

William Hoarst.

Thank you for designing such a reliable engine. I'm so happy to know that I was nearly killed in your 1998 dodge intrepid, because I didn't take car of my car. I'm sure the thousands of other victims of this 2.7l engine mess were also negligent in taking care of there cars.

I believe it's Chrysler's fault, on one hand for not apparently testing the engine enough under adverse conditions, and on the other hand for not recommending the proper oil. Anyone with knowledge of lubricants would now say that the 2.7 should only have ever used synthetic oil.

I am an owner of a 2003 2.7L Intrepid. I am an elementary teacher and a single mom who cannot afford a problematic car---yet here I am, with just that. My check engine light comes on every month or so after my car seems to hesitate upon acceleration. However, the dealer cannot find the problem. I took it to Advance Auto Parts so they could hook it up to their diagnostic equipment, and it showed a problem with the MAP sensor and the Throttle Control. The very next morning---dealer could not find any problems, and the computer did not record the engine light problem from that night. How convenient. So, I left the dealer with a car that would still act up. Now, two days ago, my oil light flickered on when I pulled up to a traffic light. Happened again yesterday. So I asked one of my friends who's very knowledgeable about engines, and he said it sounded like the oil pump was trying to go out. I took it to the dealer today. They had it all day (8 a.m.) but still did not get it in to a tech. I'm fed up with it. I'm going to get RID of it as soon as I can and get an import----Nissan or Honda. I love the car itself---the way it handles and how it looks, but I can't afford a problem child.

I have a 2002 Intrepid that has had problems from the get-go. The check engine light is on pretty much all the time, even when there's apparently 'nothing wrong' with the car. The front brakes were 'warped' & had to be replaced 1 year after I purchased the car; it was used with 25,000 miles on it. About the same time, the steering wheel started trembling fiercely at speeds of 45-58mph & no amount of balancing, rotating, tire changing has helped this situation. Starting home for a 1000 mile trip, a single mom & 2 girls alone in the car, from Christmas with family last year, the engine started knocking very loudly like there was no oil. Luckily, I was still close enough to get a family member to help get to an auto repair place... he found the crankshaft & camshaft sensors totally coagulated with oil & sludge... these were replaced at a cost of approximately $600.00. Now, exactly 1 year later, my teen-aged daughters were driving to their dad's for Christmas when the engine completely quit in the middle of a major highway, with no power steering, etc. It was all she could do to get it completely off the road & then they had to sit there for over 2 hours until we could get to them. I had the car towed back home, 106 miles, only to find out that the engine had seized up completely. A check of the oil finds it full & fine...hmmmm...how does an engine seize if there's plenty of oil??? Unfortunately, my intrepid has 95,000 miles on it... do you think any of us stand a chance with Chrysler? This just shouldn't be happening so much! I want in on the class action for sure! Jody Raymer, Myrtle Beach, SC.

Too bad my fiance didn't read any of the previous comments before purchasing a 2002 dodge intrepid. Just like the others we are experiencing the same problem with the oil light coming on. Fortunately we were lucky enough to be under our 30 day warranty and was able to get the oil pump changed for free. But after I picked the car up from the shop and drove on the interstate doing about 60-65 mph there it was that darn oil light on again. It doesn't stay on, but I've noticed after traveling some distance it comes on again. Any info pertaining to a class action suit please email me at mrsnefertiti@hotmail.com.

Just my $.02 worth:

I bought a new '02 Intrepid SE with the 2.7L engine in the summer of 2002, and it's been very nearly flawless for over 100,000 mile of reasonably hard use. I have two friends who were so impressed with my Intrepid that they bought Intrepids of their own (both '02s with the 2.7L), and neither of them has had the slightest trouble, either. I am not trying to discount the bad experiences people have had, but I just don't think the Intrepid is any less (or more) reliable than average, and I think that maintenance has a lot to do with it. I, and my two friends, stick to the letter of the severe-use maintenance schedule in the owners' manual, and our cars run and drive like new, have great power, burn no oil, and get good gas mileage, even into the 100,000+ mile range. I've done nothing to the car, but basic scheduled maintenance. It's even running on the original battery. I've owned a lot of cars, and put a lot of miles on them, and this Intrepid is the most trouble-free I've ever had (knock on wood). Literally the only problem I have had is an occasional check-engine light reporting a problem in the evaporative purge-flow control system. Plugging it into the dealers' computer shows no problem, and I do believe it's a flaky sensor. The car runs perfectly, and the light rarely stays on for long at a time, with long stretches where it never comes on. I don't consider this a big deal; try and find ten newish cars that don't have their check engine light come on from time to time for no apparent reason. I've had the same problem in two Fords, a Toyota, and an Oldsmobile.

I got a used 2002 intrepid in Feb, of this year.

Its the 2.7L SE model. its been working good so far I bought it at 99000km on it. the only real problem I have had with it is the engine light comes on, but that about it. runs good.

I brought “Blue Thunder” in Feb 2003; he had 18,000 miles on him. Excuse my referring to my car as “him” but he has been very good to me. I now have over 78,000 miles on Blue Thunder. He has taken me to Missouri, Canada, New York, Virginia Beach and Indiana. With absolutely no-problems. Not even a cough. I am not like the average owner either. I don’t change the oil as recommended. I don’t do the “regular maintenance” as recommended. I do it as I feel he needs it. I am on the road a lot. I would go broke if I adhered to the regular maintenance schedule. Remember, hi-way miles are the best miles you can put on a vehicle.

As a matter of course, I don’t stamp on the gas at stop lights and I don’t fly down the road. Blue Thunder throws me back when I need quick acceleration and that’s enough for me. Treat your car nice & he or she will treat you nice. I’ve got 2000 watts of amps and sub woofers in that carnivorous trunk space with full coverage insurance. I drive 22 miles round trip to the office Mon-Fri and gas mileage could not be better. I average 400+ to a tank and I own the 2002 SE model.

I have no idea how you folks use your car, but take this from me. DRIVE them right and you will keep more loot in your pocket, and not your local mechanic’s.

To that engineer who designed the engine on Blue Thunder, thanks for a great job!!