1998 Dodge Intrepid SE from North America - Comments

Well, boys and girls... my 98 ES now has 146k miles! Hard to believe. I have had my share of problems, mostly being suspension and alignment. I replaced the radiator around 80k and really nothing else major. I live in Fl and the rotors get warped every 6 months or so. I went in for an oil change this week ($9.99 Tuffy special) and ironically have a major oil leak somewhere other than the oil plug. Hmmm, Tuffy wants to fix it for me along with the $1,800 they want to replace all the struts (they are original). I've come to the realization that it's time to let the car go... at $1000 for a trade I guess I can't complain since it lasted as long as it did. You just can't beat the amount a stuff you can load into this 4 door monster.

I bought a 99 Intrepid back in 2000. It had 24K miles. The engine is a 2.7 and now in 2007 it has 142,000 miles. Uses a little oil, maybe a quart between changes. Had few problems while it was still under warranty. But thank God not any major problems the engine. It should not use any oil at all. I changed the oil every 3k, air filter every 10k, the tranny filter and fluid every 30k. Only the tranny sensor's have been replaced twice. Today I went by the dealer to get an price on a new power brake booster,$350 bucks. Prayers have kept this car on the road and not in the shop. Paulbee7@hotmail.com

I have a Dodge Intrepid 2000 2.7L and like so many have had countless problems with my car starting with the brakes & rotors replaced now 2 times, cam shaft sensor replaced 2 times, crank shaft sensor replaced, InPut speed sensor replaced, OutPut speed sensor replaced, Repaired wire for Ambient Temp Sensor. A/C broken for the past 2 and a half years. Window, Mirror, & Lock/Unlock problems. Truck light is always on for the past year and a half. Dash lights half are dim, lighter does not function. Now new problem similiar to the one above. When in park or when the brakes are compressed and the heat or a/c are on the engine will rev itself yesterday it went from.5 to 2.5 in park. I don't really have any ideas yet except if there is still some other sensor, because every time I've had any problems with RPM's it seems to be a sensor or some sort. The problem is I don't know how many sensors there are on this thing. If there is a lawsuit I would like to join if I can.

northstardreamer@myway.com.

I also had all problems reported, with my 2002 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 engine. Replaced oil senors, replaced wiring harness. Today car was towed to dealer with blown engine. Oil changed every 3000 miles. Was told by dealer that his son had same problem and if had known of problem would have told him not to buy. Was told to look for another car, Dealer will not even offer any trade in on car. I have been a Mo par man for a long time and have been happy. Not with this junk.

To willing know about problem and do nothing all in the name of greed. Put me on any class action suit. Maybe the government can use my tax money to bail them out of bankruptcy again.

My 98 Dodge Intrepid has had all the above problems and more. I am the original owner of this vehicle. I had to buy another car because I was putting 300-600 dollars a month towards repairs, plus car note and insurance. please include me in the lawsuit. linda_great@yahoo.com

I'm 18 years old, I go to school full time and work part time. I recently purchased my 1998 Dodge Intrepid 3.2 ES from a wholesale car dealership with 165k miles on the engine for a measly $425.00. The car now has 175k miles on it, and it still runs perfect. I have had no problems with the car after I repaired the blower motor for my heat/AC, and my window motor for my driver side power window (the only two things wrong with the car when I purchased it). The back brakes need to be repaired within the near future somewhere around 6 months I'm guessing, and the car sort of 'wobbles' I guess you can say when I'm approaching 25-30mph or braking. It's a very comfortable ride, and I love having 225hp/torque in my 3.2 V6. So far so good for me. I find that my intrepid treats me very nice and so far things have been very good *knocks on wood*.

"I went in for an oil change this week ($9.99 Tuffy special) and ironically have a major oil leak somewhere other than the oil plug. Hmmm, Tuffy wants to fix it for me along with the $1,800 they want to replace all the struts (they are original). I've come to the realization that it's time to let the car go... at $1000 for a trade I guess I can't complain since it lasted as long as it did."

Doesn't this sound like a ripoff to you? I avoid "lube places" like the plague because they have people working there that overtighten and strip drain plugs, don't use the right type or amount of fluid, don't change what they say they do, generally screw things up, and make a hobby of telling you that you need lots of expensive repairs that they aren't qualified to do, anyway, but will attempt and screw up, so you have more problems once you get out the door.

Case in point -- transmission flushes. Do you know how many say "I hate my car, it's junk, I just had a transmission flush at the lube place and now the transmission is shot!" Wow, doesn't that tell you something? Yes, it sure is ironic that the "$9.99 special" place says you have a major oil leak -- they probably caused it. Don't go cheap on your car, it isn't worth it.

Also, I would say that you're better off to just keep driving the car until it really dies. The $1,000 trade-in is just a scam, too, because the dealer will just raise the price of the other car by $1,000 and it will be like giving him your car, which he'll turn around and sell for $3,000. Every month you drive the car is one month you won't have a car payment. If you car is valued at $1,000, then if you drive it another 2 or 3 months, it will be like it's free because it will have saved that much in payments.

I bought a 2001 Dodge Intrepid 2.7L in Jan of 07 with 83,000 miles. Wish I would've looked at these forums before buying. Engine started knocking at 95,000. I have it in the shop now, hopefully it is not a blown engine. Will write back when I find out the problem. The worst part is I still have a loan on it, so if I have to dump it I will be pretty far upside down on my next loan.

What I thought was a "good car"

Class action suits against Chrysler for old, high mileage vehicles? My first point is simply stated as "buyer beware". My second point is that most of the cars in question are old and have considerable mileage.

I trade my cars in every year and then I know I am keeping current with safety, styling, and technology advances. Who in the world would buy a car with 80000 miles on it???

"I trade my cars in every year and then I know I am keeping current with safety, styling, and technology advances. Who in the world would buy a car with 80000 miles on it???"

I can't agree with this statement. The newest car I ever owned had 80,000 miles on it when I bought it, and it's still going strong. My Fords, Plymouths, Dodges, and GM's have all been acquired generally with over 100,000 miles and have lasted me 10 years, being retired at over 200,000 miles. My question is, why would I throw away huge amounts of money by trading every year when I have saved 10's of thousands of dollars (maybe 100,000 dollars) by driving good, reliable, used American cars? If you want to throw away thousands every year, that's your business, but it makes no financial sense.

My 1998 3.2L Dodge Intrepid ES has 167,600 miles, and I'm not exactly sure what is going on. It runs nice, looks nice, but as of yesterday my passenger side front end is making a really weird, and unwelcoming clicking noise. I decided it was best to not drive the car to work or school until my brother looks at it, hopefully it isn't anything major. The noise is happens only when the car is moving, although when I accelerate it is very faint, almost as if it doesn't exist. The check engine is NOT on, and the engine doesn't seem to be slipping or anything of that nature. I'm hoping for the best, without a car I'm really in a bad situation.

That is the same kinda ticking noise I have going on in my 2001 INTREPID SE 2.7L engine 81,000 miles. I am afraid that the engine will eventually go in this car I am wondering if it is worth upgrading to a 3.5 engine or just get a different car.

Let me know what you find out.

The 98 Dodge Intrepid. What a pain in the neck. I'm 18 years old and I must get to school in April. If my wheels can't take me there, I'm gonna be in trouble. Here's what everyone must know: I did the research, I have talked with countless dealerships about this "Hard to come by 2.7L." First of all, they are asking way too much for a no-good motor, and second of all, the mark of a 2.7L=FAILURE! The oil ports in the motor were created too small, hence the car doesn't indicate oil in the car, hence the oil is as black as ebony. So enough of the complaining, how do we solve the problem? I understand the cost is killing us.

I haven't heard too many complaints about the effect AFTER installing the 3.2L. Yes people have explained the money ripping their bank up with repair costs, but did the people with the 3.2L regret investing their money into this Dodge Intrepid? I have yet to find out if anyone has converted the 3.2L with the 2.7L. I would like to know if it has had any more problems after the operation, because I'm investing in a 3.2L kit, including all parts needed to plug it in. I did find one person why said they did it, and it ran for only 10 minutes. That was it. How do we know it wasn't because of something else? The problem has to be targeted and proven. If anyone converted the 3.2L from the 2.7L, Please email me: chefcorrinne@hotmail.com.

We bought a 1998 Dodge Intrepid for our teenage daughter from a state auction. The car ran great for a while, but began burning oil soon after we brought it home. The mechanic could not tell us why we were having this problem. The air conditioner also went. And now, the car has stopped running completely. A new engine costs approximately $4k plus labor and a used or rebuilt engine runs from $1,200.00 - $3,000.00 but you would be getting the same engine with the same issues. I would be very interested in a class action suit... if anyone has information please post it for all to access.

I have a 98 Dodge Intrepid, and cannot get oil change due to stripped & defective oil pan. I've put in universal plug (didn't plug it) and had it re-threaded (can only be done once, and no oil can be changed after). I need a new oil pan and unbelievably NONE are available. My dealer has over 100 of them on backorder now, and everywhere I've looked on the internet tells me they are completely unavailable. I wrote to Chrysler/Dodge, and no response. IF there is a class action on the company's disinterest in offering replacement parts, I'd like to know and I'd like to join.