10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
154,826 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Dodge Intrepid:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #12

Mar 312021

Intrepid

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Intrepid. The contact stated while her fianc was driving at approximately 20 mph, the vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #11

Nov 212019

Intrepid

  • 142,000 miles
We are writing to let you know of a major car fire that occurred in our Dodge Intrepid. The driver was driving on the interstate. The hot/cold needle began moving up and down. Then the brakes gave out. Then, the power steering gave out. The car started smoking producing black chemical smoke into the cabin. Then, fire started shooting out of the vents. With no brakes and fire and smoke into the car, the driver was forced to jump out of the vehicle and roll onto the middle of the interstate with the car still going 30-40 mph. The driver was in extreme danger inside the car and obviously laying on the interstate as well. The car ended up in the ditch while completely engulfed in flames. He was able to get onto the shoulder of the road. The fire department arrived to put out the fire. They determined the fire started inside the area of the heating core. The fire was so hot that it melted the bolts we were told by the fire marshal. There obviously was something faulty with the heater core to give this much damage. The driver was treated at the er for smoke inhalation. The contents in the car were either burned, melted, or have severe smoke damage. The vehicle is a complete loss of course. We lost many items of value inside the vehicle. We would like to be reimbursed for the car, the damaged or destroyed contents and any medical bills.

- Greenfield, IN, USA

problem #10

Oct 152015

Intrepid

  • 133,000 miles
In October 2015 I bought a 2004 Dodge Intrepid from a private owner/dealership. I didnt even have for a wek and was on highy doing 60 M.ph. On hwy and all of a sudden pwered down and turned off and steam coming out from under hood. I proceeded to get out of middle lane to breakdown lane. (very dangerous) when car not running. Let it cool off and drove home and brought to dealer. Dealer could not figure out what was wrong. Sent me on my way. Weeek later was back there again with overheating issue again. Still said could not find out whats wrong. Very frustrated I took car home. From there it ran for like a month and then started overheating again. I had noticed that sometimes when I drove I could tap gas pedal and temp indicator gauge went back down. Weird. Did some ressearch online when this first happened and saw alot of people having issues with this car and previous engine 257 was in a lawsuit for bad engine. Said then engine I have 318 was supposed to be better design but still saw alot of same issues. I finally had to take in becasue it started having starting problems. I did not take back to dealership cuz would have not made it that far and I wanted a second opinion. They found a weep hole in water pump that was leaking and a cam sensor problem which he state had a service technical bulletin. So I called Chrysler and they said need to take back to the dealer to identify that issue. She checked my VIN nr at Chrysler and said that in 2012 the cam sensor was replaced. But still have that issue so said dealer will have to request Chrysler to do again...this car looks great inside and out but these issues are resonant in numerous cars. This is a dangerous situation if shuts down or overheats while driving. Chrysler needs to do something about this and should have never sold these vehicles with this engine.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #9

Dec 022015

Intrepid

  • 84,800 miles
Oil light and check engine light are coming on. Took it to a mechanic to get it inspected he said it is loosing oil pressure due to oil pump failure there is no way to tell when or if the engine will seize up, but that it could be while driving on the interstate. Some research showed that this is a major issue with the 2.7L V6 in the Dodge Intrepid. This is a major safety issue.

- Mulberry, FL, USA

problem #8

May 222014

Intrepid

  • 688,004 miles
I was driving to work and all the sudden my car started dinging and I look down at the lights and my over heat light was on and my car temp was all the way at high. I took my car to ntb to get an oil change and had just filled my coolant the day before. Ntb had to fill my coolant again that next day. I picked up my car and was on my way home and my car started dinging and it was over heating again. So I pulled over. Let it set for 20 min even with the heat on full blast. And before I even made it home which was not even 10 min away it over heated again. I opened the hood and look and no coolant. Now this is the 3rd time in 2 days of filling it up. Had it towed to a shop. Water pump went and timing chain and the water pump housing at the top cracked. Sad thing is I just bought this car not even a month ago because my other cars engine blew.

- Brooklyn, OH, USA

problem #7

Apr 102014

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Car began steaming, and smoking. Had to pull over to let it cool down, no extra antifreeze available. Once cooled, limped it to mechanic. Mechanic stated fuel pump is out again, after only 45,000 more miles on brand new Dodge water pump. Mechanic also stated that oil pressure is too high and seals bad, oil spewing out everywhere. He said this is a defect of the Dodge 2.7 liter engine and since water pump is incorporated into motor, the cost to replace it, put all new seals and fix the oil pump would not be worth the value of the car and he will not do it because he refuses to "spend other people's money on a junk motor." He stated that even rebuilt Dodge 2.7 liter motors are bad and will quit after only a few thousand miles. He says you can not get a good 2.7 liter Dodge motor for any Intrepid built between 1998-2008. He had paperwork showing Dodge knew it was a poor design that would blow and not be worth the cost of repair. I want this corrected and anyone who owned one of these lemons reimbursed for the cost of repairs for these vehicles! Dodge knowingly sold these lemons and did nothing to fix the issue until 2008! this is a clear cut case of consumer fraud!

- Holland, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 222012

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
Was traveling on the highway when the car began steaming, pulled over and all the radiator fluid was pouring out of the car. Turns out the water pump went out. The pump is incorporated into the motor requiring the motor to be unbolted, turned up, the radiator, valve cover, thermostat, water pump, timing chain and more to be removed. Cost was nearly $850 due to the extreme amount of labor involved and the fact Dodge only parts have to be used. Mechanic informed me, at that time that the 2.7 liter engine was a very poor design and often give out completely before the car has 100,000 miles on it and Dodge is well aware of the problem. Found a lawsuit filed against Dodge for this defective engine in New Jersey.

- Holland , MI, USA

problem #5

May 292013

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 162,000 miles
Driving on freeway at 65mph when engine jumped to high RPM then dropped to low RPM and quit. Steam coming out from under hood. Found the water outlet box had blown the top off, engine overheated, and piston rod broke. Many complaints of the plastic welded seam on the water outlet box failing on the Dodge Intrepid. This stranded me on the freeway in a bad area. Very poor design water outlet box.. repair box is now a two piece assembly bolted together. They obviously knew of this defect and changed the design without recalling or repairing any. Now need new engine due to overheating when the box failed.

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #4

Mar 112013

Intrepid

  • 137,000 miles
I went to leave work and my car would not start. At first I thought maybe it was the battery or starter. After having both of these tested and several mechanics later was told that my engine was seized. I have always checked the oil and had it changed accordingly. This is not fair I trusted that this car would be reliable and dependable now I am stuck with no vehicle in a town with little to no public transportation. How could Chrysler/Dodge knowingly let people purchase this engine when there are several thousand complaints on it? how about a recall and some integrity and honesty in your product instead of screwing single mothers like me...

- Post Falls, ID, USA

problem #3

Jan 242013

Intrepid

  • 58,000 miles
I was driving along and the engine just stopped. No warning lights came on, no sudden noises, etc. I was driving the car approx. 25 minutes when this happened. I was able to pull off the road and have the car towed.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #2

Nov 152012

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I bought this car from a dealership a year ago, and kept up with maintenance. Two days after purchasing the car the engine died and I had to have it towed back to the dealership, the mechanic there told me that there were burnt wires in the engine that had to be replaced. A month later, there was a leak in the coolant system, so I had it taken to a mechanic who replaced the entire coolant system, put in a new radiator because there was a small crack, as well as installed a brand new battery. About a month after that incident, as I was driving home from work, which is only 11 miles at 35mph, the engine seized. None of the indicator lights went on. Two different mechanics told me that I need a new engine. It is a 2.7L V6. I still owe $4,000 on the car and so far it cost me $6,000 to keep it running.

- Makawao, HI, USA

problem #1

Nov 092012

Intrepid 6-cyl

  • 107 miles
The engine out of nowhere blew up, engine shut down and water and oil came out of the oil spout, also always having problems with the steering, having to constantly change the rubbers in the stabilizer bars, I'm complaining because the car is a lemon.

- Stockton, CA, USA