The car was working fine with no major mechanical problems, I had replaced the brakes about a month ago and the oil at the same time. I left the car in park and left it running while I ran inside. I came back out, and went to put the car in reverse. It made a loud bang and promptly shut down. I had it towed to my mechanic who said that the 2.7L engine is an interference engine, which basically makes it impossible to fix. He told me that it would be at least $3500 to fix. On a car that is worth about $1000. I firmly believe that Chrysler is aware of this situation and refuses to acknowledge that this engine is a piece of crap! I'm lucky in the fact that I can have someone to help me attain another vehicle, but I know many others are not.

Taking a 2yr and 5yr old to Florida at Christmas to visit grandma after terrible divorce... made it 325 miles and the timing chain let loose. We all know the end to this story... Big repair bill, huge inconvenience, AND NO SUPPORT FROM DODGE!!! Funny- someone super glued every single lock at the dodge dealer that night- 18k to fix every vehicle and the buildings... And many of Chrysler's head honchos have cabins on Mullet and Burt lake in northern Michigan, just in case anyone wants to go join em for a bbq.

I recently got a small inheritance so I decided to pay off my Dodge Intrepid so I wouldn't have a car payment while I was in school, I knew I would have to depend on this car for a long time so I made sure to get the oil changed right when it needed it everytime, now the timing chain is broke and I cant afford to fix it. Im extremely upset to hear of all the other people who have had this trouble, I cant believe Chrysler wont address this problem. I'm a single mom trying to get through school and now I have no car after paying 6,000 just last year to pay this car off, I guess im just screwed.

So this is my story:

My mom bought this car after leasing it for three years, now i am driving it, and i was going to either sell this one or trade it in for a new car, but i figured its paid off so why not drive it. didn't really have the money for a new car anyway, well should have listened to my instincts. of course yesterday it breaks down on me on the highway, it started smoking , engine light came on and then the oil light came on too, i was able to pull off to the side, but it wouldn't start afterwards, so i had it towed. the guys tell me that its the water pump that broke and they needed to replace that first in order to see if there was damage inside the engine. and well after cost of $500 the engine was still dead, and of course it was the timing chain that broke and i would need a new engine, i haven't replaced it yet, but they found a used engine with 36,000 mile on it with cost of $1500 any my car if i was to sell it would only get about $5000, so i am still thinking about it, because total cost is like $3000, but i will NEVER buy American made car, NISSAN seems the best, my boyfriend has 146000 miles on his and it hasn't given him any major problems. DON'T EVER BUY AMERICAN MADE CARS, my boyfriend always said that and i never really listened to him, but now i see why. plus i don't know if dodge will even pay for it , something tells me they wont, i called them up to see when the chain should be replaced, and they said every 30,000 miles, so i am guessing they won't do anything about it, any one know?

I am a mother of two who lives pay check to pay check and unfortunately bought a used 2000 intrepid to have a reliable car. Little did I know that this would soon be the biggest mistake. I just bought the car used 3 mths ago and now I need a new engine. While driving @ 70 mph on the highway the timing chain broke. Thank god my kids were already @ school and the sitter. I got my car towed to hear the most horrible news ever "needs a new engine." I still owe $4,000 on the car and it would be anywhere from $3,000 - 4,000 to fix. So now I make a payment on a car that doesn't even run. I can't afford to get it fixed or get a new car. I am just so sick from this matter. I hope and pray that Dodge would become responsible for this problem.

INTREPID RAN PERFECT WITH NO NOISES, SMOKE, MIL, NOTHING. STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND IT DIED. I POPPED THE HOOD AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE THROUGH THE VALVE COVER. I OWN AN ENGINE SHOP SO I DID THE WORK MYSELF. AT FIRST I PLANNED TO CHANGE THE MAIN TIMING CHAIN AND VALVE COVER AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. AS I DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE I FOUND ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. WATER PUMP JUNK, ALL INTAKE VALVES BENT, ROLLER TAPPETS WORE OUT, ETC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING.

I am horrified that this has happened, and apparently Daimler Chrysler is aware of it and is doing nothing about it. I've contacted them and have been told that I needed to submit evidence of oil changes and maintenance for the past seven years, which I did. They are saying that the receipts aren't evidence enough because they sometimes just say "Dodge" without specifics or don't have my name on them. This is because I have the car serviced locally where I'm not gouged for oil changes like at the dealership. This car has 74,468 miles on it and now the engine is blown. I'm disgusted.

March 6, 2007, I was on my way home from work. I begin hearing a squealing sound, but I wasn't sure if it was my vehicle or one beside me. I went on and drove onto the interstate, still hearing the loud noise I finally slowed down and turned my radio completely off. Next thing I know a oil light popped on and my car began driving unnormal, as I went for my brakes I could not even push down on them to stop. I thought to myself, "My freaking engine has locked up!" By this time, evening rolled around, it was getting dark and I had to locate a inexpensive wrecker service to tow my vehicle to a shop. Come to find out my timing chain came off and busted my overhead. IT WAS OIL EVERYWHERE!!! No one wants to work on it and when I finally found a mechanic, he told me it would cost so much to repair I would be better off buying a new vehicle. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER DODGE NOR WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM. The cars may look nice, but the quality SUCKS!!!

Owned vehicle for 3 months when Oil Light starting flickering. Started researching problems online and found that the 2.7 liter Dodge engine has wide problem reporting on dozens of web sites. I followed recommendations of dealer, other mechanics, and online forums. Engine was flushed using a recommended method to remove sludge and build-up of carbon. Was told by mechanics and other 2.7 liter engine remanufacturers (Accurate Engines) that the original engine is a "Sludger". Oil drain holes and lubricating system was inadvertantly/poorly designed whereas it Bakes/Burns the engine oil Accurate engine claims they have re-engineered the engines to overcome the problem and by using far superior parts than OEM on the 2.7 ltr engine. Accurate representative I spoke with advises only using a Synthetic Oil 5w-30 or 10w-40. Synthetic Oil holds up better to high heat and less likely to sludge. The Intrepid has a high appearance factor in its favor. But the cost of repairing the vehicle myself will exceed $3500K. Not to mention the time and labor ..... I've already carefully pulled the old motor and tore it apart, it is a mess .... 2 broken pistons (shattered rods), damaged heads and is not even useable for core trade-in to Accurate Engines. So I'll have to an extra $400.00 for non-core return. Then the expense of shipping to Alaska. I've taught High School Automotive for many years and have declared this vehicle as LEMON. My sons and other students are seeing first hand as to why. They are also seeing that Chrysler is "Dodge-ing" the LEMON label which is clearly becoming a "fact" or factor as more of these engine failures are reported. What's sad is many folks are still making payments on their 2.7 ltr Dodge vehicles while seeking other dependable transportation.

My car was running perfectly. I kept all the regular oil changes. I did not have even a flat tire because I change the tires at the time given by the book. Now my mechanic is telling me that my engine is blown because of oil sludge that broke the timing chain and my car engine need to be replace. I feel that I've been cheated. I pay off my car in 2005, and I was so happy because my car mileage was only under 40,000. I had though that I have protected my $25,000 investment. NOW WHAT, I DONT HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GO TO MY JOB AND PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE SOMEONE DID NOT TAKE THE TIME TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SELLING A DEFECTIVE CAR. I NEED SOME ANSWERS AND I NEED THEM FAST.