My Dodge Intrepid engine was blow up and completely destroyed.

- Garfield, NJ, USA

: the contact stated while driving 6 0mph the vehicle temporally stalled. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop were the transmission computer chip was replaced. The intermittent stalling continued while driving 35 mph and the vehicle was towed to another independent repair shop. The mechanic determined there was sludge build up in the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. There was a coolant leak which had contaminated the oil. Updated 04/17/06.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

: the contact stated while parking there was a noise that came from the engine. The engine shut off and would not start back. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop for inspection. The mechanic determined the timing chain had broken, the pistons and valves were damaged and the engine needed to be replaced.

- Allentown, PA, USA

Dodge Intrepid 2001 with 2.7L engine. Made knocking sounds, so we drove it to the dealer. Dealer says engine has sludge and must be replaced due to improper maintenance.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

On Jan. 27,2006, I, inell foye was driving my 2001 Dodge Intrepid Intrepid when suddenly the engine failed. On Jan. 30,2006 I had a mechanic look at the car. He determined that the timing chain broke. As a result, the pistons and valves were damaged. Now I need a new engine in which I cant afford. By the way, its a 2.7L engine. I didn't know that many of these cars have these problems. I found out the hard way. Hopefully I will be fully compensated.

- Allentown, PA, USA

: the contact stated while driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was left overnight and started the next morning. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop. The repair shop determined there was sludge in the oil, and temporarily repaired the vehicle, but the engine needs to be replaced.

- Springfield, TN, USA

: the contact stated while driving on a paved road the check oil light illuminated. While the vehicle was idling, the temperature increased. Upon inspection the independent repair shop determined the oil pressure had dropped. The oil pump was replaced at a later date. After six months the check oil light illuminated again. The vehicle has not been inspected. Updated 3/3/2006 -

- Hartland, ME, USA

: the contact stated while driving the vehicle noises could be heard coming from the engine. The vehicle was driven for a period of time before the vehicle was taken to a dealership. Diagnostics test were performed on the vehicle and the problem could not be duplicated. The vehicle was driven for one year before the engine failed; the vehicle is now parked without repairs being made. The manufacturer has not been contacted.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Good morning, my name is [xxx] and I live in hamilton Ohio. I am the owner of the 2001, Dodge Intrepid. On January 28, 2006 my wife was driving down a rural road when the engine of the car started to tick as she was slowing to go around a bend in the road. She looked at the gauges to find nothing real abnormal. When she got almost around the bend and tried to speed up a little the engine would not respond. The wheels ended up locking before finishing the curve, and she slid off the road. My wife had to get out of the car in a dangerous part of the road and walk quite a distance to get to a phone to call me. We have four children and one or all could have been with her at the time. If the engine would have stopped sooner she could have gotten really hurt. I had the car towed to a repair shop in fairfield, Ohio, and they have since informed me that the whole engine needed to be replaced. After talking vehicle to the mechanic, he informed me of the problems of this engine. This engine did have sludge build up in it. When I would take it to get its regular oil change I would have to get the engine flushed to get the sludge out, costing more money. Also having problems with heating system. But, I associated that with some sort of heating element not working. It would work fine moving down the road, but when I would stop at a sign or a light it would get cold. I had all the signs I have discovered from your web site after the engine went out. I would appreciate any help or information you could provide. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fairfield, OH, USA

During normal driving conditions my 2001 Dodge Intrepid just quit making a loud noise and smoke from under the hood. I had it towed to the dealer they told me the water pump had failed and the timing components were bad. Aprox repair cost $2000.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

: the consumer stated while driving at 50 mph, the engine stalled and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection. The local mechanic discovered the engine was filled with sludge and the pistons were welded together in the head gasket. The local mechanic stated there was no oil in the engine, although 1 quart of oil was added the week before the failure. The local mechanic recommended replacing the engine.

- Pittsfield, MA, USA

While the contact's wife was driving the vehicle stalled. There were no warnings prior to the vehicle stalling. While stalling the oil light illuminated. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealership to determine the cause of the problem.

- Timberpines , FL, USA

My 2001 Dodge Intrepid engine failed while trying to pull off of the road leaving my mother half in and half out of traffic. The mechanic states there is no oil within the engine. However, we just had a complete oil change in October of this year. There is has been no sign of leaking and no oil light indicator until immediately prior to the engine locking. After reading everything on the website I am appalled that Dodge can get away with this. As consumers we have to join together and force them to take responsibility. The average consumer cannot afford to throw hard earned money out of the window. We plan to junk the car and not risk further loss after reading these horror stories. I will never purchase another vehicle from Dodge or Chrysler. I spoke with an online engine rebuilder who called this the "engine of the year". they are selling so many there is a backlog. Descriptions of other complaints found online at: www.datatown.com/Chrysler/.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

The contact stated while driving the engine seized causing a jerking motion from right to left. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where a blown rod was discovered. There have been no repairs made to the vehicle. Updated 01/25/06.

- Hubert, NC, USA

I own a Dodge Intrepid 2001 with a 2.7 liter engine. I was driving and suddenly without warning...no sounds....no lights... the engine died...I nearly was involved in a major accident. I took my car to the shop and they said the engine was no good and I needed to replace it. I was quoted $6100. 00 and sludge was mentioned by the mech. I changed my oil every 3000 miles like clockwork (my dad was a auto-mech) because I realize how important it is. My question is how can sludge build up so quickly.... and there is definitely something very fishy here... please help...

- Euless, TX, USA

Driving on freeway about 60 miles an hour when oil light came on. 2 minutes later engine failed. All of a sudden it went off. Got towed to machine shop and the cost is 5,000 to get it fixed. Car cost me 3 thousand. I am still paying for it, now I can't drive it. I need a way to work so that I can pay for the car. Want to get in on class action lawsuit, need to know how to.

- Ashdown, AR, USA

Help for consumers with complaints.

- Calumet Park, IL, USA

I own a 2001 Dodge Intrepid that I am still paying on. The engine failed at 69,000 miles. There was no warning that this was going to happen. I got regular oil changes every 3,000 miles. It wouldn't start one day, I had it towed to the dealership. They told me that my engine needed replaced due to sludge buildup. The timing chain also failed. I am a single mother of three children that cannot afford $6,500 for an engine. I am stuck paying payments on this car.

- Albion, MI, USA

The engine just went dead when I was driving. No signs before that. I bought the car only for 31 days.

- Akron, OH, USA

On 11/29/05 I was driving home from work on I-10 through the deserted and hurricane katrina storm ravaged section of new orleans East when my 2001 Intrepid seized up and would not run. I barely managed to safely get the car off of the interstate and onto the now desolate morrison road exit. As a woman alone I was extremely frightened to have my car abruptly seize up on the interstate and was terrified that it would not make it to a safe place off of the interstate without getting hit. Once I rolled to a stop, however, I discovered that I was in an extremely unsafe area as the area had been flooded and looted after hurricane katrina, there were no businesses open to help me due to the extent of the storm damage in the area, aaa told me it could be hours before they could get to me, and it was going to be dark within an hour. It was so dangerous that the national guard and then the state police would not leave until aaa arrived. Once at the garage, we were given the Chrysler song and dance that the car engine failed because of sludge and that it had to be our fault. They offered to happily replace the engine for a sum of $7,000. No mention was made of all of the complaints that Chrysler has had on the 2001 Intrepid engine and the numerous failures of this engine. Due to the eminent danger that Chrysler placed me in - continuing to allow me as a registered 2001 Intrepid owner to drive a vehicle which they knew was going to fail or had a high change of failing - perhaps some of the top brass at Chrysler should be deserted in the middle of a storm ravaged area with only looters for company so that they can fully understand the extreme danger they have placed consumers in simply because we are driving their vehicles!

- Slidell, LA, USA