Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Intrepid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR 1500$ THE INSPECTION RAN OUT AT THE END OF THAT MONTH, INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AS A "LICKEM STICKEM" THE CAR 2 WEEKS LATER WAS DETERMINED BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAZARDOUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, CAR WAS LEFT AT PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR TWO (2) WEEKS IN WHICH TIME NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE CAR REMAINS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT RUNNING. *TR
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE ITS PURCHASE REQUIRING REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE. THE LATEST BEING A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO A FAILURE IN THE WIRING CONNECTION TO THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS ON 2 OCCASIONS. REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN HARNESS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT WILL SHORT OUT AND BURN THE CONNECTION AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE MUST STOP BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. NO INDICATORS LIGHT CAME ON EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS AND ALL HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE DEALERSHIP STATES A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEE THIS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL AND TIE RODS PUT ON THE CAR. PICKED UP THE CAR THIS MORNING AFTER SHE GOT HOME WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SB
THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. *JB
WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL INTO A SHORT POST DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
CAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CLEANED USING HOSE WATER. AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR APPROX. 10 MILES, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE AROUND ELETRICAL AND BATTERY AREA UNDER THE HOOD. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. UPON CLICKING THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH THEY WOULD COME BACK ON. INTERMITTENT WIPERS STARTING NOT WORKING ALSO. HIGH BEAM SWITCH STOPPED WORKING (NOT STAYING IN PLACE) DAY PRIOR TO MELTDOWN. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON 11/22/03 THERE WAS A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND AROUND OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN I GOT HOME. SMELLED NOTHING OUTSIDE. GOT BACK IN CAR AND AT THAT POINT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANIC AND THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN (MODULE FOR HIGH BEAM/SIGNAL/WIPER AND WIRING HARNESS) COMPLETELY MELTED. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY FIRE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. *NLM
STRONG SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE WHILE DRIVING, AS WELL AS STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN CAR WAS PULLED OVER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FABRIC COVERING THE CEILING OF THE CAR WAS BURNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY REMOVED FUSE THAT CONTOLS INDOOR LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL. WE HAVE HAD NOT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS YET.
PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT.2002 RAN GREAT TILL JUNE 2003. CAR SHUTS OF WHEN DRIVING. I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 55MPH AND CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTINATER, 2 SENSORS SOFAR. NO CODES ARE SENT TO COMPUTER WHEN CAR ACTS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE WAS DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#98V32300 ISOLATOR CRADLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TS
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS HARD TO FIND THE HORN DURING AN EMERGENCY SINCE IT WAS LOCATED IN AN UNUSUAL PLACE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING, SMELT SMOKE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH A FIRE STARTED , AND VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
STEERING WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING 30MPH. SMOKE WAS ENTERING VEHICLE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE CHECKED AFTER STOPPING. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. WAS DRIVING 70MPH AND PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. PROBLEM HAPPENED A THIRD TIN DOWN. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, THEN SAW BACKSEAT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND AT APPROX 33000 MILES THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG WIRING "BURNT" AND THE CAR 'S MOTOR STARTED MISSING. I HAD A NEW SET OF SPARK WIRES INSTALLED (UNDER WARRENTY-BY DEALER) AND AGAIN AT APPROX 47000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AGAIN I REPLACED THESE WIRES AT THE DEALER'S SHOP AT MY EXPENSE ($139). UPON ASKING AS TO WHY SUCH AN OCCURANCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM THE REPAIR SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME THAT ALL INTREPIDS HAD THAT PROBLEM! I HAVE WRITTEN CHRYSLER TO COMPLAIN OF THIS BUT HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM THEM FOR A MONTH NOW. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER INTREPID OWNERS AND TO MY AMAZMENT THEY TOO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, JUST AS THE FOREMAN TOLD ME. MY QUESTION IS ONE OF SAFETY, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE DRIVING AND THE WIRING WAS LOST TO SEVERAL OF THE PLUGS AT ONE TIME, WOULD THE MOTOR STOPRUNNING? DEPENDING UPON THE ROAD CONDITIONS THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS SAID THAT A SIMPLE SHIELD WOULD PREVENT THIS. WHY DOES NOT DODGE DO THIS ALSO? IN A NUTSHELL MY DODGE INTREPID HAS HAD 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUG WIRES IN 47000 MILES AND NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. THANK YOU, MARILYN J DAVIS
WHILE DRIVING WIRING HARNESS, NEXT TO THE FUEL RAIL, CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CD PLAYER FAILED. NLM
WIRING HARNESS FAILED.
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSING VEHICLE'S ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN.
THE ELECTRICAL FUSE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE RADIO PANEL AREA. PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, HAD 3 FUSES REPLACED, CAUSING THE HORN/LIGHTER AND RADIO NOT TO WORK. *AK *SLC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .