Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 55 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 55, 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
1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND STILL DID NOT WORK. > I'M NOW TRAPPED IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I'M NOT > SURE THAT I'M SAFE ON THE ROAD. > > I'M LOCATED IN SOUTHFIELD, MI AND IN 8 WEEKS, I NEED > TO DRIVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN (APPROXIMATELY 312 > MILES, 7-9 HOURS). INCIDENT TWO I WAS 4 MILES AWAY FROM SCHOOL AND NOTICED THAT I HAD STEERING PROBLEMS. AS I WAS FORCING THE WHEEL TO CORPORATE A TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR AS THE CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. CAUSING ME TO HIT THE TRUNK FROM MY FRONT RIGHT TO THE PASSENGER TIRE. NOW MY ENGINE IS HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT DEAL WITH ONE OF THE CYLINDERS NOT RESPONDING AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY IF IDLED FOR SECONDS AND MOVING SOMETIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, MY STEERING STILL DIDN'T WORK SO COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT HELP AND MY CAR BLOCKED SEVERAL CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1400 IN KEEPING THE ENGINE FROM COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND AFTER THE INCIDENT, A PART THAT KEEPS THE CAR FROM FLIPPING OVER WHEN TURNING. I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK IN MY 97 DODGE INTREPID, MY ENGINE FAILED. MY MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAD NO SIGNS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*JB
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED AN ENGINE SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRUG STORE PARKING LOT AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND THIS INCIDENT OCCURED ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE LAST SERVICE DATE.*AK *JB
ENGINE FAILURE TO MY DODGE INTREPID 3 MONTHS AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT. *AK
WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASION, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY 1997 INTREPID'S (DODGE) ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO. THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND T HE BRAKING MUCH REDUCED AS A RESULT. DANGEROUS SITUATION. DODGE DOESNT TAKE ANY BLAME EVEN THOUGH THEY DID MAJOR ENGINE WORK ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR (HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON.*AK
IN OCTOBER THE DRIVER AND REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BECAME CLOGGED IN TURN HEATING UP THE TRANSAXLE AND CAUSING UNREPAIRABLE DEFECTS. IN DECEMBER, I BEGAN SMELLING GAS FUMES AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL IN THE PASSENGER REAR OF THE ENGINE. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED IN MAY 2002 AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2002. IN DECEMBER A PULLEY AND PISTON WERE ALSO REPLACED
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
DODGE INTREPID '97 WITH V6 3.5 L ENGINE - FAILED WATER PUMP REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT FOR THIRD TIME SINCE PURCHASED NEW. 1ST - 42000 MI / 2ND - 55000 MI / 3RD - 64000 MI. PUMP IS INTERNAL DRIVEN BY TIMING BELT AND SO DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. ALWAYS USED MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED COOLANT. *LA
VEHICLE OVER-HEATED TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. FLUSHED SYSTEM, CHANGED THERMOSTAT AND CHECKED WATER PUMP. VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS MECHANIC THEN ADVISED ME OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE HAD COME FROM THE REAR HOOD AREA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE #5 FUEL INJECTOR/WIRING HARNESS/FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST BRAKING POWER AND REVVED DURING THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WHERE THE ROCKER ARM COVER WAS REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOISY, LEAKED, AND WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLEEDER SCREW WAS BROKEN AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *SCC *NLM
I THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL .MOTOR COULD HAVE FELL OUT OF CAR.*AK
LEFT BANK SENSOR HAS GONE OUT.CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER ABOUT SENSOR, CONSUMER HAS HAD SENSOR REPLACED ONCE BEFORE.*AK
OTHER 1997 INTREPIDS HAD RECALLS ON THIS PART #04663601AB, BUT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL YET THE SAME PART ON MY VEHICLE HAS ALSO CRACKED & BROKEN OFF. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION OR DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT IDLES VERY HIGH. WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE IDLING BECOMES ERRATIC AT TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING LOCKED. COULD NOT TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHANGE RACK AND PINION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK A WORN BELT WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT REMEDY STALLING PROBLEM, NOW RADIATOR LEAKS. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REPLACING THE AIR FILTER, THE PLASTIC CASE THAT HOLDS THE SCREWS INSTANTLY BREAKS. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A RECENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER THE TIRES WORE IN 8000-10000 MILES. *TT
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, ALTHOUGH AUTOMOBILE WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE SHOP. BUT AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP, SHE WAS TOLD THAT CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. THEN, WAS TOLD AFTER ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN, AND CYLINDER WAS BURNED OUT.*AK
ENGINE NEEDS NEW VALVES/CYLINDER HEADS. *AK
VEHICLE HAD A SERIOUS OIL LEAK. DEALERSHIP WASAWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH ENGINE SHUT DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED TO OWNER THAT PUSH ROD INSIDE ENGINE BROKE. ENGINE WAS REPAIRABLE. *AK
OWNER NOTICED AN ODOR, AND UPON VISUAL INSPECTION ANTI FREEZE ON ENGINE. *AK THE CAUE WAS FOUND TO BE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *YH
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 .