2001 Dodge Intrepid Engine Problems

ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS TOWED TO GARAGE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS TIMING CHAIN SENSOR WEAR, DUE TO STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN RELATED TO WELL DOCUMENTED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM IN 2.7L V6 ENGINE. AFTER THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS AND ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED. FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START, PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER, BUT WOULD RESOLVE ITSELF AND START FINE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNING OFF. AFTER 18 MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT ALL THE TIME. IT WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC AND THE OIL LIGHT WOULD APPEAR. AT THIS POINT, AFTER READING THOUSANDS OF OTHERS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE/ENGINE AND UNDERSTANDING ENGINE REPAIR COSTS WOULD ECLIPSE THE VALUE, I DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11229004

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

PURCHASED 2001 IN 2004 DRIVING TO WORK CAR STALLED ON FREEWAY AND CUT OFF. TOOK TO AUTO SHOP DETERMINED ENGINE FROZE. REPLACED ENGINE 2009(NEEDED TO SAVE UP) ENGINE HAS GIVEN OUT AGAIN 2017. THERE IS OIL SLUG IN ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10990711

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.

NHTSA ID

10682056

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

249,000 mi

WATER PUMP FAILURE THEN TIMING CHAIN SLIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609901

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 60 MILES AN HOUR. I HEAR THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL BUT SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT COMPLIANT ABOUT THIS CAR. IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAFETY FACTORS. BUT I AM SURE THE BIG CAR COMPANY WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OF THIS TO COME TO FRUITION AND FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471357

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

145,000 mi

2001 DODGE INTREPID R/T 3.5L WITH 111,422 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE TOLLWAY, THE HEATER BEGAN TO BLOW OUT COOL AIR. LATER THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND THE CAR JUST DIED. GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO BE TOWED. ENGINE IS LOCKED UP. NEW ENGINE ESTIMATE $5000-$7500. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNINGS. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT WE HAD A NEW RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, ETC. PUT IN ALONG WITH FIXING OIL LEAKAGE PROBLEM. THAT WAS JULY 28, 2011 WITH 107,809 MILES ON IT. WE ALWAYS CHANGED OUR OIL REGULARLY AND TOOK CARE OF IT. WE BOUGHT THIS 2001 R/T INTREPID NEW. THE ONLY OTHER REAL PROBLEM WAS @ 106,939 MILES IT WOULDN'T GO BACK INTO DRIVE ONCE YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE SO WE PUT IN A USED CONTROL MODULE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ABOUT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2.7L ENGINE BUT CAN'T FIND MUCH INFORMATION ON THE 3.5 R/T MODEL. SO SCARY TO THINK HOW MANY 2001 INTREPIDS ARE JUST DYING ON THE ROAD WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM SO GLAD THAT MY SON WAS DRIVING IT AND KNEW WHAT TO DO INSTEAD OF MY NEWLY-LICENSED DAUGHTER. IT WAS HER CAR FOR ONLY 4 1/2 MONTHS. DODGE SHOULD BE ASHAMED. WE GOT MORE MILEAGE OUT OF A CHEVY CAVALIER. ARE THERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS OUT THERE? *KB

NHTSA ID

10441908

Incident

Dec 17, 2011

Mileage

111,142 mi

I WAS TOLD MY MOTOR 2.7 WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF SLUDGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433550

Incident

Oct 10, 2011

Mileage

6,700 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY TO ALDI'S AND BEFORE I PULLED UP INTO THE PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF AND DID NOT START AGAIN FLUIDS WERE RUNNING FROM UNDERNEATH I HAD IT TOWED AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND THE RESULT OF THAT MADE ANTI FREEZE MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE AND I TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC AND THEY SAID PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING EXCEPT THEY ADDED THAT THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND IT FAILED SO IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT SOME POINT OF TIME . *TR

NHTSA ID

10398345

Incident

Oct 15, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IT JUST SUDDENLY STARTED COUGHING AND CHOKING AND REVVING UP AND SLOWING DOWN - IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT-OF-CONTROL! I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A MAJOR FREEWAY (INTERSTATE 5 IN OREGON) AND WAITED ON THE SIDE FOR A TOW. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO GET THE ENGINE ANALYZER ON IT, BUT IT SOUNDED HORRIBLE, THE VALVES WERE KNOCKING FIERCELY AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF OIL, WHICH I CHECK FREQUENTLY. THE GUY THAT CHECKED IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN ANSWER EXCEPT A RELAY SWITCH. WE REPLACED IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WANTED ABOUT $4500 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AND SOME SORT OF BOLT THAT THEY COULDN'T GET TO DOWN IN THE VALVE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANYTHING ON THIS CAR AND I AM AMAZED AND DISGUSTED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT THIS KIND OF ENGINE OUT TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NOW ABOUT THE 2.7 L ENGINE - WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. AND IT'S NOT JUST ONLINE - I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WITH ONE THAT HAS THE ALTERNATIVE ENGINE AND HE'S HEARD THE SAME THING. HIS CAR RUNS GREAT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 2.7L....CHRYSLER SHOULD PICK UP THE PIECES FOR ALL THESE POOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAULTY CARS AND AT LEAST REPLACE THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR AS IT STANDS TODAY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362550

Incident

Feb 20, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. 2.7L ENGINE. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND NOW THE ENGINE IS TICKING. I WAS DRIVING AND THEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF. THE OIL DIP STICK WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336916

Incident

Jun 17, 2010

Mileage

12,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE GEAR IN PARK, THEN DRIVE BUT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RESTARTED SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SMOKE WAS VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOOD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10313808

Incident

Feb 22, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

MY CAR STALLED OUT. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE DIAGNOSING MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE WATER PUMP WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO BECOME MIXED IN WITH THE MOTOR OIL WHICH CAUSED THIS TO DESTROY MY ENTIRE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298737

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

I WAS JUST DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. NO INDICATION WHAT SO EVER OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. COLD AIR STARTED TO RUN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS INSIDE THE CAR, THEN I HAD NO ACCELERATION. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHITE GRAYISH COMING OUT THE REAR AND FRONT OF CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND FAILED A COMPRESSION TEST. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE BEFORE AND ALWAYS CHANGED THE APPROPRIATE FLUIDS. I BOUGHT A USED CAR AND MY INTREPID IS STILL SITTING BROKEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298715

Incident

Nov 3, 2009

Mileage

91,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID SE AND WITH NO WARNING THE HEAT WENT OUT AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CUT OFF AND I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A DARK ROAD AND WAIT TILL THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. IT TOOK ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JULY AND IT DIED ON ME IN NOVEMBER. THE ENGINE IS A 2.7 AND IS KNOWN FOR THESE ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS MIXING WITH THE OIL,THE HEADGASKET IS GONE AND HE GIVES IT A MONTH BEFORE THE MOTOR GOES. I GOOGLED THE 2.7 AND READ SIMILAR STORIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295154

Incident

Nov 26, 2009

Mileage

56,000 mi

ENGINE SHUT DOWN.....THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY LOUD NOISE IN ENGINE.....GOT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD....SHUT OFF AND "DIED" ON THE SPOT !! LUCKILY IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD !! HAD THE CAR TOWED, LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC..WHO FOUND THE ENGINE COATED WITH OIL SLUDGE ON THE INSIDE. NEEDS A NEW ENGINE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10292308

Incident

Nov 6, 2009

Mileage

91,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM MY BROTHER-IN-LAW ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO. I CHANGED THE OIL LESS THEN 3,000 MILES AGO. I BEGAN NOTICING SOME WEIRD ENGINE NOISE OVER THE LAST WEEK. THE SOUND GOT ALOT WORSE TODAY ON A 30 MILE TRIP TO PICK UP MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FROM HER GRANDMA'S HOUSE. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A LOUD BANGING OR KNOCKING SOUND WHEN YOU LET OFF OF THE GAS WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR THEN JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I TRIED TO START IT AT HOME AND IT WOULD TURN OVER AND START, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE HAS ROCKS OR SOMETHING IN IT AND ONLY IDLES FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE DIEING AGAIN. I HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS SOME WAY OF GETTING FIXED AND THAT THE WAYS YOU DESCRIBED REALLY DO HELP. I AM NOW LEFT WITH ONLY ONE CAR TO SHARE WITH MY WIFE AND TRY TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO MY FULL TIME JOB AND MY CLASSES (I AM ALSO ATTENDING CLASSES 4 DAYS A WEEK). I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE, BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST HORROR STORIES THAT WERE ALWAYS TOLD AS "I KNOW THIS GUY WHO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT ENGINE" OR "THOSE ENGINES ARE JUNK, AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE MINE WILL BLOW". I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE NOT EVEN 3000 MILES EARLIER I CHANGED THE OIL AND IT WAS CLEAN. I ALSO DROVE THE CAR UP NORTH WHICH WAS A 3HR DRIVE EACH WAY. NO PROBLEMS AND THE BANG, KNOCK, CRUNCH ITS ALL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290545

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN SPECULATED THAT CAM SHAFT OR CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,575. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,634.

NHTSA ID

10284923

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

87,575 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER INTREPID WITH A 2.7 LITER ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE BACKFIRED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH AND A FIRE WERE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE FOR INSPECTION AND A MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10284547

Incident

Jun 18, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY CAR INITIALLY STARTED OVERHEATED GOT THAT FIXED WHICH WAS THE WATER PUMP THEN THE ENGINE BLOWN AND I KEPT REGULAR MAINTANANCE ON THIS VEHICLE GOT THE HEAD GASKET FIXED THEN 3 DAYS LATER THE BOTTOM BLEW AND THE TIMING CHAIN TENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284395

Incident

Jul 19, 2007

Mileage

112,124 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK LOUDLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD NEVER BEEN SERVICED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE OIL AND FLUIDS WERE CHECKED AND REPLACED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10276958

Incident

Jul 14, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK MY CAR STARTED RUNNING REALLY BAD LIKE I WAS GOING TO STOP. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. I DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER THE ENGINE JUST DIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276911

Incident

Jun 8, 2009

Mileage

106 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY DISCOVERED SEVERAL OIL LEAKS. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND SEVERAL SEALS AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,000. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE OIL LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLICKER ON AND OFF ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ROD INSIDE OF THE ENGINE FAILED. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PAID $5,900 TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10275681

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

ON JUNE 4, 2009 I PAID MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID OFF. ON JUNE 20, 2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE I HEARD MY CAR MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. AS I PULLED OVER TO GET OFF ON THE EXIT THE CAR DIED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS I CAME OFF THE EXIT. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS IS SCARY BEING THAT MY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. ON YESTERDAY THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED ME THE ENGINE IS GONE. I'VE HAD THE OIL SENDING UNIT REPLACED, THE TIMING, THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, THE WATER PUMP, THE SERPENTINE BELT, NOT TO MENTION THE $600 JUST SPENT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO TO HAVE THE AC FIXED. WHEN THE OIL LIGHT FIRST BEGAN TO FLICKER THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS WOULD BE THE OUTCOME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10274932

Incident

Jun 20, 2009

Mileage

124,114 mi

OUR 2001 DODGE INTREPID SEIZED UP ON US WHILE DRIVING ON SUNDAY. IT WAS FINE, THEN IT WASN'T, WE DID EVERYTHING TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE, OIL CHANGES AND REPAIRS WHEN NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274792

Incident

Jun 22, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. MY BRAKES WENT OUT ON ME AND I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMEONE'S YARD, MUCH BETTER THEN THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT STILL VERY SCARY. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GET ONTO THE SIDE STREET BEFORE IT DIED FOR THE LAST TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273998

Incident

Apr 14, 2008

Mileage

78,000 mi