2000 Dodge Intrepid

(1) DECEMBER 02, 2003. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALER SPECIFIED THAT THE THE CAM SENSOR AND IGNITION COIL NEEDED REPLACING AND OIL WAS BEING SENT THROUGHT THE PCV VALVE HOSE INTO THE AIR BOX AND THROTTLE BODY. THEIR REPAIRS REPAIRS INCLUDED "CLEANING OUT THE OIL", HOWEVER NO MENTION OF KNOWN QUALITY ISSUES IN THE 2.7L ENGINE, THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE. (2) AUGUST 11, 2004. WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 75 IN THE DETROIT METRO AREA, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE DIED. I MANAGED TO NAVIGATE THE CAR THROUGH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT THE ENGINE AND ANY POWER STEERING. (3) THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NON-FUNCTIONAL AND ESTIMATES FOR REPAIRS HAVE EXCEEDED $7000. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE 2000 DODGE INTREPID 2.7L ENGINE HAS KNOWN QUALITY ISSUES THAT RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE.*AK

(1) I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID AND A CLICKING NOISE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE CLICKING NOISE PROCEEDED TO GET LOUDER AND LOUDER AT WHICH POINT I PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT AND CALLED A RELATIVE TO PICK ME UP. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THIS PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE FROM CARMAX IN 2001 WITH 20,000 MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 80,000 MILES AND HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. (2) I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE. TWO OTHER LOCAL SHOPS ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENGINE DUE TO THE SAME REASON. I WAS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ENGINE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. (3) CURRENTLY, I AM GETTING ENGINE REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR AROUND $4,900. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *JB PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING THE ENGINE WAS PINGING AND KNOCKING. NO WARING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IT WAS CHECKED BY A TECHNICIAN. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TEH VEHICLE WAS 1 1/2 QUARTS LOW ON OIL ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLES OIL WAS CHANGED 3 WEEKS PRIOR. *NM

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN CONNECTICUT. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC JUST PAST THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE WHEN MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID CAR STALLED AND OVERHEATED. I MANGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AT ABOUT EXIT 12 IN THE BRONX AFTER WAITING 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK, ONE FINALLY SHOW UP (FROM AUTORAMA TOWING). I WAS TOWED TO THEIR CAR SHOP. UPON ARRIVAL AT THEIR SHOP THEY ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CAR. I WENT ON TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. THE CAR STALLED TEMPERARILY AND THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE CLIMBED QUICKLY TO HOT. LUCKILY I MANAGED TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAITED FOR AWHILE TO LET THE CAR COOL OFF AND THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT DIDN'T. THE CAR WAS DISABLED. IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE AT THAT POINT. THE ONLY RECOURSE WAS TOWING. AT FIRSTY THE CAR SHOP MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING A CRACKED THERMOSTAT HOUSING COVER. AND THAT THE THEMOSTAT HAD SEIZED FROM OVERHEAT. THE MECHANIC PROCEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRJOB. UPON HIS COMPLETION (AS HE WAS GETTING READY TO TURN THE CAR OVER TO ME) HE CALLED ME OVER AND SAID, I HAVE BAD NEWS. HE TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. AT FIRST HE TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR, AND IT DID MOMENTARILY BUT THEN IT STALLED. HE PROCEEDED TO SHOW ME THAT THE ENGINE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE HAD MIXED SO MUCH THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. AT THIS POINT I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS UNUSABLE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK HOME IN STATEN ISLAND WHERE I GOT A SECOND OPINION TO CONFIRM THAT MY ENGINE WAS NOT USEABLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AT MY COST. NOT A CHEAP THING TO DO, NOT TO MENTION THAT SAFETY WORRIES AND AGGRAVATIONS I'VE EXPERIENCED. AS A CONSUMER I DON'T CLAIM TO KNOW ALOT ABOUT CARS, BUT IN MY OPINION THIS ENGINE HAS GONE BAD PREMATURELY AND IS UNRELIABLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO HAD A DODGE REPRESENTATIVE THERE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD AND A REPLACEMENT WOULD COST SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. *AK THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK AND GENERATED VERY LITTLE POWER. THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE'S PROBLEM. *NM