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2002 Dodge Intrepid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Dodge Intrepid do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 377.

About this comparison →
329Owner complaints

Model-year median: 377

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
997
19991,065
2000656
2001329
2002106
2003129
2004
Compare all Intrepid years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
207Power Train
60Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Electrical System
15Steering
15
All reported categories
Air Bags
10Suspension
10Equipment
7Seats
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Visibility
6Engine
5Exterior Lighting
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Seat Belts
4Structure
4Tires
4Fuel System, Other
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Interior Lighting
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Child Seat
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

260 reports with mileage · 69 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 207 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

207 reports
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46,172 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR BROKE DOWN THEY SAY ITS SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES . I DIDN'T KEEP MY RECEIPTS SO THEY WON'T FIX I TOOK A BUMPER TO BUMPER CONTRACT BUT THEY SAY BECAUSE OF SLUDGE THEY WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I COME UP WITH 6900 DOLLARS FOR ENGINE AND LABOR. IVE BEEN ONLINE AND I SEE THESE ENGINES ARE CAUSING A LOT O…

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CAR BROKE DOWN THEY SAY ITS SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES . I DIDN'T KEEP MY RECEIPTS SO THEY WON'T FIX I TOOK A BUMPER TO BUMPER CONTRACT BUT THEY SAY BECAUSE OF SLUDGE THEY WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I COME UP WITH 6900 DOLLARS FOR ENGINE AND LABOR. IVE BEEN ONLINE AND I SEE THESE ENGINES ARE CAUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE HEARTACHES MY VEHICLE HAS 46,000 MILES AND IT JUST SITS THERE ON THE PORCH CAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND FROM WHAT IVE BEEN READING ABOUT THE 2.7 ENGINE I DONT KNOW IF I WOULD EVER INVEST ANY MORE MONEY IN A DODGE OR ANY 2.7 ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093290

90,000 miles · Sep 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I GET OIL CHANGE AS DIRECTED AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M DRIVING AND NEARLY HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT AS MY CAR ENGINE JUST STARTED RUNNING TERRIBLE. THE DEALER STATES THAT MY ENGINE HAS FAILED AND THAT I MUST PAY $3200. THERE WAS A NEWS SPECIAL REPORT ON THE SAME NIGHT REGARDING MY VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS THA…

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I GET OIL CHANGE AS DIRECTED AND HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M DRIVING AND NEARLY HAD A FATAL ACCIDENT AS MY CAR ENGINE JUST STARTED RUNNING TERRIBLE. THE DEALER STATES THAT MY ENGINE HAS FAILED AND THAT I MUST PAY $3200. THERE WAS A NEWS SPECIAL REPORT ON THE SAME NIGHT REGARDING MY VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON. THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY'VE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS OTHER MECHANICS BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO RECALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM TERRIBLY DISSATISFIED. PLEASE HELP!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093019

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER INTREPIDS WITH A SLUDGES BUILD UP PROBLEM. I 'M COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WITH CHRYSLER AT TIME TIME OF SELL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED FOR THE SLUDGE PROBLEM BY THE INSRANCE COMPANY THAT MY CAR IS UNDER. THE MECHANIC AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ABOUT FOUR OTHER EN…

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I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER INTREPIDS WITH A SLUDGES BUILD UP PROBLEM. I 'M COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WITH CHRYSLER AT TIME TIME OF SELL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED FOR THE SLUDGE PROBLEM BY THE INSRANCE COMPANY THAT MY CAR IS UNDER. THE MECHANIC AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ABOUT FOUR OTHER ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MY CAR HAVE AND THEY ALL WERE REJECTED TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE INTREPIDS AND THE OIL SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY OTHER MONTH TO STOP THE BUILD UP AND CHRYSLER IS NOT TELLING THE THE OWNERS OF THIS NEED TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERYOTHER MONTH TO PREVENT THE SLUDGE BUILD UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091185

38,200 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE INSIDE THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091567

66,000 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091428

89,000 miles · Aug 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE COMMENCED TO RATTLE AND MAKE OTHER NOISES WHILE COMING ONTO THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089733

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOWED IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETRERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088074

58,000 miles · Aug 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED ,THAT METAL WAS IN THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER HASDNOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10087702

27,000 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE BASE OF THE MOTOR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN APRIL 2003. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE SENSORS WERE BAD, AND CHANGED THEM. CURRENTLY, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087140

41,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND JERKED. THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *AK THERE WERE NEVER ANY WARNING SIGNS. (LIGHTS, LEAKS) THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD COME ON AFTER THE CLANKING NOISE AND JERKING. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10074084

Official recalls

1

03V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Feb 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure

Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.