IllustrationTHE INTREPID HAS A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THIS CAN BE DEADLY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. ONCE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 22 AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST TRYING TO CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF STEPPING ON THE GAS. THAT'S A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN DEALER WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPAIRED. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Intrepid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
3925–50K
6850–75K
6575–100K
54100–150K
10150K+
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
Power Train complaints
60 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, OIL THINNING UNIT, AND HARMONIC BALANCER HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THERE WAS CONCERN EXPRESSED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS 69000 MILES ON IT.
OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHTS. CHANGED THE OIL WITH 10W40 AND SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET HOT. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN HARD. WHEN I STARTED TO LEAVE THE INTERSECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. I CAN TURN…
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OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHTS. CHANGED THE OIL WITH 10W40 AND SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WEATHER STARTED TO GET HOT. 2 WEEKS AGO WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN HARD. WHEN I STARTED TO LEAVE THE INTERSECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART AND RUNS FINE FOR A WHILE. NOW ITS DOING THIS PRETTY REGULAR. *JB
2002 DODGE INTREPID SE; TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS,HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, MOTOR SEIZED UP. *JB
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. IN 2003 I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. NOW IN 2006 I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN . I TOOK IT TO DAYTONA DODGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN. THEN THEY CALLED ME ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER AND SAID I NEEDED A ENGINE BLOCK TOO BECAUSE…
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. IN 2003 I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. NOW IN 2006 I'VE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN . I TOOK IT TO DAYTONA DODGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN. THEN THEY CALLED ME ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER AND SAID I NEEDED A ENGINE BLOCK TOO BECAUSE THE EAR THAT LINES UP THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE. THEY ALSO SAID I NEEDED TO CALL MY CAR INS. BECAUSE IT WAS DUE TO A IMPACT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT BOTH CHRYSLER AND ALLSTATE HAVE DENIED ME TWICE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FELL THEY MESSED UP WHEN I HAD THE WORK DONE THE FIRST TIME BY NOT LINING IT UP RIGHT. THE CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE JAN. 26. I'VE HAD TO RENT CARS FOR ABOUT 2000.00 (25.00 A DAY) TILL I COULDN'T AFFORD IT ANY MORE I BOUGHT A 600.00 CAR AND THE DODGE IS STILL THERE I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND ANOTHER LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ENGINE RESTARTED; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT 10 MPH. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT RE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND ANOTHER LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ENGINE RESTARTED; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT 10 MPH. IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING TO GO INTO GEAR. REVVED UP RPM'S TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR. CAR WOULD STALL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT FROM STOP AND WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *JB
MY WIFE'S 2002 DODGE INTREPID, HAS OPERATED WELL UNTIL A WEEK AGO. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE TRANSMISSION DROPS HARSHLY INTO SECOND GEAR AND STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY, BUSY STREET. A TRIP TO OUR LONG TRUSTED MECHANIC REVEALED A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM WITHIN THE AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRY T…
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MY WIFE'S 2002 DODGE INTREPID, HAS OPERATED WELL UNTIL A WEEK AGO. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE TRANSMISSION DROPS HARSHLY INTO SECOND GEAR AND STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY, BUSY STREET. A TRIP TO OUR LONG TRUSTED MECHANIC REVEALED A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM WITHIN THE AUTO REPAIR INDUSTRY THAT THE 2.7L CHRYSLER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION USUALLY NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT ABOUT 50K ON THE 1998-2002 INTREPID MODELS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND CAREFULLY OPERATED SINCE PURCHASING. THE OPENING OF THE TRANSMISSION BY MY MECHANIC REVEALED NO METAL FILINGS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. A CHANGE OF SENSOR, FILTER, AND FLUIDS WERE HOPPED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WARNING BY MY MECHANIC TO START SAVING UP QUICKLY FOR MORE TRANSMISSION WORK SOON FROM HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS MODEL. TWO DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005, SPOKE TO DAVEY, TO MAKE A CASE FILE CLAIM REPORT. I ASKED WHAT WILL BE DONE IN MY SITUATION. DAVEY TRANSFERRED ME TO ANOTHER PERSON. FORTY MINUTES LATER, TONY PICKED UP THE PHONE. I ASKED WHAT CHRYSLER WILL DO AS THE CAR IS ABOUT A YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY. HIS RESPONSE WAS 'NOTHING'. WHEN I ASKED TO HAVE A CONTACT NUMBER TO SPEAK WITH THE CHRYSLER ZONE MANGER, TONY STATED THAT THERE WAS 'PRIORITY INFORMATION' AND HE WOULD NOT GIVE OUT THAT INFORMATION. TONY ALSO STATED THAT EVEN IF HE DID IT WOULD DO NO GOOD AS THEY WOULD DO NOTHING EITHER. I COMPLETED MY DISCOURAGING CONVERSATION WITH TONY BY ASKING WHY SHOULD MY NEXT AUTOMOBILE BE A CHRYSLER PRODUCT? SINCE MY WIFE IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND CANNOT WAIT INDEFINITELY FOR CHRYSLER'S ASSISTANCE, THE TWO OF US WAITED UNTIL THE TRAFFIC WAS LESS AND CREPT IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR TO A NEARBY RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIR TO PAID OUT OF OUR POCKET. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPED. THE ENGINE DIED AFTER SHE HEARD THE NOISE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATIONS SUGGESTING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. SHE COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND STOPPED. THE ENGINE DIED AFTER SHE HEARD THE NOISE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATIONS SUGGESTING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. SHE COULD NOT PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICE DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *AK
Official recalls
103V035000 · 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
1PE03010 · 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.