IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED THERE'S A CLUCKING THEN RATTLE NOISE. T UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SPUD A BEARING. ALSO, SLUGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
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
What owners actually said
329 reportsWHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL PRIOR TO THE BLOW OUT. (TIRE SIZE 225/60R16) PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEATS AND RESULTED IN TOTAL DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE; CRYSLER REFUSES TO SUPPLY THE ENGINE AND MY CAR IS DISMANTLED IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS, AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PUT BACK MY CAR THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP. I NEED DESPERATELLY NEED HELP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROAD THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AGAIN. MECHANIC DESCRIBED AS LOWER END FAILURE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTERD THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
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
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
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
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
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.