TRANS FAILED @ 57,000 MIS. 2002 DODGE INTREPID HAD 60,000 MI WARRANTY SO IT COST ME $500 DEDUCTIBLE TO HAVE IT FIXED. CAR NOW HAS 130,000 MIS & HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
329 reports2002 DODGE INTREPID THERMOSTAT RADIATOR CAP STOPPED WORKING AND I GOT THAT FIXED AND WE WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE, FOR A BIT. AS WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND THEN THE ENGINE BLEW. IT STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER 2008. WE NEED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. IT WAS SUDDEN, AND WE TOOK THE CAR T…
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2002 DODGE INTREPID THERMOSTAT RADIATOR CAP STOPPED WORKING AND I GOT THAT FIXED AND WE WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE, FOR A BIT. AS WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND THEN THE ENGINE BLEW. IT STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER 2008. WE NEED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. IT WAS SUDDEN, AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE OIL CHANGE AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CHECKED EVERY 3 MONTHS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO HER VEHICLE ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LES…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO HER VEHICLE ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 55,350.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN OIL FLUSH AND A METAL FLASHING, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY COULD CORRECT THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN OIL FLUSH AND A METAL FLASHING, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY COULD CORRECT THE ISSUE. HE HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR HIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE RELATING TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,541.
DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP THE ENGINE HAS FAILED ON MY 02 DODGE INTREPID. WE HAVE HAD ALL MAJOR PARTS REPLACED (COMPUTER, FUEL PUMP, TRANSMISSION, ETC). ONLY A MONTH AFTER REPLACING THE COMPUTER THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND LEFT MY HUSBAND STRANDED. *TR
I OWN A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,850 ORIGINAL MILES.AT TIMES IT WILL MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2.7L HAS A PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSING VITAL INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS NOT TO BECOME LUBRICATED. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 1500 TO 3000 MILES AND HA…
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I OWN A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH A 2.7L ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,850 ORIGINAL MILES.AT TIMES IT WILL MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2.7L HAS A PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSING VITAL INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS NOT TO BECOME LUBRICATED. I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 1500 TO 3000 MILES AND HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT 23,000 MILES SINCE BUYING IT IN 2006 I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS , BUT MOST MECHANICS REFUSE TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE OF THE SO CALLED SLUDGE PROBLEM AND THE HIGH COST OF THE REPAIRS. SOME SUGGESTED USING FULL SYNTHETIC OIL TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE STATED THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY. I HAVE ALSO QUESTIONED CHRYSLER AS TO ANY RECALLS FOR THE 2.7L INTREPID BUT NO ANSWER. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. IF CHRYSLER KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, THEY SHOULD HAVE INFORMED US THE CONSUMERS AND TAKEN ACTIONS TO CORRECT IT. I THINK THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT AND FLOOD OUR COUNTRY WITH A WORTHLESS PRODUCT. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF DODGE FOR MANY YEARS BUT IS FADING FAST WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES. *TR
TWO INCIDENTS: OCTOBER 2007, A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7L V6 HAD AN ENGINE COOLING FAILURE CAUSING IMMEDIATE OVERHEATING PROBLEM ON FLORIDA HIGHWAYS. THE COOLING FITTING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE POPPED OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOOSE MOST OF IT'S COOLANT. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 106,000 THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN…
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TWO INCIDENTS: OCTOBER 2007, A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7L V6 HAD AN ENGINE COOLING FAILURE CAUSING IMMEDIATE OVERHEATING PROBLEM ON FLORIDA HIGHWAYS. THE COOLING FITTING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE POPPED OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOOSE MOST OF IT'S COOLANT. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 106,000 THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. AT THE TIME THE DEALER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE, SUCH AS SLUDGE OIL PUMP FAILURES. ON JANUARY 19TH, 2009, THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. AT APPROXIMATELY 125,000 MILES. THE WATER PUMP FAILED, THE HEADS WERE BLOWN, AND PROBABLY THE SLUDGE OIL PUMP CAUSED THIS WHOLE SEQUENCE OF PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF DODGE MADE DESIGN CHANGES BACK IN 2007. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE IS AT $6500. NOT FEASIBLE TO REPAIR AND I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ENGINE DESIGN DATING BACK TO 1998 AND 1999. BOTH FAILURES WERE IMMEDIATE WITH LITTLE WARNING TO THE DRIVER. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. OWNED BY SON NICK STRATY *TR
I BOUGHT USED WITH 101898 MILES ON AFTER 1044489 THE HEAD GASKET BLOW AND I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE IS A 2.7 LITER, V6. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE IS A 2.7 LITER, V6. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.
THE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE MY GIRLFRIEND DRIVING. *TR
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.
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