Illustration2000 DODGE INTREPID HAS A TOTAL FAILURE OF ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS 80,010 MILES. FORTUNATELY, IT COASTED INTO BREAKDOWN LANE. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY WRECKED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. ALL ROUTINE SERVICE RECORDS ON HAND. *LA
2003 Dodge Intrepid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
90–25K
1425–50K
2250–75K
2275–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
79 reports with mileage · 27 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 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports10 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH ENGINE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, A COUPLE SECOND LATER, NO RADIO AND NO STEERING. DEALER STATED PULLEY CAME OFF COMPLETELY. *AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. *AK
AUTO IS GOING INTO FORWARD WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. *AK
2003 DODGE INTREPIDS' BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE DURING HARD BRAKING MANEUVERS. THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT PUT FOUR INTREPIDS THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STANDARD DRIVING COURSE WHICH INCLUDED MANY STOPS AND TURNS REQUIRING REPEATED BRAKING. TWO CARS WERE TESTED ON MARCH 11, 2003. THE TEST WAS REPEATED WITH TWO DIFFERE…
Read full complaint
2003 DODGE INTREPIDS' BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE DURING HARD BRAKING MANEUVERS. THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT PUT FOUR INTREPIDS THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STANDARD DRIVING COURSE WHICH INCLUDED MANY STOPS AND TURNS REQUIRING REPEATED BRAKING. TWO CARS WERE TESTED ON MARCH 11, 2003. THE TEST WAS REPEATED WITH TWO DIFFERENT INTREPIDS ON APRIL 3, 2003. THE FRONT BRAKES ON ALL FOUR CARS CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE NO BRAKES AFTER COMPLETING THE COURSE. IN ADDITION, ON APRIL 11, 2003, THE FRONT BRAKES ON AN INTREPID BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN NORMAL AFTERNOON TRAFFIC BY AN EMPLOYEE OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. NONE OF THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN ANY FATALITIES, PERSONAL INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE BEYOND THE DAMAGE TO THE CARS. *AK
NAR 05/21/2003. *MR TEST DRIVES PERFORMED ON TWO DODGE INTREPIDS CONCERNING BRAKE PROBLEMS. *CB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.