Problems with 2000 Dodge Intrepid ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Complete engine failure due to seizure of bearing on water pump and related damage to timing chain and engine intake and exhaust valves -- cost to repair exceeds value of vehicle -- vehicle milewage equals 85,000 miles age of vehicle equals four model years

2000 dodge intrepid, oil sludge build up caused engine to blow. *bf the consumer believed the oil sludge problem was because the tube going out of the oil pump twist and turns up and down sp that the oil doesn't pump through as well as it should. *jb

Dt: the contact was having problems with the engine about one year and half ago. it was making a slight clicking noise. it made loud boom noise and it had no power .it quit running about one year ago. the contact towed it back to the house, and the dealership told him that engine malfunctioned. the contact maintained oil changes as recommended. the engine had 90,000 miles on it. he reported not having any problems with the engine prior to hearing the clicking noise.*ak

Engine failure at 70,000 miles. *ak

This is not a safety issue, it's an expense & aggravation issue. i bought a 2000 chrysler (made in canada) intrepid from a local chrysler dealer. i have less than 51,000 miles on it and the engine is destroyed. two repair garages have told me the 2.7 ltr engine in these cars have been faulty. i called chrysler's home office today. there is no extended warranty and they are offering no reimbursement. a remanufactured engine was estimated at almost $5,000. i would like to know if there is a class action suit against chrylser re: this engine at this time and how i would go about joining in it, if so.*ak

Driving to work about 35 mph, engine just stopped, no warning, was told by mechanic rod/piston siezed up. need to replace motor. had 85000 miles and extended warranty did not cover.*ak

Engine seized up while driving down the road. the engine started making a horrible banging noise. right away, i knew it was a bad engine sound, so i pulled over. i had it towed to a repairman who told me the engine was gone and i needed a new one. he, also, told me of all the other 2.7 engines he has been replacing in the last few years. i contacted chrysler/daimler to get help from them. they said thanks for the input but there was nothing they could do. i will never buy dodge again...neither will anyone in my family. we had our oil changed every 3-5,000 miles and kept up the car. it never should have seized like that. *jb

While driving 15 mph vehicle stalled. consumer was unable to restart the vehicle, and had it towed to a garage for inspection. mechanic determined that the steering power assist pump and timing belt needed to be replaced.*ak

2000 dodge intrepid 2.7l dohc - 47000 miles -complete engine failure - less than 30 seconds before failure - engine light came on, then all systems shut down while going 45 mph - car skidded off road - luckily no one was physically injured - just emotionally distraught - cost of replacement engine $3500. we had followed maintance procedures - engine had all appropriate levels of fluids including oil. this could have been a fatal situation under different circumstances, such as weather, road conditions and experience of driver. car was out of warranty.*ak

While driving 50 mph vehicle stalled. it was towed to dealership, who did not resolve the problem.*ak

I bought 2000 dodge on6/09/2001 with 24269 miles on it also bought exteneded warranty .on oct.4,2001 input sensor went out of it. now on sept.4,2004 the output sensor went out.car only has 58122 miles now.i bought car at whlteys automall and they say sensors are not covered on this car. i think these companys are ripping comsumers off.this car has been taken care of.dodge has a problem with these sensors and they should do a recall on them. thank you for your time.i would like to know how many other people have had problems with this kind of thing.*ak

Cam and crank sensor replaced 67220 miles, short block replaced 68927 miles due to "sludge" 5151.58 miles not including rental car for 1 and 1/2 months, engine missing 2 timing bolts from previous repair 69271 miles (the car quti on a 8 lane interstate on my way home),attach sway bar link repair connector for knock sensor 76507 miles ,compressor freon and recharging my air condidtioning 78747 miles 977.40,another oil leak and a transmission fluid leak 101,125 miles paid 15.00 for consult and was told by dealer that problem will never be fixed even if hoses and seals were replaced. now i have a continuous transmission fluid leak adn oil leak that has to be monitored. *ak

My wife and i were driving home last week, when i noticed a rattle in the engine under acceleration. no oil light. i pulled over and checked the oil level. it was fine. we drove home with no problems. a couple of days later my wife was driving home when the motor stalled and would not start again. we had the car towed to a garage, where the engine was inspected and shown to have bottom-end damage. final analysis: replacement of engine. total cost $5,400.00

While driving 35 mph engine failed. *ak the consumer stated that the timing belt failed and destroyed the engine. dodge service dealer stated that oil sludge build up destroyed the engine. *tc

We regularly serviced our car and did not have any problems leading up to our engine failure. after leaving work one evening, i started my car up and it sounded like a muffled motorcycle in the engine. we had just checked the oil level five days prior to the engine going out and the level was fine, but upon checking it that night it read that there was no oil in the car. we took took it to our shop; they recommended that we take it to the dealer. the mechanic at the dealership told us that there was major sludge build up and the oil must be burning internally. our indicator lights, which work, never even came on to alert us to a problem with the oil or engine, and we never experienced any oil leaking. after them taking it apart to find the problem and putting it back together they said that the timing was off and they could not guarantee how long the car would drive. it cost us $600 and we had to have it towed home because the car would no longer run. it would have cost us another $250 for them to put it back together with not even a day guarantee of running. we opted for the $75 tow. . they told us at the dealership that a used engine would run about $3000/new $6000 or we could trade our car in, which we still owe $9000 on, and they would give us $300 on the trade-in. they said that they could get us a "new" dodge intrepid that has the "new" engines in them. the mechanic stated that not only did he have the same car with the same problem (which he got rid of) but that there were two other intrepids there for servicing with the exact same problem. obviously, there is problem with these cars. we are now left with trying to buy a used engine or buy a used car. either way we are left with a hefty note to pay and a car that looks nice but doesn't run. *ak

Bought auto used with 104,000 miles. oil was new at time of purchase. five days later as son was driving home, engine died. towed to shop where mechanics said engine oil turned to sludge and motor was shot. new motors run $3000-$4000 to install. thank you dodge for such a pleasant experience.*ak

First my tps sensor went out no car, 2 days; then my map sensor went out no car ,2 days; then oil leaked from the engine onto the starter causing it to stop working no car, 3 days; then the engine started knocking. i stopped driving it south holland dodge gave me a written estimate of 7000 no car, 17 days and counting.*ak

White smoke was emanating from the engine motor upon take off. dealership indicated that the valve cover gasket and seals needed to be replaced because they were leaking. vehicle was taken to another dealership to get a second opinion. they indicated that it was the pcv valve, and this was a common failure with these model vehicles.*ak *tc

(1) i was driving my 2000 dodge intrepid and a clicking noise began to come from the engine area. the clicking noise proceeded to get louder and louder at which point i parked the car in a parking lot and called a relative to pick me up. i originally purchased this previously owned vehicle from carmax in 2001 with 20,000 miles. the car now has 80,000 miles and has received regular maintenance. (2) i had my vehicle towed to a local shop and was informed the engine needed to be replaced due to sludge buildup in the engine. two other local shops also suggested replacing the engine due to the same reason. i was further notified that many people have had the same engine problem with this vehicle and that there should be a recall for this problem. (3) currently, i am getting engine replaced with remanufactured engine for around $4,900. *ak

(1) december 02, 2003. check engine light came on and car was taken to dealership for repair. dealer specified that the the cam sensor and ignition coil needed replacing and oil was being sent throught the pcv valve hose into the air box and throttle body. their repairs repairs included "cleaning out the oil", however no mention of known quality issues in the 2.7l engine, that would eventually result in engine failure. (2) august 11, 2004. while driving down interstate 75 in the detroit metro area, the check engine light came on and the engine died. i managed to navigate the car through interstate traffic and onto the shoulder without the engine and any power steering. (3) the car is currently non-functional and estimates for repairs have exceeded $7000. upon further investigation, i have discovered that the 2000 dodge intrepid 2.7l engine has known quality issues that result in engine failure.*ak

2000 dodge intrepid 2.7 liter engine. driving vehicle at 65 mph when engine made a loud "clanking" sound. immediately pull car over, engine stalled. had it towed to a garage that stated that the engine must be replaced. motor is very hard to find and if you do find one, there is no warranty associated with it. recall!!!!! *ak

I was driving to work in connecticut. i was in heavy traffic just past the george washington bridge when my 2000 dodge intrepid car stalled and overheated. i manged to pull off the road safely at about exit 12 in the bronx after waiting 3 hours for a tow truck, one finally show up (from autorama towing). i was towed to their car shop. upon arrival at their shop they asked me what happened with the car. i went on to explain what happened. the car stalled temperarily and the temperature needle climbed quickly to hot. luckily i managed to get off to the side on the highway after struggling with the steering wheel. i waited for awhile to let the car cool off and then tried to start the car. it didn't. the car was disabled. it was not drivable at that point. the only recourse was towing. at firsty the car shop mechanic diagnosed the car as having a cracked thermostat housing cover. and that the themostat had seized from overheat. the mechanic proceeded to do the repairjob. upon his completion (as he was getting ready to turn the car over to me) he called me over and said, i have bad news. he told me that the engine was also damaged. at first he tried to turn on the car, and it did momentarily but then it stalled. he proceeded to show me that the engine oil and antifreeze had mixed so much that the engine seized. at this point i was told that the engine was unusable and needed replacement. i had the car towed back home in staten island where i got a second opinion to confirm that my engine was not useable and had to be replaced. i am now in the process of doing that at my cost. not a cheap thing to do, not to mention that safety worries and aggravations i've experienced. as a consumer i don't claim to know alot about cars, but in my opinion this engine has gone bad prematurely and is unreliable.*ak

While driving engine failed. consumer was concerned that the vehicle was only four years old. *ak

Engine failure @ 136,000 miles oil changed regularly. motor failed at 65 mph. was able to get off the road. have had 2 egr valves replaced, and was told the rest of the motor was healthy. *ak

I have a 2000 dodge intrepid with 2.7 engine that stopped running while i was on the freeway. i luckily was able to merge over to the side of the road with no power without getting in an accident. my car had to be towed to a chrysler dealer. we were quoted $6,500 for a new rebuild engine due to our old engine being full of sludge. our warranty was 75,000 miles and they refuse to help us. we are finding out more and more information about the chrysler 2.7 engine and it's problems. the dealer wants you to believe the engine failure is your fault but it is clearly an engine defect that causes the sludge build up. we now have a car that is worth nothing because it isn't running and still owe about $9,000 on the loan. please review this and other complaints and have chrysler do the right thing and recall these motors and help the consumers. thank you! *ak

Dt*: the contact stated the check engine and oil lights illuminated while driving 35 mph on dry city pavement. a noise was heard prior to the incident. the vehicle was driven home and later towed to an independent repair shop who replaced the engine and transmission.

Complaint regarding 2000 dodge intrepid.*mr the vehicle's engine made noise when started on cold days. the vehicle was taken to the dealer several time but they were unable to duplicate the problem. the service manager later informed the consumer that the engine had sludge in it due to lack of lubrication. the dealer later indicated that the vehicle's warranty would not cover the repairs. *nm

My dodge intrepid with a 2.7l engine started knocking then locked up while driving so i took to dealer and they said it was neglect and i told them i follow maintence scedule to a t with 3000 mile oil changes and all they told me it was sludged up and will not fix this . this is a defective design when a well maintained car dies at 60,000 miles . *ak

Dt: the contact states vehicle stalled and the engine died immediately. she was unable to restart the engine. the vehicle had to be towed to an independent repair shop. the mechanic discovered sludge in the engine. he rebuilt the engine, and suggested that the contact use a thinner type of oil in the future. currently, the problem recurred. *ak

While driving at 50 mph uphill, engine stuck in passing gear then lost power. valves started knocking, engine died shortly thereafter. i was advised by my dealership repair shop that engine must be replaced. estimated cost $3500 for a used engine. another mechanic advised me not to bother because it will just happen again due to the timing chain design and the sludging effect to the engine. i bought my intrepid 1 year ago, still owe over $6000 on it and it's not drivable. this engine design is defective. you can have mine to see the results. *nm

While driving consumer noticed smoke coming from the rear. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. *ak

Re: gunn dodge s169880 404. *bf soon after the "service check engine light" illuminated, the consumer learned the engine had to be replaced. the dealership was contacted and their response was that they couldn't do anything because it had been three years. the consumer noted her complaint and there was no reason why a three year old vehicle needed to have the engine replaced. *ph *tc *jb

Downshiffted during course of driving. rpms went to 3500. upon slowing down, motor shut off. all accessories turned off. no warning. *jb re-started vehicle to drive off the street. all systems shutdown again. finally restarted motor long enough to pull into a nearby parking lot. had tow truck deliver vehicle to home. *jb

While driving 15 mph vehicle stalled and was stuck in the middle of an intersection. *ak there was no warning. the long block was replaced. the consumer requested reimbursement. *sc the consumer was told a new engine was due to oil sludge. *jb

While starting the vehicle it failed to start. vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine blew out and needed to be replaced. *ak cooling system was not keeping the engine oil c ool enough, causing the oil to boil. this caused the primary tensioner to fail, resulting in engine malfunctioning. new engine costm$600.00 and primary tensioner $100.00. *ak

2.7l dodge intrepid. went to start car one morning, car did'nt start, had car towed to dealer and was told motor blown because we did'nt flow the oil change time frame in book. i advised them we changed oil more often then book said. they wanted $6000.00 to fix car. i still owe $368.00 per month and total of $9100.00 on car for the next 3 years. i don't have, and should not have to put out 6000.00 on a 2000 dodge intrepid. i had the car towed home with all the parts in trunk. then on thursday i saw on abc7chicago.com news report called "the sludge report" and it was my same car with the same motor. i am now faced with the tought for (1) letting them take the car and ruinning our credit (2) leaving it in my garage until i can come up with 6000.00 to fix it. since i have had to buy a used car + insure this car + insure the intrepid along with making monthly payment on a car that doesnt run along with towing, machanic fees, it has caused my family so much stress and financal problems it is not funny! can anything be done about it? do you know if there is a class action lawsuit and if so, how can we be a part of that? is there a message board we can go to and see postings of other people with this same problem? the report on the news said there are many, many consumers out there with this same problem with this kind of motor. what can be done about this faulty motor?*ak

I own a 2000 dodge intrepid. i started having problems with the engine stalling. plus white smoke would come out of the exhaust. i took it to the dealer and they stated it was a fuel sensor. they replaced the sensor, however the problem continued. in fact, it got worst. i took the car to a different dodge dealership and they advised me that the engine was bad due to sludge build up due to the oil not being changed. i found this very hard to believe. i changed the oil and filter every 3000 miles. the guy at the dealership wanted me to provide receipts of the oil changes. i advised him i did the oil changes myself. i do not keep receipts for oil and oil filters. even though the car was still under an extended warranty, the dealership refused to fix the engine. they advised the repair would cost over $7000.00. daimler chrysler should recall this engine.

While driving vehicle stalled. consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so. consumer coasted the vehicle to the shoulder. then, had the vehicle towed to repair shop, and mechanic determined that the engine needed replacement due to a blown head gasket. consumer informed the mechanic that this problem occurred more than once, and the problem had not been resolved. *ak

While driving 35 mph engine failed. *ak

Consumer noticed that while starting vehicle engine would not engage. vehicle was towed to dealership, and technician notice determined that sludge built up in the engine, causing it to blow out. *ak

While driving vehicle stalled. consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so. then, consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to a blown head gasket. *ak

2000 dodge intrepid 2.7 engine failure. i believe that i have a defective 2.7 liter engine that others are also complaining about. i opened a case # with chrysler and they refuse to fix the vehicle which i purchased used and have driven less than 20,000 miles. i maintained the vehicle and the engine failed at 78,000 miles. i still owe $4000 on the vehicle. i am stuck with no where to turn. i was quoted a price of $6,900 to replace the engine at the dodge dealer.

While driving engine shut down. vehicle was towed to dealer, and it was discovered that the timing chain and crank shaft were defective.*ak the vehicle's check engine light illuminated on five different occasion. each time the vehicle was taken to be service but no codes were found in the vehicle computer. eventually the vehicle stalled and it was determined that a new engine was needed. *nm

While driving on the freeway vehicle completely shut down. consumer had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. there, it was discovered that the engine had a build up of sludge, and the check engine light came on and stayed. *ak

2000 dodge intrepid, with approx. 75k miles, engine started "ticking" and "knocking" very loud, and then car seized up. had it towed to mechanic.....bearing failure and metal shavings.....engine needs to be replaced. *nm

While driving check engine light illuminated and vehcile jerked. also, made a knocking noise in the engine. power automatically shut down while driving. radio and lights stayed on. took vehicle to dealer for repair. dealer continuously replaced the sensors. consumer stated that it was always a different sensor that failed. *ak

Consumer stated that engine shut down completely. consumer took the vehicle to a mechanic who had a dodge representative there. it was determined that the engine was dead and a replacement would cost several thousand dollars. *ak the engine would knock and generated very little power. the manufacturer is unwilling to repair or replace the engine although they are aware of the 2.7 liter engine's problem. *nm

Engine blow out while driving . there was a knocking noise. then, vehicle stalled. vehicle was towed to a dealership, who indicated that this occurred because of an oil sludge in the engine. vehicle had regular oil changes in which one was performed 4 months prior to this incident.*ak *ts

Car went off while turning turn it back on it made a rattle noise in the engine

Check oil light kept coming on, took to dealer and they repaired problem, two times to get it done. dealer said oil pressure was fine /28/04 - timing chain failure, only 37,000 miles on car. bought new in 2000. engine valves were damaged. dealer took 2 1/2 weeks to repair lso had to replace tie rod ends.*ak