Problems with 2002 Dodge Intrepid ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Oil light coming on at idle and then going of when pressing gas. loud ticking noise in engine. 66600 miles on vehicle of this 66600 i put 49000 on vehicle. i have had the engine diagnosed and it needs a new engine. faulty engine, it will cost several thousand dollars just to try to repair the engine and new one cost 4000 to 8000 dollars. this vehicle is dangerous and i have researched and found that there are thousands of others with this particular motor that daimler chrysler makes with the exact same problem and mileage has no effect or how often it is maintained. i cannot afford to replace this motor and daimler chrysler will not honor nor offer warranty for this problem and blames the consumers. i request an investigation, these are lemon cars and should be recalled. what if my children and i were killed because of an accident due to this engine failure? maybe that's what it will take for someone to do something about this. it is not fair to the consumers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15 mph on a city street, a rattling noise came from the engine followed the engine stalling without warning. the engine would not restart, and was pushed to a nearby independent repair shop who determined the engine was blown and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not alerted.

Car was running fine, then one morning engine light came on and stayed on. car was taken to service center. mechanic stated that timing chain must be replaced and engine was full of sludge. $2400 for repair was paid. approximately 2 weeks later, engine light comes on again. same service center states new transmission is needed. $2200 for repair was paid. do not know if old parts are available. car is 4 years old with approximately 94600 miles. go figure! *jb

Dt*: the contact stated the timing belt snapped on the vehicle while driving 2 mph. the contact stated the belts were often checked for wear and tear. the service dealer determined the vehicle should have had a new timing belt.

The engine oil pressure light on my 2002 dodge intrepid comes on when the car is fully warm and idles below 700 rpm. i took it to the dealer today and learned that the 2.7 liter engine contains sludge. this sludge will cause the engine to fail within 10000 miles. the car has been properly maintained. many many people have experienced this same problem. he engine will have to be replaced. *jb

Car began to overheat and lose anti-freeze. took into a local napa to get thermostat and upper intake hosed replaced(600). water pump failed, took car to dealership, got timing chain kit and water pump fixed(1200). then oil light would not go off, replaced oil sending unit and cleaned sludge (300). they heard knocking and replaced starter (500). now need engine an estimated(4000). *jb

While driving, the car suddenly stopped. it wasn't until after the car stopped in the middle of the road that any of the gauges seemed to indicate any problems. there was no warning! this was a country road so there wasn't much traffic, but had there been, it would have been disastrous. the water pump suddenly quit working. in order to correct the problem, i am currently spending $1,000 to replace the pump! the car only has 67,000 miles! *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated and there was a knocking noise heard in the engine. the vehicle continually would not start. eventually, the engine failed to start. the dealership determined the engine was bad due to oil sludge build-up and would need to be replaced.

i own a 2002 intrepid and the engine lock up 100,000 miles . check engine light came on check came up gas cap. was driving and low oil light came on had just check oil it was full. drove about 10 miles stop check again still full .checked for leaks none. went about 2 miles and start knock and locked up. talked to mechanic said he has rebuilt over `100 of them that have done same thing. chrysler knew engine was not going to last. only hold 4.5 qaurts of oil and oil port holes not big enough for that motor a 2.7 thanks lyman underwood. *jb

It all started with what i thought was just a broken water connector on the top of the chrysler 2.7 liter engine in our 2002 dodge intrepid. i replaced the part myself and thought that it was just a simple issue. but the very next day my wife went to work and got stranded when the car overheated again but there was leak this time just an extremely hot engine. after the engine cooled down and i was able to start it again it was clear to me that the engine had cratered and that it was all due to an internal oil problem from the beginning. as i have researched this issue it has become very clear that this is an ongoing problem with this engine and when we took it to a dodge dealer they were not aware of the problem until i told them about it. after tearing the engine down the dealership said the problem was the same as them others described in the websites, oil sludge causing the internal lubrication to fail. the dealer gave us $800.00 trade in for a car worth $4000.00 which we had work very had to pay off early. the only other recourse was to have a used or rebuild installed at a cost of $5500 to $8500.00 with no guarantee that it would not happen again. so now we have a new used car and a monthly payment again for something that chrysler knows is a problem but refuses to do anything about. *nm

I purchased a 2002 dodge intrepid 2.7 liter engine from honda cars of mckinney in may of 2005 for $7000 and felt very happy about my purchase until a about a year and half later, the engine begin leaking oil. i followed the normal maintenance schedule and had the oil changed every 3000 miles. i took my dodge to allen samuels of fort worth, texas and they "fixed" my oil leak problem for $893 but was never told about the 2.7 engine design problems which cause major oil sludge problems. after about 2 months, the engine light came on again. i took the vehicle back to the dealership and they ran another check and found that there was no oil leak (engine burns oil now) but there was a "small" transmission leak. i was unable to get any further with the dealership without paying more money? since then, i've been unable to get my car inspected and have received a number of citations for expired inspection. i was even told by a policeman that i could check with the air texas program for repair cost help. i sent in required documents and found out from christian brothers automotive that it would cost more the car is worth to fix. the state of texas has given me a $3000 voucher to replace this pos dodge. the problem now is that i'm unemployed and can't afford a car that qualifies for this benefit. i am in the process of sending a complaint to robert nardelli with chrysler but i saw this link and thought i would get the word out. the dealership and/or chrysler owe me the cost of the "oil leak" repair, cost to either replace engine/trans and the expenses to try and get it inspected. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated the engine light illuminated, and one minute later smoke started coming out of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who determine a seal on the disconnected emitting fluid which caused the smoke.

The engine light came on in my 2002 dodge intrepid and i had it analyzed and serviced. the computer analysis indicated that the car needed 4 oxygen sensors. i had these replaced at the cost of about $600.00 and the engine light came on again. this time the car was running rough and acting like it was going to cut off. the computer indicated that i need a map sensor. but on further inspection the mechanic discovered that i need 4 fuel injectors. the car is only 4 years old and it is falling apart. it has almost stalled on me pulling out into traffic and across roadways. since the repairs are not complete i do not know what will happen next. *nm

Thermostat housing popped off when driving down highway this part is glued on i have seen other cars and reports of this same thing happening to others, this part should have been bolted not glued, since then have had problems with car.

Dt*: 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.

While driving a 2002 dodge intrepid, the engine seized up. no warning lights. oil was checked and proper level was determined just prior to incident. mileage was just under 75,000. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the engine made a rattling noise. the vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop who determined there was excessive sludge build up which caused the engine rod to fracture. the mechanic suggested replacing the engine. the manufacturer was alerted.

Check engine light came on and dealership stated that it was a sensor and replaced it...that was approximately 1 year ago. knocking sound started a couple weeks ago and then car engine died in traffic 2 times. got the engine restarted and then the oil light came on and engine died for good. took it to one shop who stated that it was a timing belt and would not work on it. had it towed to dealer and they stated that it needed a new engine to the tune of $6,500.00. stated that it was because of sludge build up and not changing oil regularly. car was serviced every 2 to 3k miles for oil changes. car was taken care of and yet dies @ 50,000. miles? the government needs to force dodge to own up to the failures and buy us consumers new engines that will last longer than 50,000. miles! i still owe $8,000. on this vehicle! *jb

Engine blew up after 70,000 due to engine sludge build up. had the engine rebuilt costing me thousands and it happened again within 10,000 miles. cost me thousands again. *ak

While wife was driving car to store on 2 june 2006, intrepid engine shuttered and check engine light illuminated. shuttering stopped and engine runs smooth but light is still illuminated. mar 2006 engine oil change was accomplished along with a engine flush by ed's tire service, fayetteville, north carolina. july 2005 car failed inspection because of a bad battery, which was difficult to replace. between 2002-2004 front rotors have been replaced twice, once by the dodge dealership for $150.00 then once by me for $60.00. this sludge buildup problem that dodge refuses to fix is becoming stupid! they are making the money off of us, they to at least own up to their design flaw and fix the problem. does anyone know how to get sludge out of the engine other than tearing it down? *nm

Engine blew a bearing at 92,000 miles, was told by 2 different reputable repair shops to scrap engine that its not worth fixing. learned that oil flow defects cause this problem on dodge 2.7l engine. *nm

My daughter was driving home on may 4, 2006 in her 2002 dodge intrepid, as she was driving up a hill thankfully not down a hill her engine began to make a knocking noise like there was no oil in her vehicle, her oil was changed 400 miles previous to this incident her engine seized up and now will not run. it was towed to a nearby garage and the oil was checked and found to be clean and filled to the required capacity. and was also told that this particular engine was known to be defective. i am now currently looking for an engine for this vehicle but am having trouble because these engines are junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*jb

While driving on president george bush turnpike (west) the oil light flashed on and immediately afterwards the engine locked up. the failure of the motor required that my wife, 1 year old son and i sit in the dallas heat for nearly 45 minutes while waiting for a cab to take my wife and son to the airport ($50 expense) and i waited on the tow truck to take the vehicle back to our house ($125 tow bill). not to mention i will be expected to incur a $7000.00 bill in order to fix the defective engine. *jb

I bought a 2002 dodge intrepid se in march 2003 with about 20k miles on it. had it checked by a mechanic and was told all was good. $1,420 to repair the water pump? the engine made a sound, shook slightly which made me look at the gauges to see what was up. the only thing i saw was that the temperature was a little tiny bit over the halfway mark. usually, this gauge sits without changing once the car is warmed up between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark. recommend: any service shop that changes the oil in a car should input that service into a national computer system so that anywhere people drive, move, visit, that record is permanent. that is my first suggestions. then she asked me if the car had overheated. answer: no. she said the estimate to repair the car was $1,300 and if the heads were cracked that could cost another $700. i was like, "what?" say that again. the way the 2.7l engine is built, the repairs are expensive. i asked if it was worth replacing and she said it was..she couldn't advise me...but you know how it is. this is not a problem confined to my car - it has affected a fleet of them...same type..same engine. after i drove off the lot, i heard a ticking noise. i asked about the notes on the mechanic's ticket that said, "* engine has sludge". no one ever mentioned that to me and i didn't know what it was, either, so i asked. what's that? she said, "that's just the mechanic's notes for when you bring it back." i said, "...yes...but what is it?" then a mechanic appeared and started talking about using synthetic or regular oil (how am i, a lay person, supposed to know what?) to reduce engine sludge and yes, "all these 2.7l intrepid engines have this problem." i said, "so...what does it do?" chrysler needs to fix the 2.7l engine problems, find a fix for the sludge problem even if it means replacing the engine with another type. it is not fair to cost us unnecessary repairs. *jb

2002 dodge intrepid se; timing chain problems,hydraulic tensioner, motor seized up. *jb

I was driving with my daughter ( she was driving my car a 2002 dodge intrepid with 2.7 liter engine), and with no warning the thermostat began to rise. it was a certified used car and i did not have any problems with the car until this occurred. the car began to steam under the hood and cut off. my daughter steered the car over to the curb of a very narrow street hoping it would start. i called a nearby garage to take the car there if it started, after the engine cooled we crept the car to the garage. my daughter reminded about her chrysler sebring with the 2.7 liter defective engine and how it stopped dead on she and her husband at night at a green light because of sludge. when we arrived at the garage, the owner looked at the car after it cooled. he said that the engine was about to go and that i need to take it back to the people who i made it to have them fix it or trade it. i asked if the problem was from engine tampering, as i had tried to trade it earlier at another dealer and the tech said that the engine had been tampered with before i bought the car at kernersville chrysler dodge. he did not know, but that in his opinion short of them putting in a new engine, this will happen again. kernersville chrysler dodge refused to acknowledge any responsibility and would not trade the car nor offered to repair it. i am a 65 year old woman who has had open heart surgery this year and do not need the aggravation. i am paying for insurance and making car payments on a car that cannot be used and sitting in my driveway. need the stress. no body wants this car as a trade. if i sell it myself the bank said they would still consider it a repo. chrysler dodge can have the car back, but i do not think it is fair or right for me to be penalized for their defective engine. they should take the car and call it even. the chrysler dodge company and tim mitchell at kernersville chrysler dodge should be ashamed. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 mph the engine locked up without prior warning. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the mechanic informed the contact of the oil sludge problem concerning the 2.7 engines. the mechanic determined the engine needed replaced.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 55 mph the engine sputtered and then stalled. the vehicle coasted off the road and restarted for just a few seconds when the engine seized. it was towed to an independent repair shop where it was determined the water from the radiator was in the engine. there was water in the oil, which caused the engine to seize. the manufacturer was alerted.

Tl* - the contact owns a 2002 dodge intrepid. the contact stated she heard a clicking noise. the clicking noise happened intermittently. the check engine light turned on. the vehicle was towed to a dealer, and the vehicle was diagnosed as having engine sludge. the engine needed to be replaced. the failure mileage was 34,582. the dealer advised the contact that because the contact did not have receipts showing oil changes they would not replace the engine. *ak

Dt*: the contact stated without warning the vehicle stopped. this occurred while traveling 65 mph. the vehicle was towed to the dealership where the problem has not been determined. updated 4/17/2006 - *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 mph the engine failed. the service engine light illuminated and the temperature gauge went to hot. the vehicle was towed to the dealership and they determined the engine needed to be replaced. the timing chain failed which caused complete engine failure. updated 05/10/06. *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 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.

We had no injury or permanent failure yet. however, the 2.7 liter engine in the 2002 dodge intrepid continued to plague us with problems related to sludge buildup. the vehicle had regular 3,000 mile oil changes prior to the first incident, then more frequent changes after. we had the oil pan drop once to remove sludge buildup, and two oil pressure sending units installed in the last 13 months. i am very familiar with how a vehicle operates, and what to do in emergencies to avoid permanent damage to vehicle parts, and i feel that this is the only reason we have not had a permanent failure of this motor. *ak

I drive a well maintained 2002 dodge intrepid. my engine failed without any warning while driving in heavy traffic. luckily, no one was injured. i have been searching online for another engine and found several websites with posts that this is a very common problem with intrepid owners. i really don't want to buy a new engine and keep this car if there is a flaw in the 2.7 liter engines. if this is such a major problem with these engines, why is chrysler not recalling them. i will be looking into the class action suit against chrysler. *jb

My used 2002 dodge intrepid with a chrysler 2.7 engine started knocking like crazy after stopping on me several times while driving. the first expensive "repair" to correct this problem was replacement of a fuel pump and a "fuel pump cont module carter electric fuel ass" which had cracked (345.00 for the part, $600.00 for the "repair"). two weeks later the engine was knocking even more loudly and i was informed by pep boys that the engine was shot--locked up--and that i should have it towed to a dodge dealer. $172.00 later, the dodge dealer had towed my car and told me the same thing. the warranty company demanded oil change maintenance receipts which we could not produce as we have friends who change the oil for us. we were told by several engine repair companies we contacted (trying to find an affordable option) that the 2.7 engine had a defective timing chain which does not allow oil to pass through and be burned properly, causing sludge to build up and destroy the engine. of course dodge and the warranty company "blamed" it on our "poor maintenance"--we still owe 9,000 on the car!!!--the currie motors dodge dealer wanted to charge $750.00 to "tear down" the engine, then said they could put in a refurbished engine for $5300.00!! no apologies for their defective engine. no consideration whatever. they seemed gleeful that they were going to make so much money from our distress! each engine replacement company we called to inquire about the cost of replacing an engine asked, before we even told them, "is it a chrysler 2.7?" the dodge chrysler company should recall all autos with 2.7 engines and replace the engines for free with an improved 2.7 model. i know after this experience that i will never buy another dodge or chrysler or any other model marketed by these dealerships. i regret that i had no idea about dodge inferiority before i purchased the vehicle. i didn't do my "homework," i guess. *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 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

Radiator pressure valve failed.two months later the water pump failed. at this time the oil sensor light would come blink, but not that often. when i went to gfet the water pump fixed the told me the timimg chain was loose. i didnt replace it because i didnt have money at the time. two months lated i take my car to the shop to get the belt replace. they told me that who ever replaced the water pump failed bent some nut connected to the pully. *ak

Dt*: the contact stated while driving the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle then sputtered, the engine died, and the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. the contact waited a few minutes and tried to restart the vehicle. the vehicle did not start. the next morning there was another attempt to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. *nm updated 2/7/2006 - *nm

I was driving home from work on friday morning. it was cold so i let the car warm up before driving. i turned a corner and the car died. i had to push it home and had it towed to a local mechanic. the engine is gone. no warning or indication at all that something was wrong! it just died while i was driving! *nm

Engine sludge oil pump. *jb

I drive a 2002 dodge intrepid. i bought this car as a second owner, previous owner a rental agency. the car blew a rod on tuesday, november 15th. i took it to a dealership that states the vehicle needs a new engine, pricing the repair at 6700 dollars. the cars blue book is 6000 at this writing. i bought this vehicle two years ago, and it has less than 68,000 miles on it. i am at a loss and looking for recourse. *nm

The oil light flickers when i slow down, and when i am at idle at a light, the oil light comes on and only goes away when i accelerate. i am concerned that the bearings and/or oil pump need replacing before any more significant damage starts with the engine. i have called auto shops and no one gives me a straight answer on what it is. all i know is that repairs are very expensive. this is horrible, its only a 2002!*jb

Dt:the contact stated the timing chain came loose and damaged the top valve cover of the engine. while driving, the vehicle stalled , and had to be towed. he contacted the manufacturer. there were no recalls on this problem. the vehicle will be inspected by a mechanic. depending on what the mechanic will report the vehicle will either be repaired or salvaged. *ak

After having our 2002 dodge intrepid serviced for transmission failure. we noticed engine starting to knock. wasn't sure if it was transmission or engine. ruled out transmission,took to dealer, dealer says sludge build up in pan causing engine failure,normal oil changes done,at 3400 miles average. manual calls for 7500 mile oil changes, engine bearings bad, replacement costs upwards of 5000.00 working with dealer now on getting it replaced, engine should not have failed this soon. *nm

My wife was driving to work when the car quickly overheated. she immediately pulled vehicle off the road and turned it off. she was left stranded over 25 miles from our home on foot. later that day after it had cooled down i added coolant and drove it about 2 miles to a small repair shop. they advised me that either the head gasket was blown or the block was cracked. i had it towed to the dealership where i purchased it. they advised me my motor was blown as a result of oil sludge build up. they concluded this after removing only the valve cover on one side. before asking me for either a maintenance log or oil change receipts i was informed the failure was due to owner neglect. when i protested to the service manager i was asked to produce receipts. upon seeing that there was a 4000 mile lapse between oil changes warranty coverage was denied. i was even charged $225 to examine my car to deny warranty coverage. i have repeatedly request that the chrysler zone manager be put in touch with me to no avail. my car sits parked in front of my house still completely disabled as i continue to make payments. *nm

I am the owner of a 2002 dodge intrepid. let me first start by saying that because i am a female that is on the road alone frequently, i am very conscientious about ensuring that my vehicle is properly maintained, and i have always had my oil changed between 3000-4500 miles. last week while traveling for work, my vehicle started to make a very loud knocking sound while driving down the interstate. i was very near an exit with a service station, so i immediately drove there and check my oil. i was not low on oil. back on the interstate once again, i continued to try to determine where the noise was coming from. without warning, my engine light came on and my car would not run. in heavy traffic, surrounded by many interstate trucks on i-77, i attempted to try to get to the right hand side of the road, narrowly being missed by fast moving traffic several times. after getting my vehicle to the shop, i have been told by a mechanic that my engine needs to be replaced. i do not understand how this could be possible as i have been so extraordinarily careful in making sure my vehicle was properly maintained so that it would last and i would have minimal problems. fortunately, i was not injured and i was able to get off the highway without causing an accident. it certainly could have been worse. the worse that happened is that now i have a $4000-$5000 repair bill on a vehicle that i still owe $9000 on. according to the mechanic, it is impossible to even find a used engine for my car, as all of the engines go bad on this type of vehicle. since researching my vehicle after this incident, i have seen hundreds of similar situations happening to people all over the country. if there is a defect with this vehicle, i am hoping that the manufacturer takes action and corrects the problem. i only wish i would have been advised of this problem or it could have been corrected before something happened to me on the highway. *nm

I bought my car (2002 dodge intrepid) in feb 2005. i had an oil change in apr 05, may 05, aug 05, and oct 05. the car broke down in durham nc on a trip that originated in acwoth ga. the car was taken to morgon dodge/ jeep of durham nc. the mechanic's diagnosis was engine failure due to sludge build-up in the engine. the mechanic stated that this only happens when a person doesn't have the oil changed. he stated that the cause of the damage to my car was based on sludge build-up of over a year ago. i've only had the car for 7 months. i also have the oil change receipts for the above mentioned oil changes since i've had my car. *jb

I bought my car (2002 dodge intrepid) in feb 2005. i had an oil change in apr 05, may 05, aug 05, and oct 05. the car broke down in durham nc on a trip that originated in acwoth ga. the car was taken to morgon dodge/ jeep of durham nc. the mechanic's diagnosis was engine failure due to sludge build-up in the engine. the mechanic stated that this only happens when a person doesn't have the oil changed. he further stated that the cause of the damage to my car was based on sludge build-up of over a year ago. i've only had the car for 7 months. i also have the oil change receipts for the above mentioned oil changes since i've had my car. *jb

Have had 2002 dodge intrepid in the dealers shop in various occasions re: the transmission not going into gear or shifting hard at the wrong speeds. we have had issues with the gears since the day we bought it '2003. we are continuously told nothing is wrong that they cannot duplicate the action. last month it wouldn't go into gear or when it did it moved slowly then the engine shut off. we were told once again they couldn't find anything wrong with it. recently 8/8/05 it begin kicking and bucking while driving on 8/9/05 the service tech told us it is something totally different a "cam sensor" that they "think is possibly bad or more internal issues with the engine." all through it they cannot duplicate what we have been complaining about. the check engine light is on now and the air bag light is on yet, they cannot seem to repair these. we have an extended warranty on the car yet, we feel the dealership is being dishonest with us. we also feel that we have been sold a lemon. we have record of each time the car was at the dealership and they have a journal of all visits in their database. we have kept the car well maintained and at 49k miles it should not be having these issues. *nm

Dt: vehicle overheated while going down the road. took the vehicle to the dealer they changed the oil, thermostat and housing. then a week later was driving the highway and the motor blew out. the vehicle was back at the dealer. the consumer contacted the manufacturer who would not assist in the cost of the repair. this happened on august 4, 2005. *ak *jb