2002 Dodge Intrepid
The Verdict
The 2002 Dodge Intrepid has 340 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (219 complaints) and body (49 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 40/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Intrepid, consider the 2003 model year which has 68% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2003 has 68% fewer complaints
View the 2003 Dodge Intrepid dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
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Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Intrepid. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the seat back fell backwards onto the rear driver's side seat. The contact grabbed the steering wheel and held himself up and safely stopped the vehicle. The contact braced the seat upright and drove the vehicle to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V035000 (Seats) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL ONLY GO INTO PARK EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS WARMED UP. *TR
AN OIL PLUG FRONT LEFT OF ENGINE BLOCK BLEW OUT PUMPING OIL ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. OPEN FLAMES MELTED WHEEL WELL, BACK BUMPER, AND FUEL HOSES OFF OF GAS TANK. FIRE WENT OUT WENT ALL THE OIL WAS PUMPED OUT OF ENGINE AND CAR STOPPED MOVING. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER SAFETY, THEY REFERRED ME TO DODGE CUSTOMER CARE; THEY INITIALLY CREATED A CASE #31892226 BUT THEN SENT A LETTER SAYING THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD AND ALSO UNSPECIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. ALTHOUGH MY WIFE AND SON WERE ALMOST IMMOLATED, IT WASN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO CHECK INTO. THE CAR REMAINS PARKED AT A LOCAL GARAGE AWAITING INVESTIGATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTING IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
TIRES CONSISTENTLY LOSE AIR PRESSURE AND MUST BE RE-INFLATED ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 14 DAYS APART. TAKEN TO TIRE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE WHEELS AND TIRES ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND TOLD THAT THE TIRES ARE FINE, AND THE LOST AIR PRESSURE IS DUE TO THE WHEELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE WERE ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/23/16.*JB
WAS DRIVING SMELLED HOT WHEN GOT HOME 3 MILES LATTER OPENED HOOD COOLING FAN WAS SMOKING THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE
THE CAR HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND CAR SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. DRIVER HAD FACIAL INJURIES AND ELBOW WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD. VERY FORTUNATE THAT WAS ALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINED INDEPENDENTLY AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR, SWITCH SLIPS INTO ACCESSORY POSITION AND DRAINS BATTERY. CAR DOES NOT START WHEN I RETURN TO THE CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE. I NEED TO PAY FOR A JUMP OR NEW BATTERY, OR TOW TO MY MECHANIC. THEN I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH LASTED UNTIL 2011. THE AFTER MARKET IGNITION SWITCHES FAIL WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR. SOMETIMES WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. SINCE JAN. 2011, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON 1/10/11 COST $147.50, 2/16/2012, COST $220.39, ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY, COST $588.28 (MECHANIC THOUGHT IT COULDN'T BE THE SWITCH AGAIN), STARTER ASSEMBLY AGAIN 2/21/14, COST $384.23; RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE RADIO SINCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT 3/14/2014, COST $45:IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN ON 8/01/14, COST $110.56. ALSO THIS CAR KEEPS HAVING THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHTS FAIL. THEY TELL ME THIS IS ALL PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT WHICH THEY GUESS IS CAUSING ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. BUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL I MADE THE FIRST REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH. I BELIEVE THAT THE AFTERMARKET WAS FULL OF FAULTY GM IGNITION SWITCHES AND THERE WAS NO WAY FOR MY MECHANIC TO TELL IF WE WERE GETTING BAD GM DESIGNED SWITCHES. LUCKILY FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS MY CAR DIDN'T FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. BUT HAVING 95 YEAR OLD PASSENGERS, ON HOT FLORIDA DAYS, GET INTO A CAR THAT WON'T START, CANNOT BE COOLED DOWN, CANNOT EVEN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS SINCE THEY ARE ELECTRIC , THESE CONDITIONS COULD HAVE KILLED MY ELDERLY FRAGILE PASSENGERS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY OF INSURING THAT ALL THOSE BAD SWITCHES ARE REMOVED FROM THE AFTERMARKET. *TR
ENGINE FAILURE 2.7L 2002 DODGE INTREPID VEHICLE OWNED OVER 10 YEARS 111K MILES CURRENT ODM, OIL CHANGE WAS NOT DUE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
ENGINE FAILURE SLUDGE , ENGINE DESIGN. *TR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, HE HEARD A POP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE RACK AND PINION BOLTS HAVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. AP
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AS THE THIRD OWNER THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK AND THE HORN WOULDN'T SOUND.AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET,AND FINDING OUT THAT THEY HAD MANY MANY OF THE INTERNAL PASTS CHANGED AND THE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE REIMBURSED, WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALER AND TOLD BECAUSE WE WERE THE THIRD OWNER,AND THAT THE MILEAGE WAS HIGH,THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR WAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT,NOR HAS IT BEEN ABUSED. I THINK THAT BECAUSE MY HORN CAN'T WORK IT MAY BE A CONCERN. I ALSO THINK WILE DRIVING MY AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY CAUSING AN INSIDENT.BOTH DODGE INTREPID , AND OTHER DODGES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BY PAYING 4-TO5 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE CONSUMER. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE COST AND REPLACEMENT OF THE PART SHOULD GO BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AS IT IS AN INTERNAL PART IN THE STEERING THAT BREAKS WITH OUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY CAUSE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES I.E.ACCEDENTSOR OTHER. BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE CONTACTED YOU, THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED OR ISSUE A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR LESS, SHE WOULD HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR, WHICH NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CLEANING THE SLUDGE OUT OF THE ENGINE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FUEL AND THE CAM SENSOR COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR BOTH COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 04/02/13*LJ
MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT ROUGHLY FOUR YEARS AGO. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD A REBUILT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. JUST RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING OUT OF KNOW WHERE. I WAS AT THE STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND IT DID NOT WANT TO GO. I LET UP THE GAS AND IT KICKED IN TO FIRST GEAR. WHEN I AM DRIVING AND GETTING UP TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH IT WOULD GO UP TO 3RPM AND NOT SHIFT. I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR IS JUST DOING WHATEVER IT WANTS TO. AFTER READING ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO MY PROBLEM. I AM UNDERSTANDING NOW WHY DODGE STOPPED MAKING INTREPID. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NEVER BUY DODGE AGAIN. *TR
MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS LEAVING A FRIENDS WEDDING WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, SHE WAS TURNING AROUND ON A SIDE STREET SHE LOST ALL STEERING I WAS THERE IN A SEPARATE CAR I WENT OUT AND CHECKED FOR THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT BOTH BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BEEN BROKEN COMPLETELY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER SHE HAS IT ON THE FREEWAY EVERYDAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS ADVISED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT THE VALVE GASKET WAS COVERED IN OIL SLUDGE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VALVE GASKET COVER NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND THE OIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000. UPDATED 02/0812 *BF UPDATED 03/16/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM UNDER CENTER AREA OF CAR, ATTEMPTED TO PIT IN ANTIFREEZE, LEAKED OUT RIGHT AWAY. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL OF ANTIFREEZE. THE MOTOR IS SHOT. THERE WAS NO WARNING NO SERVICE LIGHTS THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN OVER HEATED, IT WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED BY A LOCAL DEALER.
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