IllustrationWHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE STALLED THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
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
240–25K
3925–50K
6850–75K
6575–100K
54100–150K
10150K+
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.
11 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
207 reportsTHERE WAS A FAILURE OF 2 COOLING FANS ON 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE SHAFT OF BOTH MOTORS WERE LOOSE. THE R/R NEW COOLING FAN MOTOR. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONEY SPENT O THE N REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 79 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. *TC *JB *SC
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. *AK
I FINANCED A 2002 DODGE INTREPID IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE PAYMENTS ARE OVER $400 PER MONTH FOR 6 YEARS.ON DECEMBER 21, 2004, THE ENGINE FAILED. I STILL HAD A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, SO I CALLED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER AUTHORIZING THEM TO BREAK THE ENGINE DOWN AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS,…
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I FINANCED A 2002 DODGE INTREPID IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE PAYMENTS ARE OVER $400 PER MONTH FOR 6 YEARS.ON DECEMBER 21, 2004, THE ENGINE FAILED. I STILL HAD A WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE, SO I CALLED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER AUTHORIZING THEM TO BREAK THE ENGINE DOWN AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER THE WARRANTY COMPANY CAME OUT TO DO THEIR INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP AND LACK OF OIL CHANGE. MY PROBLEM IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. THERE WAS NO ENGINE KNOCKING , THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, THE CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD. AND THEN ONE DAY THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD. I STILL HAVE 4 YEARS TO PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO BUY A NEW ENGINE, WHICH COSTS $4,000 TO $7,000. (THE ENGINE ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT) THIS DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I ALSO HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $360 FOR BREAKING THE ENGINE DOWN TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IS THERE ANY HELP FOR ME OR IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? IN THE PAST WEEK I HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS IN THE DODGE INTREPID. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LORI JUSTICE 12/30/04. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE WAS BLOWN. MANUFACTURER STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AFTER THE VEHICLE 'S OIL WAS CHANGED. *AK
VEHICLE CUT OFF. MECHANIC STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS TWO QUARTS OF OIL LOW. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AND THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED THERE'S A CLUCKING THEN RATTLE NOISE. T UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND SPUD A BEARING. ALSO, SLUGS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEATS AND RESULTED IN TOTAL DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE; CRYSLER REFUSES TO SUPPLY THE ENGINE AND MY CAR IS DISMANTLED IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS, AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PUT BACK MY CAR THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP. I NEED DESPERATELLY NEED HELP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTERD THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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.