IllustrationWHEN THE CONSUMER USES THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AUTO LOCKS FAIL TO WORK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
4 reportsCONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE LOST RADIO POWER, POWER LOCKS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK. SHE HAD REPLACED THE ONE IN THE FRONT DOOR. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AT 15 MPH, BUT WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL SHE CUT THE VEHICLE OFF. BUT THE LOCK IN THE BACK WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL ALL THE OTHER AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE, AND THEN HAS TO RELEASE IT MANUALLY. CONSUMER STA…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK. SHE HAD REPLACED THE ONE IN THE FRONT DOOR. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AT 15 MPH, BUT WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL SHE CUT THE VEHICLE OFF. BUT THE LOCK IN THE BACK WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL ALL THE OTHER AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE, AND THEN HAS TO RELEASE IT MANUALLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC CAN REPAIR IT, BUT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $250.00 PER DOOR. SHE FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE PASSENGERS CANNOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AT ONLY 41000 MILES. CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT AND AM TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED. WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS CAR AGAIN. THIS IS MY SECOND INTREPID AND WAS TOO STUPID TO LEARN MY LESSON THE FIRST TIME. DODGE IS NOW A MEMORY, I AM SORRY BUT I AM BUYING JAPANESE. EVERYTI…
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PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AT ONLY 41000 MILES. CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT AND AM TOLD IT IS NOT COVERED. WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS CAR AGAIN. THIS IS MY SECOND INTREPID AND WAS TOO STUPID TO LEARN MY LESSON THE FIRST TIME. DODGE IS NOW A MEMORY, I AM SORRY BUT I AM BUYING JAPANESE. EVERYTIME I HAVE A PROBLEM THEY EITHER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OR IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY HOW COULD A HANDLE BREAK WHEN I TAKE CARE OF THE CAR SO WELL. UNBELIEVABLE! ANOTHER LOST PATRIOTIC AMERICAN CHANGING TO FOREIGN VEHICLES. I HOPE THEY GO BANKRUPT!*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.