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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

329 reports
60,000 miles · Aug 9, 2005
Power Train

DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH AND HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR AND WENT DOWN TO 15-20-MPH. THE TACHOMETER WAS UP TO 4 MPH, BUT THE MILEAGE WAS DOWN 5-10- MPH. DID NOT WORK EVEN WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS. SHE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. IT FELT LIK…

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DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH AND HEARD A CLANKING NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF GEAR AND WENT DOWN TO 15-20-MPH. THE TACHOMETER WAS UP TO 4 MPH, BUT THE MILEAGE WAS DOWN 5-10- MPH. DID NOT WORK EVEN WHEN PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS. SHE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. IT FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE STUCK. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT VALVES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE CAR OFF 10 TIMES A DAY IN ORDER TO GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10132020

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED KNOCKING TO IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE CAR HAS LESS THE 70,000 MILES ON IT AND ITS ONLY A 2002. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT HAS SLUDGE THAT CAUSED IT TO SPIN A BEARING. THE GOOD NEWS I HAVE A WARRANTY THE BAD NEWS IS THE WONT COVER THE WHOLE REPAIR AND IS GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT …

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THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED KNOCKING TO IT TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT NEED A NEW ENGINE CAR HAS LESS THE 70,000 MILES ON IT AND ITS ONLY A 2002. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT HAS SLUDGE THAT CAUSED IT TO SPIN A BEARING. THE GOOD NEWS I HAVE A WARRANTY THE BAD NEWS IS THE WONT COVER THE WHOLE REPAIR AND IS GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT FIXING THE CAR. ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED JUST 2 MONTHS AGO. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10131463

60,000 miles · Jul 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 DODGE INTRIPID BLEW IT'S ENGINE 2.7 ON 07/002/05 ON HWY 50 WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN 14 DAYS AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERS NOT FIXED. WE ARE STILL IN A RENTAL WHILE THEY DECIDE IF MY CAR WILL BE FIXED. WE HAD TO DRIVE APX 2 MILES AS SLOW AS 5-15 MILES PER HOUR TO GET OFF THE HWY. …

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2002 DODGE INTRIPID BLEW IT'S ENGINE 2.7 ON 07/002/05 ON HWY 50 WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN 14 DAYS AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERS NOT FIXED. WE ARE STILL IN A RENTAL WHILE THEY DECIDE IF MY CAR WILL BE FIXED. WE HAD TO DRIVE APX 2 MILES AS SLOW AS 5-15 MILES PER HOUR TO GET OFF THE HWY. THE SERVICE WRITER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS OIL SLUDGE. I THINK THE ENGINE IS A HAZARD TO HUMAN LIFE AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10128960

47,000 miles · Jun 29, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON 12/18/2002, I PURCHASED A "LEFTOVER" 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE. I RECENTLY REFINANCED MY HOME AND PAID OFF THE CAR LOAN LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER. AS SOON AS I RECIEVED MY TITLE FOR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED! I BROUGHT THE INTREPID TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT HE SAW SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SA…

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ON 12/18/2002, I PURCHASED A "LEFTOVER" 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE. I RECENTLY REFINANCED MY HOME AND PAID OFF THE CAR LOAN LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER. AS SOON AS I RECIEVED MY TITLE FOR THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED! I BROUGHT THE INTREPID TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT HE SAW SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT SANSONE ROUTE 66 IN NEPTUNE, NJ TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE FOR TWO REASONS; FIRST, BECAUSE THE INTREPID HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT (I BOUGHT IT WITH 12,801 MILES ON IT) AND SECOND, BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FOUND SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT CHANGING THE OIL! I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY WITH MOBILE1 SYNTHETIC OIL AND USED MOBIL 1 OIL FILTERS (CONFIRMED BY MECHANIC) AS WELL AS HAVING OTHER OIL CHANGES DONE. THIS IS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF DODGE/CHRYSLER TO HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO REPAIRING FAULTY ENGINES; I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND HAVE OBSERVED MANY OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10127062

63,000 miles · Jun 21, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE PROBLEM BEGAN TWO OR THREE DAYS AGO. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CODE MEANT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND MECHANIC, WHO AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS MECHANIC CHANGED …

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DT: THE PROBLEM BEGAN TWO OR THREE DAYS AGO. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CODE MEANT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND MECHANIC, WHO AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS MECHANIC CHANGED THE ROTORS, BUT ALSO WAS UNABLE TO TELL WHAT THE CODE MEANT. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON A MAIN ROAD, A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH. THERE WAS NO OTHER WARNING BESIDES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND RESTED IN THE TURNING LANE. THERE WAS A LITTLE BRAKING, BUT NO STEERING ABILITY. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS STILL FUNCTIONING. THE POLICE CAME ,AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP. THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP WITH A CLUTTER IN THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10126009

15 miles · May 25, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH ON MAY 15, 2005 WHILE I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT THE WATER TEMP. GAUGE BEGAN TO MOVE TO THE DANGEROUSLY HIGH TEMP. SIDE AND THEN THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THE THERMOSTAT & WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH LED TO THE OIL G…

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I WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH ON MAY 15, 2005 WHILE I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT THE WATER TEMP. GAUGE BEGAN TO MOVE TO THE DANGEROUSLY HIGH TEMP. SIDE AND THEN THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THE THERMOSTAT & WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH LED TO THE OIL GETTING HOT INSIDE THE ENGINE, WHICH LED TO OIL SLUDGING BECAUSE OF NARROW OIL PORTS WITHIN THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL AND THE CYLINDER HEADS TO BECOME DAMAGED. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS ENGINE DEFECT AND THEY PLACED THE BLAME ON ME INSTEAD OF FIXING THE DEFECT. I WILL NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000 OR LET IT BE REPOSSESSED. I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE WITH 2.7L ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #10122066

72,050 miles · May 23, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: CONTACT STATES THE ENGINE FAILED. WHEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER THEY STATED THERE WAS 1-2 PINTS OF EXCESS LIQUID IN THE MOTOR OIL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10121898

67,000 miles · May 18, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: AFTER GETTING A TUNE-UP AND COMING BACK FROM A TRIP, WITHOUT WARNING , THE CAR STARTED MAKING CLICKING NOISES. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. CALLER FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS A DISCONTINUED MOTOR BECAUSE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR . DEALER SAID THE MOTOR WAS NOT WORTH REPLACING, AND SHE HAD NOT CALLED…

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DT: AFTER GETTING A TUNE-UP AND COMING BACK FROM A TRIP, WITHOUT WARNING , THE CAR STARTED MAKING CLICKING NOISES. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. CALLER FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS A DISCONTINUED MOTOR BECAUSE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR . DEALER SAID THE MOTOR WAS NOT WORTH REPLACING, AND SHE HAD NOT CALLED MANUFACTURER YET. CALLER HAD REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WAS CONSUMER ACTIONS ON THIS MOTOR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10121258

37,800 miles · May 7, 2005
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 38000 MILES, 2002 MODEL YR. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HIGH RPMS AT 55MPH.TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING OUT OF LOWER GEARS. DEALERSHIP SAYS INTERNAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10120163

52,000 miles · Apr 25, 2005
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 52000 MILES WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH TROUBLE CODES IDENTIFYING THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKOUT CIRCUIT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE AS VERIFIED BY THE DODGE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, AND MR. TRANSMISSION, WHO DETAILED TH…

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MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 52000 MILES WITH NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WITH TROUBLE CODES IDENTIFYING THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKOUT CIRCUIT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE AS VERIFIED BY THE DODGE DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, AND MR. TRANSMISSION, WHO DETAILED THE INTERNAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING THE PUMP, AND PLANETARY GEAR SYSTEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118399

Official recalls

1

03V035000 · 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

1

PE03010 · 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.