IllustrationSTEERING PROBLEMS 2002 DODGE INTREPID. STEERING GEAR REPLACED AT APPROX 60,000 MILES THEN INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS FAILED AT 196,000 MILES NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN AT 224,000 MILES 18 MONTHS AND THERE IS MAJOR PLAY IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR AS WELL AS MOVEMENT IN THE TIRE LEADING TO POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *TR
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
What owners actually said
329 reports2002 DODGE INTREPID 2.7 ENGINE CAR SUDENLY OVERHEATED. ANTI FREEZE WENT OUT ON GROUND AND INTO OIL. REPALCED WATER PUMP, TENSIONER, TIMIMG CHAIN, SEVERAL SENSORS, GASKETS AND MORE.ALWAYS MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES AT 300K AND OIL FILTERS. BAD ENGINE- PARTS SAVED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCRETE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSIST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCRETE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,675.
ENGINE COOLANT: CAR RAN HOT WITHOUT WARNING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE BLEW OFF OF RADIATOR AND COOLANT EXPLODED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE INNER CORE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN HE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE INNER CORE OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT NOTICED SEVERAL C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
WE BOUGHT A 2002 USED IN 2005. IT RAN OKAY, THOUGHE H THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN IDLING. WE WERE ASSURED BY THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM THAT IT WAS JUST SENSOR AND NOT TO WORRY. HAD SOME SMALL PROBLEMS WITH IT, NOTHING TOO MAJOR. THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THEN IN 3/09 THE ALTERNAT…
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WE BOUGHT A 2002 USED IN 2005. IT RAN OKAY, THOUGHE H THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN IDLING. WE WERE ASSURED BY THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM THAT IT WAS JUST SENSOR AND NOT TO WORRY. HAD SOME SMALL PROBLEMS WITH IT, NOTHING TOO MAJOR. THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THEN IN 3/09 THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT FOR THE 2ND TIME, AND EVEN AFTER REPAIR THE CAR WOULD OVER HEAT OUT OF NO WHERE AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF IT THEN, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW CAR. THEN IN 11/09 THE CAR DID THE OVERHEAT FOR NO REASON WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THANK GOD THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. THE GAUGES DIDN'T INDICATE ANYTHING, ALL OF THEM INCLUDING THE SPEDOMETER WENT TO 0. IT STARTED GUSHING WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. THE ENGINE IS SHOT, IT IS NOW A GOLD LAWN ORNAMENT. WE MAINTAINED THE CAR, OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000MI ETC. WAS TOLD ITS DUE TO "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGES 2.7 ENGINES. WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND I WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TON YARD ORNAMENT I NOW HAVE.
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7 ENGINE THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY3K MILES AS SHOULD. IN 2008 THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF LATER TOOK IT TO DEALER WITH THOUGHT THAT WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT AND THEY WOULD NOT. THE FAILURE WAS BECAUSE OF OIL SLUDGE. THERE ARE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS AND MECHANIC INPUTS ON THIS ENGINE.. DODGE THINKS THE …
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I HAVE A 2002 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7 ENGINE THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY3K MILES AS SHOULD. IN 2008 THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF LATER TOOK IT TO DEALER WITH THOUGHT THAT WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT AND THEY WOULD NOT. THE FAILURE WAS BECAUSE OF OIL SLUDGE. THERE ARE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS AND MECHANIC INPUTS ON THIS ENGINE.. DODGE THINKS THE OWNERS ARE AT FAULT WHEN IN MY CASE EVERYTHING WAS DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PRODUCT. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO JUST SHUT OFF WHERE EVER YOU ARE. SOME HAVE SHUT OFF ON HIGHWAYS WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS WRECKS. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/INTREPID/2002/ENGINE/OIL_SLUDGE_RESULTING_IN_ENGINE_FAILURE.SHTML THIS SITE HAS MANY USERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CAR. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR
MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE BEGAN HAVE ENGINE TROUBLES AT 125,000 MILES. I HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP A NEW KNOCKING SOUND FROM GETTING WORSE. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON THE INTERSTATE TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. I HAVE BEEN PAYING THE FINANCE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HAL…
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MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID SE BEGAN HAVE ENGINE TROUBLES AT 125,000 MILES. I HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP A NEW KNOCKING SOUND FROM GETTING WORSE. WHILE DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN ON THE INTERSTATE TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. I HAVE BEEN PAYING THE FINANCE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I AM UNABLE TO PAY THE EXCESSIVE ENGINE REPAIR COSTS AND SO THE CAR SITS. *TR
BOUGHT A DODGE INTREPID THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IT'S AN 2.7 V.6 .... THE CAR STALLS , THE LIGHT FLICKERS ON AN OFF AS WELL AS MY RADIO!! MY SENSOR ARE FAULTY BECAUSE IT GIVE MY CAR FAULTY READING TO THE WRONG ERRS NOT ONLY, THAT I HAVE HAD BUILD UP IN BOTH ENGINES GRIME AND BROKEN DOWN PARTICLES! MY SPEED IS OFF SOM…
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BOUGHT A DODGE INTREPID THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IT'S AN 2.7 V.6 .... THE CAR STALLS , THE LIGHT FLICKERS ON AN OFF AS WELL AS MY RADIO!! MY SENSOR ARE FAULTY BECAUSE IT GIVE MY CAR FAULTY READING TO THE WRONG ERRS NOT ONLY, THAT I HAVE HAD BUILD UP IN BOTH ENGINES GRIME AND BROKEN DOWN PARTICLES! MY SPEED IS OFF SOMETIME MY CAR PICKS UP SPEED BY IT SELF OR IT DON'T GAIN SPEED AT ALL! THE CAR ALSO LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON AT ALL! DRAIN MY BATTERY FOUR TIMES! OVER HEAT WITHOUT WARNING! HAD MY THERMOSTAT REPLACE TWICE!!! TO MANY PROBLEM KEEP OCCURRING AND I CAN KEEP UP WITH ANY OF THIS!! TEXAS DMV TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT ANY GOOD!! PLEASE HELP WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS CAR? *TR
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.