[mnemeth]

My intrepid was in the shop at 56000 with a ticking / knocking noise, it turned out that it was a bearing on the crankshaft. I was givin the bearing and it was almost shredded into pieces. Well the bill was over $4000.00 for that work. Chrysler picked up the parts and I had to pay for labor which was $1300.00 Two days after picking the car up We were on our way back from thanksgiving and the Amp light went off. Well after waiting on the high way for 3 hours and a 2 hour ride in the tow truck and 2 hours at the dealers. They determined the mechanic who did the work did not bolt in the Tensioner. While we were at the dealer the service manager told us they had had 4 other intrepids in for the same crankshaft bearing problem they were told from chrysler that chrysler had gotten a bad batch of bearings and many dealers have been getting the same problems. Does your intrepid tick or knock?

I would like to get the rest of my money back from chrysler but do not know where to write. I figure my Thanksgiving holiday was shot, the towing was almost $200.00 and this has been the 4 th time it has been tows in 3 yrs. I lost a days pay and I have no confidence in the car anymore. After 4 chrysler products in my driveway 1985 1 ton, 94 shadow, 96 avenger es and the intrepid in my driveway my husband says no more mopars and he is (was) a mopar head. I can't get the trunk to open with the remote or from the inside now.
null

 

[MoparPerformance]

What engine....? My 3.2L did that whole knocking thing but that was when the engine blew up at 33,000 miles because Oil was dissapearing and although I reported this they told me it was fine. I also reported intermittent rough idling, they told me that there was nothing wrong with my engine then it blew up.

The same thing with my steering issues, they told me nothing was wrong and then I wrecked and totalled it after it failed.

Gotta love these damn dealers.....

 

[mnemeth]

2.7 ltr engine. My power steering also went because the hose rub and got a hole in it.
the first few months I had a problem with the car stalling the dealer fixed that so well emissions where coming thru the vents when the heat was on. It was winter and snowing when that happened so I drove the car to the dealer 50 miles with all the windows open. That was also a mechanic error.

What is going on at chrysler? everyone I know with new cars is having problems. Is it diamlers fault? My husband says no more!

 

[MoparPerformance]

Intrepids unfortunately are high on the list for problems and repairs, even the older ones. I have experienced them all. Some have gotten lucky and have had no problems whatsover or very limited problems.

I have heard of something breaking inside the 2.7L engine (Something to do with the valves or something) and blowing the engine. This is supposedly a common problem from what I have heard.

I have a new 02' SE 2.7L and when I start with the heat on or sometimes have the vents on recycle air the car get's a bad horrible brown sugar/maple smell that I cannot stand inside the car. I figured this was because it is new but it hasen't gone away.

I also get a slight squealing noise around "U" turns, left specifically as well.

I know Intrepid's have the potential to be problematic so I got the 100,000 mile full powertrain warranty and 84,000 mile full bumper to bumper. The warranty also supposedly includes towing as well. There is a $100.00 deductible but much better than $1,000 plus.

I am also not really happy with the fuel economy vs. the 3.2LES I used to own. I am going to see if PCM/TCM updates are available or will be available.

They have pretty much been that way even prior to the merger.

I have noticed that a lot of 300M owners do not have similar problems with they're cars, I think they might put a little more care into the Chrysler line even though Dodge is still made by Chrysler.

I'll see how it goes..... Good luck!

 

[moparman]

Actually, the Intrepid has being scoring quite well over the last 4 years. J.D. Power released a study from 1998 to 2001 tracking since new and the 'Treps scored 14th, beating Accord and a bunch of other makes.

Even Consumer Reports gives it a recommended rating.

But they're not all perfect. I've been quite lucky so far with our 93 Vison/95/98/01 Intrepids.

 

[mnemeth]

My neighbor has a 300M with everything, including the european handling package. For the price of the car he had his share of problems too! At 50000 miles he had to have the trassmission replaced. He had to pay for that. And now again the car defaults into 2nd gear.

Our avenger ES has had it's share of problems as soon as it hit 100000 miles transmission problems, the car not starting went to the dealer 4 times for that, after mega bucks my husband rewired the fuel pump to take it out of the computer loop. We had found that the dealer did not replace the pump they said they replaced, nothing was disturbed. So I guess you really can't trust your 5 star service departments.

You know, its sad that families that have had chrysler corp autos for generations now are afraid of buying them.

 

[mnemeth]

Consumer reports says what? Consumers Reports state that due to worst than average reliability they do not recommend chrysler products. Intrepid is not on car & drivers best 10 list.

I guess they only make a few good autos and vans because we know a lot of people with chrysler corp vehicles that have had nothing but problems. We have one car dealership here and it is a d,c,j,p dealer so you can imagine how many chrylser vechicles are in their service department, you have to wait a month to get your car in.

We have had 8 chryslers and these last two did it for us and sorry to say no more.

We are going to burn are dodge boys have more fun jackets, Do you think they consider waiting for a tow truck fun.

We have never bought anything else but now...

 

[Bart]

I've had generally good luck with chrysler cars... Even though I've had to replace my transmission already, that was not an engineering defect. It was because of a puncture in the transmission cooler. My alignment and suspension issues now are because of a piece of wood out in the road on a foggy night... of course I smacked it and bent my rim and knocked my alignment off. I've had problems with my rotor warping, and on top of all this I am having the usual CV joint and/or wheel bearing issues. I have ~65000 miles on my 99 base model. I'll admit chrysler cars do have their share of problems... But I think it's just few intrepids that are all-out or near lemons. Those are the ones we hear about so it seems like a huge problem... but out of the nearly 800 members on here, I think most people would have good remarks.

 

[MoparPerformance]

After all the problems I had I must like to self inflict pain, a massicist! Still bought another trep. All manufacture's have their lemons and problems though unfortunately. I just can't afford a BMW.

My 5 Star dealer were punks sometimes. This one serivce advisor used to like stalk me and run over to me every time I'd pull up like they were guity or something, asking me what was wrong now? Wouldln't even let me get a chance to get out of my car....! I think they know my car had issues or was in a previous accident or something.... Strange.....

I remember when they didn't follow a Chrysler TSB and didn't reseal my tranny properly after fluid and filter replacement. My tranny was pouring out everywhere after I got home, it was Friday night too. I couldn't do a damn thing.

I just saved up the leaking fluid in containers and quietly slapped it on their desk smiling when I got there Monday morning, they thought I was crazy. Everone in line was wondering what I was holding when I was quietly and patiently waiting in line. They never even gave me a sincere apology or a discount. What kind of 5 Star shhht is that!

I guess I'm easily a 5 Star mechanic then...! So is my 2 year old!

The craziest thing was when I drove up in my 02' SE I just bought (Did NOT buy it from them), different color and different looking than my 99ES, they don't even sell Dodge vehicles new only Chryslers and sure enough....

The service advisor was standing right there, I didn't even have a chance to get out of my car, he asks "what's goin' on?". I was like "I don't know, you tell me....?". Why would I be brining the 02' Intrepid I just purchased in for service, well, hopefully not but especially bring it to them where I didn't even buy it. I don't even see how he could have got my new 02 SE mixed up with my 99ES, very different. I asked him if I could pick up my part, like damn...!

These damn dealerships really urk me sometimes....

[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: MoparPerformance ]

 

[dodgeguy]

started your family young :I'm very impressed! Nice to see some young guys into Intrepids (LH's) and Mopar! Most teenagers are into mainstream stuff such as maro's and stangs...! Hella cool! I'm 20 myself.I guess I'm easily a 5 Star mechanic then...! So is my 2 year old!

 

[00ChryslerIntrepid]

marg, before you throw in the towel on Chrysler, remember that ALL auto makes have their share of problems. A car, no matter who makes it, is an extremely complicated mechanical mass-produced product.

Do not think for a second that you would be problem-free or even be guaranteed less problems with a GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, or other brand.

The two Chrysler products I've owned have been flawless. My 95 Intrepid 3.3L was very solid through 60,000 miles (I bought it when it had 118K on it and sold it at 178K), and my new Intrepid has been flawless as well.

Don't be unfair to Chrysler like the rest of the industry is.

 

[rich00es]

Originally posted by margn:
Consumer reports says what? Consumers Reports state that due to worst than average reliability they do not recommend chrysler products. Intrepid is not on car & drivers best 10 list.

I guess they only make a few good autos and vans because we know a lot of people with chrysler corp vehicles that have had nothing but problems. We have one car dealership here and it is a d,c,j,p dealer so you can imagine how many chrylser vechicles are in their service department, you have to wait a month to get your car in.

We have had 8 chryslers and these last two did it for us and sorry to say no more.

We are going to burn are dodge boys have more fun jackets, Do you think they consider waiting for a tow truck fun.

We have never bought anything else but now...

Marge,
Sorry to hear about your problems...bummer. I have been fortunate in that the Chrysler products since 1985 have met or exceeded my expectations. My 96 Neon had the typical head gasket problem but Chrysler did compensate me.
The January issue of Consumer Reports rates the Intrepid, among other cars...see earlier post on this from me. CR does recommend Intrepid but I'm sure that doesn't make you feel any better because the of the problems you've experienced.
I guess if there is any advice would be to contact Chrysler customer service and explain to them what happened. They may compensate you. Also, go on to the Chrysler newsgroup and check out www.allpar.com to find any similar experiences/advice.
Best of luck on your future purchases.

 

[mnemeth]

I would like to thank you all for your comments on the intrepid. My first car was a 1969 mustang GT. Nice car back then problems were small. I do agree some cars are the lemons but the last 2 have put me on the no confidence list. I am sorry to say. But, I still love the car, the bills I don't.

I do know the car saved my life in an accident when I was hit in the rear at 75 mph while stopped at a red light on a highway. The frames and all you can imagine was rebuilt because I did not want it totaled by the insurance company. It took months for chrysler to get the parts to the body shop becuase there where so many trepids being made at the time. The body shop did a great job and the work is guaranteed for as long as I own the car.

I feel that the car is a very safe car, it crumbled like it should have. If I was in a small car I would not be here today.

I just wish it didn't or won't have all the problems that it did or will have.

Thanks

 

[1mz-fe]

i doubt getting rear ended at 75 did anything good for your engine, not to mention the rest of the car. could this be the source of some of your intrepid's ailments?

 

[adaptabl]

I have owned Chrysler products since I got my licience in 1979. I have had the usual problems with Chryslers, but was able to overlook them due to there killer styling. When it was time for a new car I looked and Chrysler had nothing I really liked and I will never-never drive a stinking truck. I ended up buying an Altima. Will it be better? time will tell. But one thing I did notice is that after 3 years and the warranty expires. The big 3 cars have no resale value. It makes sense though. If in the future I do buy another Chrysler I will keep it as long as it is covered by a warranty. The day it expires the car is gone. Maybe my head is a little hard and it took a while to sink in, But I must not be the only one feeling this way. That must be why the resale value is so bad.

The other problem is that all automakes release some bad ideas. Why does Chrysler continue producing product with the same problem. That ultradrive tranny should of been scaped in year 2, and what about these 2.0 and 2.4 head gaskets. Instead of trying a cheap patch, do a proper redesign and the problem is gone. Give great customer service to the poor guys/gals who bought one. stop the future problems. The quality problems of the 70's are much better but still not good enough. fixing problems early must be cheaper than all the warranty claims and incentives that are needed to get customers.

[ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: adaptabl ]

 

[00ChryslerIntrepid]

I don't think the Ultradrive tranny should have been scrapped. Everyone's complaints about it in the early years were mainly caused by the ignorance of owners and non-Chrysler mechanics (mom and pop repair shops) who didn't use the right fluid.

My 95 Intrepid, with 178K on it, had no problems that anyone would have attributed to a manufacturer defect.

Let's not single-out Chrysler when we talk about releasing products that seem to have the same problems.

 

[MoparPerformance]

Well, I'm pist more so at the dealer cause I had reported steering issues over and over and the dealer never did much about it.....

I blame the dealer not Chrysler so much for this.... I also believe that the car was in a previous wreck....!

I'm pist cause the steering failed and almost killed me....

I was extremely impressed with the vehicle's safety ability in a severe accident.

I smashed through a small tree and slamed trough a fence.

I was almost untouched...! I keep my seat all the way back so luckly I didn't get popped to hard by the airbag.

The vehicle absorbed the shock really well, although going over, through bushes and back over the median then up a curb, the 99 Intrepid ES still maintained it's stance, both wheels lifted at one time but it didn't flip or roll. I feel that if the same thing happened in a small car I could have been dead or badly injured.

Also.... The brakes are usually really good, I have avoided two different potential collisions after sudden stops on the freeway or after someone pulls out in front of me.

 

[moparman]

Hey Margn, I did read in Consumer Reports about the 'Trep just the other day. It has there check mark (not that it means anything,
CR surveys are statisically biased in their basic nature and the weighting methods they use are ludicrous).

Wish you the best - good dealers willing to fight for you (their customer) is paramount and sadly though, I guess there are not enough around. I know in the Baltimore area,
when the 5-star program came out, there were only a few dealers that received it. Now, after several years almost ALL the dealers are 5-star (and I know some people who work for some of the bad ones who get there cars serviced elsewhere !!!).

5-Star should mean more.

I wanted Mopar to go to a 5/60 bumper to bumper years ago. The 7/100 is a good thing. Should be retroactive for all 2001 models since the promo ran at the end of the year.

They didn't agree with my suggesstion but I'm going to write them again.