1999 Dodge Intrepid: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 15, 2007 · Engine · 102,000 miles · NH

Driving back from the store and the car started jerking back and forth and then just stopped. Called for a tow. The mechanic said the oil pump stopped and by the sound that the car was making that it had lost a connecting rod bearing. But couldn't be sure without ripping the motor apart.

Filed Aug 2, 2007 · Engine · 85,717 miles · IL

I was driving to work when all of a sudden the car jerked real hard and the engine light came on and the car completely lost power. I coasted over to the side of the highway and tried restarting the car but it would not restart. Had car towed to dealership where they found my camshaft was not turning and my timing chain had broke and they were pretty certain it had done extensive damage to the engine. They told me it could be well over $5,000 to get fixed and just for them to even start to investigate how bad the damage was it would cost me at least $600.00. I did have to pay them $102 just for a diagnostic test plus two tow bills. My car only had 85,000 miles on it! What a rip-off! The comment section on the receipt from the dealer said no promises--well no kidding they knew what was going on.

Filed Nov 15, 2006 · Fuel system · 129,970 miles · TX

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 MPH on clear dry roads, the check engine light illuminated constantly, and the vehicle began to jerk. Shortly thereafter, the engine stalled. The vehicle was able to be restarted after 40 minutes, and was taken to a private repair shop, where it was determined that the fuel pump had malfunctioned.

Filed Aug 24, 2006 · Engine · 40 miles · TN

1999 dodge intrepid 2.7 engine...goes dead while going down the road. I have had the oil changed religiously @ 3k miles, but it just loses power & dies. I am afraid I will get hit one of these times because I am unable to get the thing off the road with no power. Yesterday almost caused a serious incident. The engine died, the car lurched, I lost power but no lights ever came on. The tach needle hit zero and as I was trying to find somewhere to try & pull off while coasting, the stupid thing all of the sudden came back to life & took off. These incidents are getting more & more frequent and have been occurring about a year now. I've already had to have the water pump replaced, but I can deal with repairs...but after doing research today, I have found thousands of incidents like this are happening all over the us! Is this not enough to get someone to pay attention & make dodge recall the engines before some terrible accident occurs??

Filed Jun 1, 2006 · Airbags · 170,000 miles · TN · crash · 1 injury

This vehicle had been serviced during the month of december for a recall problem that occurred before. My wife was in a accident and the front air bags didn't deploy. The front end was badly damaged. My wife also was jerked before the seat belt grabbed her.

Filed Nov 24, 2005 · Engine · 135,500 miles · WI

While driving home from work, going 60 MPH, my car stalled (jerked) and within 2 seconds came back on by itself. The next day while driving to work, the car did the same thing. Today while driving to thanksgiving dinner at 25 MPH, my car stalled completely. I heard no knocking or ticking prior to the stall. I was able to pull off to the side of the road; a hard feat in itself since the power steering went out. After 30 seconds, I was able to restart the car and finish my journey. On the way home from the dinner, traveling at 60 MPH, my car stalled again. I was driving down a rural road and just wanted to make it home with my daughter; it was extremely cold outside with 25 MPH winds and I was 25 miles from home. I was able to restart the car and continue on; this happened 3 times until the fourth time when the car would not turn over again. I got the car towed home on thanksgiving night at 7:00pm, most certainly ruining someone's holiday!

Filed Aug 24, 2005 · Engine · 85,500 miles · IL

1999 dodge intrepeid--2.7l engine I was driving to work going 70 miles an hour when all of a sudden the car jerked and then the engine light came on and I coasted over to the side of the road. Once over to the side of the road, I tried to restart car and it was completely dead. Upon having my car towed to the dealership I was told the timing chain had broke and they were pretty sure that it had done extensive damage to the engine, which if I wanted to get it fix would cost me well over $5,000.00. I've also heard they have the worst A/C in the industry in their vehicles which my evaporator condensor went out and I had just paid $1,200.00 to get fixed.

Filed Jun 21, 2005 · Engine · 105,000 miles · OH

I was driving my 1999 dodge intrepid with my 3y.o daughter. We were stopped at a stop light. When the light turned green, I accelerated, and my car began jerking roughly, but there were no interior warning lights on. I continued to try to accelerate, and eventually my "check engine" light came on. I pulled my car into a gas station where it died. I had to have the car towed to my dodge dealer where I was told the engine had locked up. The dealership wants nearly $8000 to replace my engine. I have been doing some on-line research and telephone researching to find cheaper engines. From all of the people I have spoken to, and from the on-line research I've done, it appears that this is a defective engine that is failing on these cars. We have even weighed the option of having the car sent to the junkyard for scrap, but our local junkyard won't even take it because they say they have too many of these cars already due to the same problem. So far, the cheapest estimat we've had to have the engine replaced is approx $4000 (for a rebuilt engine). This car is only 6 years old, and has been properly maintenanced. This problem needs to be thoroughly investigated. Thank you for your time.

Filed Mar 25, 2005 · Steering, Tires · TX

While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a loud knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle. While turning right the driver had difficulty maintaining control of the steering wheel. The steering wheel jerked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The steering and the tires were no longer providing support for the vehicle. The consumer was told that the steering rod was bent. *sc

Filed Mar 2, 2005 · Engine · 120,000 miles · MI

I have a 1999 dodge intrepid, which was purchased new by myself. Since I am the original owner I know how my car was treated. Basically, my car has 120,000 miles on it and has run pretty well all its life. The car started to jerk while accelerating on my way home. I took it to our dodge dealer and was told that the engine was going to fail due to sludge in the engine. The dealer stated that this was a known problem and that chryler wouldnt do anything about it. They had gotten many complaints on these engines.

Filed Sep 17, 2004 · Engine · 101,900 miles · IL

I purchased a 1999 dodge intrepid with a 2.7l engine less than a year and a half ago. I maintained regular oil changes and had no problems until all of a sudden the engine started jerking and chugging and would no longer start. Several mechanics checked the car only to tell me that I would need a new engine which would cost $4000-$6000 dollars to rebuild and install. Every mechanic that I have called or talked immediately told me that this was a badly manufactured engine and that these engines usually do not last past 60 or 70,000 miles. Know I am without a car and out of $5000 dollars which is what I paid for the car, and need another $5000 to repair the engine.

Filed Sep 3, 2004 · Electrical · 71,800 miles · OK

On 7/30/04 while driving to work my car seemed to begin idling high. While taking off from a stop sign, my whole car jerked and made a loud "clunk" sound. My speedometer quit working, my check engine light came on and my car would not shift out of high. I made it to work and called the closest dealer and was told it was a sensor. Made it to the dealership, to have car checked and was told it was definately the sensor. I was also told that I had the best warranty and would be "no problem". Also told them the passenger window in the front only worked occasionally and I had received recalls. Also explained that windshield washer bottle was broken. Ended up paying over $380.00 to have car repaired and declined fixing the windshield washer bottle because that would cost an additional $200+. I feel this is very dangerous, since speedometer quit working and engine was stuck in high. Dealership acted like no big deal and I am still upset at paying over $380 and having "the best warranty.