2001 Dodge Intrepid: sudden loss of power

Filed Apr 20, 2009 · Engine · 103,839 miles · TN

2001 dodge intrepid se - 2.7l, lost power on the way to work. Oil light began flickering (had scheduled oil change couple of days before) and coasted off the roadway. Had car towed in to the local repair shop. Diagnosed "catastrophic internal engine failure." motor needed to be replaced. All past repair work had been completed by the local dodge dealer. They have replaced two of the main brains in the car (@ 40k & 55k - both cost $850 ea.), oil pan gaskets (@ 35k, 45k, & 60k), generator (@ 60k), radiator (@ 65k), transmission radiator (@ 65k), rebuilt transmission (@ 98k), and now the motor has been replaced with a jasper rebuild.

Filed Nov 29, 2008 · Engine · 143,611 miles · OH

Driving home from work, speed approx. 65 m.p.h. On interstate. Engine made a sharp "bang", no warning lights, bells, nothing to indicate a problem. Appeared to lose power, but never stalled out. Managed to "limp" home (less than 2 miles). Parked vehicle and the engine shut down, on its own. Raised the hood, found nothing to be unusual. Tried to restart the vehicle, it would not restart, only a loud clunking as the engine turned over. Had the car towed to the dealer I had purchased the vehicle from. Was informed that the timing chain had "jumped" and that all of the valves were bent. Was given a "verbal" estimate of $7000.00-$7500.00 to repair/replace engine and associated components. I declined. This vehicle had been maintained as required by the manufacturer. All required fluid change intervals had been performed and documented. At no time was I ever informed that this particular engine had issues associated with it. I still have this vehicle, sitting in storage. It has not been touched since being brought back home from the repair facility. I have, and still maintain that this engine failure was not something I could have foreseen and or been responsible for. Now I have been made aware that this is an issue that chrysler, has been aware of and has denied any liabilities. I was informed by the dealership that offered the costly repair, that chrysler would not assume any responsibility to repair my car. Now I have been informed by a local repair shop, that chrysler has been making "selective reparations".

Filed Nov 21, 2008 · Engine · 64,500 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge intrepid. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and then repeatedly stalled. The vehicle then completely shut off and lost all power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had it towed to a repair shop. The mechanic could not find any failures and their computer system showed no issues. However, the service manager test drove the vehicle and experienced the stalling. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled again on the freeway after much jerking and lunging. The dealer was able to duplicate failure, but could not determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer has not been notified. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 65,000 and failure mileage was approximately 64,500.

Filed Jul 25, 2008 · Engine · 100,049 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 dodge intrepid. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle would sporadically decelerate while the contact's foot was still depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was losing power. Speed was not a factor during the failure. On one occasion, while driving, the vehicle lost power. He pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the engine was engulfed in smoke and brown sludge. The vehicle has been serviced for routine maintenance. He took the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the engine needed to be replaced at approximately $4,500. The technician also stated that this particular year, make, and model vehicle has common engine failures. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 100,049.

Filed Apr 2, 2007 · Engine · 96,000 miles · TN

Tl*- the contact stated that while sitting in traffic after work in the 2001 dodge intrepid. He tried to leave and the vehicle lost power. E pushed the vehicle into a parking lot and tried to restart the vehicle 10 minutes later. When he restarted the vehicle there was a clanking noise coming from under the hood. The vehicle stayed on for about 20 seconds, and he called to have the vehicle towed. The vehicle was towed to his regular mechanic, and the mechanic informed him that the engine failed. The contact was waiting for the mechanic to call him and tell him exactly what caused the failure. The current and failure mileage were both 96,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2007 · Engine · 60,000 miles · PA

Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 dodge intrepid. While driving at 20 MPH, the driver lost the power steering, the brakes failed and the engine lost power. The driver was able to take the vehicle off the road to avoid a collision. The mechanic stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact observed that there was a bad port design that decreases the oil flow to the valves, it heats up and the engine lost power. The manufacturer was notified, complaint#16093390 was filed and they stated that the warranty expired. The current and failure mileage were 60,000.

Filed Mar 16, 2007 · Engine, Transmission · 85,000 miles · PA

Tl* - the contact owns a 2001 dodge intrepid. While driving the vehicle lost power when stopping at a light. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. The failure mileage was 85,000. The contact stated that for approximately 3-6 months prior the vehicle felt as though the transmission was slipping. There were no warning indicators. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new engine. *ak updated 04/12/07.

Filed Jan 31, 2007 · Engine · 98,000 miles · PA

Tl* - the contact was on the daimler-chrysler's website. The contact owns a 2001 dodge intrepid. The vehicle lost engine power while driving at 60 MPH. The consumer was unable to restart the vehicle, it was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. There may have been warning indicator lights. All state insurance company mechanics determined the vehicle's failure and agreed that the remedy would be to replace the engine. *ak updated 03/15/07.

Filed Jan 18, 2007 · Engine · 92,919 miles · GA

I had just gotten my 2001 dodge intrepid our of the dealers repair bay where they replaced 6 parts on the car that were working before discovering that the timing belt had broken. We tested all of the parts later and they worked. This cost 1,400 dollars. 2 weeks later I was in my car on I-75 in atlanta, georgia when I suffered catastrophic engine failure at 75 miles per hour. The engine seized and I lost all power steering and had to force the car off of the highway across 3 lanes of traffic to the shoulder. After paying a 200 dollar towing bill I found out the accumulation of oil sludge in the top of the engine had caused the failure. The car has now been on a trailer in murray county georgia for 8 months and I don't have the money to replace the engine. After contacting dodge they said that they would not help with the repairs. They blamed it on me saying I didn't change the oil enough this cannot be true because we have religiously changed the oil every 3000 miles. I have done research on the topic and have found many other people with the same failures. Dodge should be forced into repairing these problems. So here I sit this problem has almost killed my business because I cant afford a new car that is nice enough to take clients around in so I have to drive a piece of junk. You would think that these companies would care about their customers but once again daimler/chrysler proves that they don't give a darn about the people who make them profitable. Unless this is resolved I will never have anything to do with a dodge, chrysler, or mercedes ever again and I swear I will tell every person I come in contact what these people are doing to their customers I may even start a negative ad campaign against dodge. I will take this to the ends of the earth before I let anyone I know run the risk of losing their lives due the incompetency of these money hungry sharks.

Filed Jan 9, 2007 · Engine · 105,000 miles · MN

Tl*- while driving the vehicle started losing power and started smoking. The contact pulled to the side of the road, and had the vehicle towed to a local repair facility. At the repair facility they stated that the vehicle needed to have the engine replaced. The contact took it to the dealership ,) and they stated as well that the engine needed to be replaced in the vehicle. The contact concerned because after researching the issue, she has seen many similar complaints.

Filed Dec 21, 2006 · Engine · 83,000 miles · FL

While turning into my subdivision my 2001 dodge intrepid, 2.7l, v-6, 83,000 miles, died and I lost all power for steering and braking. I had the vehicle towed to an independent shop to determine the problem. The initial problem was thought to be a cracked plentium, but after replacement ($1,000), the car did not start and the mechanic determined the engine needed to be replaced. I then had the car towed to an engine specialty shop for further analysis. This shop informed me that the engine was water and/or oil locked and that indeed the engine needed to be replaced. They researched the engine and found that there are a number of places that wouldn't even sale the 2.7l, v-6 due the great number of engine failures that have occurred. Additionally, jasper engines (a leading manufacture and distributor of engines) stated that these engines have a very high failure rate and suggested upgrading to the 3.2l ($4,500 engine + $1,000 for the upgrade parts and pieces needed because it's a different engine = $5,500). They even suggested I go on this site to see how many more people had the same problem. Based on what I read this is an issue that chrysler should own up to and make the appropriate fixes. I for one have owned a number of dodges and all have had some type of problem associated with them, specifically, transmission problems. Has anyone had any luck with chrysler giving them relief or a dealer stepping up?

Filed Sep 20, 2006 · Engine · 86,000 miles · OH

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on the interstate, the thermostat gauge elevated followed by a loss of all power. The engine stalled and the vehicle coasted to side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified.