2001 Dodge Intrepid: excessive oil consumption

Filed Jan 28, 2009 · Engine · 80,000 miles · NV

While idling at a stop light an officer of the law was behind me as the light change I made my way to my destination only to be stopped by said officer. He stated that when I pulled away at the light there was a big smoke trail leaving my exhaust. I informed him of the many troubles with the 2.7l chrysler engine he informed me that if I continue to drive I would be cited for epa violations. The car has 80,432 miles and has been burning oil at a constant rate. Now the oil pressure sending unit is leaking also which by reading some complaints is what happens just before total breakdown. Something has to be done about this will cost aprx. $2600 to rebuild engine.

Filed Aug 1, 2008 · Engine · 67,277 miles · CA

I was shocked that my vehicle needed a new engine (long block and all parts associated) at 67,227 miles due to oil sludge/bearings broke down in engine and caused oil to look metallic resulting in engine failure. The check oil light suddenly appeared and a ticking noise started so I had my car towed immediately to the nearest dodge dealership. This happened just 2,277 miles after my warranty expired? We had two dealerships look at my intrepid and both agreed it needed a new engine. We even contacted a trusted family mechanic shop and was advised that this was a known issue with the 2.7 liter engines and advised to get rid of the car immediately (they would not touch it). Robert at autowest dodge in roseville, california, also admitted that this was a known issue with the dodge 2.7 liter engines and that it just happens no matter how your vehicle is maintained but, offered no recourse with dodge. The total for repairs was $8,175.00. Now I have another 2.7 liter engine (rebuilt) from the manufacturer (dodge) which is only guaranteed for 36 months. The cost of repairing my car really created a hardship for me. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income, drive my vehicle less than average miles per year and take pride in maintaining my car. Your help in investigating the dodge 2.7 liter engine is greatly appreciated.

Filed May 11, 2008 · Engine · 151,000 miles · OR

I purchased the car used in december 2007, it had 147,000 miles on it. Since I purchased it I have had the oil changed twice. On the morning of may 7, 2008, I checked the oil prior to a long trip and found it to be 1 quart low. I added additional oil to bring the level to full. About 5 miles into the trip, while driving on the freeway at 70 miles an hour, I began hearing a very loud knocking sound coming from the engine. As I began changing lanes, I found that once I slowed down slightly, I was unable to pick up speed again, and I was slowly loosing speed. As I entered the off ramp the oil light began to flicker. At the end of the off ramp, my car died at the stop sign, and would not start again, leaving me in a very unsafe place. I placed the car in neutral and attempted to push it into a parking lot from the drivers door in order to be able to turn the steering wheel or apply the brakes if needed. I was unable to push from that position, so I was forced to take the risk of pushing from the rear of the vehicle. By sheer luck the car rolled between a street sign and a parked vehicle, and came to a stop when it hit a bush just before rolling into the ditch. I was informed by my mechanic that the rod knock was caused by a severe buildup of oil sludge in the engine. I was offered 2 options to repair the vehicle; 1) have a remanufactured 2.7 l engine installed that had been modified to combat this problem, or 2) have a 3.2 or 3.5 l engine from another intrepid or concord installed, which would involve no modifications since the transmission and exhaust systems for all three of the engines were identical. To my surprise, the estimate for installing the larger engine was less than installing the same size engine, even considering the peripheral parts such as air conditioning, power steering, etc. That would need to come along with the larger engine! All told, I will have spend $3000 to purchase the car and nearly the same amount to repair it.

Filed Mar 31, 2007 · Engine · 110,000 miles · IL

1) I bought a 2001 dodge intrepid...what other events do you need? I later found out that the 2.7l engine is notorious for engine failure. I had changed the oil every 3m miles and noticed that the engine would make a ticking noise if the oil was low. I wouldn't wait 3m miles because I was changing the oil every time it started to tick. Never once did my oil light come on. 2) the engine was making a ticking noise and I drove it to work. I drove back from work and was driving 20 - 30 MPH home and the oil light and the check engine light went on and the car died. I had to have the car towed and was told that the engine had seized and was -4 quarts low of oil even though there was no leak and no spots in my parking area to tell me that I was losing oil. Since the failure, I have it in storage at a friend's parking spot and am still making payments on a car that I can no longer drive .I have two years of payments to go until I can finally "officially" junk it. The consequences are that I am paying 6,000 dollars on a car that doesn't work. 3) I was told that it would cost $4,000 to get another engine and have not done so and went out and bought a used honda for that amount with more miles that will run longer. All parts are in tact on the vehicle just as I purchased it.

Filed Jul 31, 2006 · Engine · 83,000 miles · AL

Dt*: the contact stated the engine stalled suddenly while stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to water and oil in the engine. There were no problems with the vehicle prior to the incident. The oil light illuminated on the dash. Due to oil consumption problem, oil was not reaching the heads of the vehicle which caused which caused coolant to mix with the oil. Updated 08/24/06.

Filed Jan 12, 2006 · Engine · 74,600 miles · MI

8/13/02-we took our 2001 dodge intrepid 2.7l in to the dealer for warranty repair. The headlamps were change because of fogging lens covers. The power steering pump was whining so that was also replaced. The vehicle had 31,207 miles. 1/14/03-with 36,354 miles on it we had the rear glass replaced because the defroster was not working. No cost for this. Also had them check a knocking noise in the front end but they could not diagnose the problem. 12/16/03-47,658 miles. Engine light on for a problem in the evap system. Dealer fixed it for $248.69. We had them check for the front end knock but they could not find a problem. They also recommended that we have the timing chain tensioner looked at. I did not ask them to check that at all since everything seemed fine at the time. Looking back I can see that they were trying to prevent something they knew was going to happen in the future! 06/07/04-54,932 miles. The A/C stopped working. Had the dealer diagnose the problem for $70.51. They said the condenser was leaking. I repaired it myself for about $200.00. 01/05/06-74,600 miles. Vehicle started knocking louder and louder while driving one day so I decided to drive my other car. The next day I tried to start the intrepid but it would not fire. A mechanic diagnosed it as a timing chain problem. Fix would cost around $1,500. Oil changes were made every 3000-5000 miles and sludged with a oil flush because oil would evaporate.

Filed Sep 22, 2005 · Engine · 74,485 miles · CO

Shortly after my 2001 dodge intrepid reached 70,000, I began to notice that it seemed to be burning oil. I had not noticed any problem with the vehicle previously. I later found out that this was just the beginning of the engine failure process that I would experience. I have cared for the car regularly including oil changes, but also found that this would have made no difference in the outcome. After having the oil changed on 9/18/05, the car began to make extensive engine failure noise. I took the car to the john elway chrysler plymouth dealership in golden, co, and was told that this was a known issue by chrysler corporation, but that I had no recourse in having the failed engine replaced. The service advisor admitted that there was nothing that I could have done differently, because chrysler admitted to the 2.7l v6 engine in the intrepid having a serious lubrication problem, but they would not assist in the repaid of the engine in any way.

Filed Sep 11, 2004 · Engine · 63,964 miles · OH

My car never gave me any signs of burning oil, nor did I have any heater issues or smells. Owever, on 05/21/02 I took my car in to spitzer motor city in cleveland for service because I was seeing the engine light. They determined that they needed to replace my pcv valve and gas cap ($24.02 for parts and $149.00 for labor). Later, during the month of november 2002 I began seeing my engine light again. I took my car back to the same dealership the car was repaired at, and the mechanic said that if the gas cap is not on tightly it can also cause the engine light to come on, and to make sure it is always on tight. After that, the engine light would come on from time to time, til the day the enigne failed on august 18, 2003 while my husband was driving it. The car was taken to dodge dealership, where it was diagnosed that the engine was shot due to sludge build-up. ( last oil change, may 2003 ). According to a representative from the daimler chrysler service contract help desk, if an estimate for repair is over $5,000, an inspector must be sent to investigate before approving the coverage of any service repairs. Unfortunately, the request to pick up the tab was denied, with still one more month of warranty coverage left and 63,000 plus miles later. The only thing that I received from this was a reference number from the daimlerchrysler customer assistance center on sept 16th, 2003, and over $12,000 left in instalments. Thats all !

Filed Apr 30, 2004 · Engine · 52,000 miles · CA

My 2001 dodge intrepid with 52,000 miles just suddenly came up with a clogged egr valve, was burning oil, and had a rod knock. I though this was strange for a car with so few miles until I saw the great number of websites describing similar breakdowns and explaining the design flaws that cause this premature engine breakdown. I also found out that the manufacturer does not deal with customers on this issue and the general concensus seems to be that the dealer is willing to lie and cheat to avoid dealing with this issue and even has the nerve to continue releasing vehicles with the same defects. Our dealer looked at the oil problem, mentioned the knock and sent us on our way as if it was no big deal, the car coded out (check engine ligh) soon there after and I brought it back and they just acted matter of factly and said it needs $9500 to replace the engine that has only $52k on it. This was a blow and then I found out this is a common occurance.

Filed Dec 5, 2003 · Engine · TX

I purchased my dodge intrepid january 2001, I had a little problem, I thought with the transmission slipping, but that problem stop immediately. I did worry about it then I noticed-- I was low on oil from time to time between oil changes. I had it checked when I changed my oil, but they couldn't tell where it was burning from. Then the worst happened nov 25, 2003 the car start burning oil and smoking like crazy, still could not figure it out, now I do believe that my motor is gone. I can not afford to pay a car note and pay repair bills or replace a motor at the cost of $2000-6000 and still owe a $10,0000 balance on the car. I have made two complaints on other sites and hope that this will help all of us through this ordeal. I need transportation and as of right now I don't have the money to pay down on another car. I will have to find something in reason for the same cost of the repair.