Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Dodge Intrepid problems
Owners filed 376 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Intrepid with NHTSA between Mar 1998 and Jan 2013. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (197).
Complaints
376
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling197
- Service brakes, hydraulic38
- Power train35
- Electrical system32
- Steering29
- Visibility26
- Air bags22
- Vehicle speed control14
- Equipment13
- Suspension10
- Structure9
- Exterior lighting8
- Seats8
- Fuel system, gasoline5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
27
25
27
34
67
78
54
30
9
9
2
2
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1999 | 27 |
| 2000 | 25 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 67 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2005 | 54 |
| 2006 | 30 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
197 reports1 crash4 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE MOTOR FAILED DUE TO THE ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL MIXING TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
38 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ABS SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY HAD BEEN BACK ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.”
Power train
35 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 1998 DODGE INTREPID ES AT 103,000 MILES. REBUILT ONE PUT IN AND LASTED 30,000 MILES. PUT IN REBUILT ENGINE AGAIN AT 130,000 MILES. ENGINE STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN ONLY AFTER 5 MONTHS OF DRIVING. TEMPERATURE CONTROL NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND ENGINE STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. ALL THIS IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT IN TRANSMISSIONS. *JB”
Electrical system
32 reports1 crash5 fires
“HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING , OR WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION. MY MECHANIC HAVE REPLACED 3 HEADLIGHT SWITCHES BUT ITS NOT WORKING. ALSO THE CAR HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM INTERNAL LAMPS TO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE READ LOT OF REVIEW FROM OTHER USERS. I CAN FILE A LAWSUIT WITH USER CONSUMERS IF I HAVE TO AGAINST DODGE. THIS THING IS VERY ANNOYING AND DODGE SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. *NM”
Steering
29 reports3 crashes
“SEVERE STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEEL LOCKS WHEN TURNED COMPLETELY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. WANDERS ON DRY PAVEMENT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN WET WEATHER. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE STEERING RACK AND INNER TIE RODS. *TR”
Visibility
26 reports
“SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 1998, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUE WITH: ELECTRICAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING (DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM) RACK AND PINION HAD TO REPLACE AT 36,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVERY YEAR, THEY CONSTANTLY ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN FIRST BOUGHT VEHICLE, NOW THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOWN ON DRIVE SIDE IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO USE POWER UNLOCK AND LOCK FOR REAR DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEAK FROM HOSE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HOSE. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.