Problems · by component

1998 Dodge Intrepid electrical system problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Intrepid cite electrical system, 9% of all 376 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
9% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2006Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10172631
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2006Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10155215
“I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 3/2002. SINCE I BOUGHT IT I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER THREE TIMES; HAD A FULL FRONT END REPLACEMENT; NEW ENGINE PUT IN; NEW TRANSMISSION; STUDS BROKE FROM THE FRONT TIRE AND WHILE THE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD MY CARD WAS SKIDDING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 2 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE CAR. NOW THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SCREWED UP AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN RUNNING. I HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. I BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE "NO QUESTIONS ASKED" BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT OVER $6,000 FIXING THIS PIECE OF JUNK. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Wheels, EquipmentODI 10145139
“DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL PACK REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID HE LET THE VEHICLE RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES THEN IT WAS READY TO BE DRIVEN. . ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2005Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10142421
“DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THE MAIN BATTERY HARNESS CORRODED, FORCING THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY YEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AT ANY GIVEN POINT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE BATTERY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS WHY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THIS HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED FIVE TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE, THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THE CAR WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE SERVICE DEALER WOULD ONLY CLEAN THE CABLES TO THE BATTERY, AND THIS WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2005Electrical systemODI 10136721
“THE IGNITION LOCK ON THIS VEHICLE WILL SURRENDER THE KEY IN ANY POSITION. THOUGH THE DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH A PUSH ROD IN THE SHIFTER AND THE SHIFTER ITSELF PER CHRYSLER RECALL CAMPAIGN C45, THE KEY CONTINUES TO COME OUT OF THE LOCK IN THE ACC, OFF, RUN, AND START POSITIONS. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THE FAULT IS IN THE LOCK CYLINDER, THOUGH THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN C45 AND WAS NOT REPLACED. NOTE THAT THE CYLINDER WILL NOT TURN TO THE LOCK OR ACC POSITION WITHOUT THE SHIFTERS BEING IN PARK AND THE SHIFTER ALSO WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE LOCK CYLINDER IN THE LOCK OR ACC POSITION NOR HAS EITHER OF THE ABOVE FAILURES EVER OCCURRED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE KEY COMING OUT HOWEVER WAS ALREADY OCCURRING BY THE TIME THE RECALL NOTICE WAS FIRST RECEIVED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS JUST NOW TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICING DUE TO A LACK OF ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2005Electrical systemODI 10132594

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.