Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Dodge Intrepid problems

Owners filed 1,044 complaints about the 1999 Dodge Intrepid with NHTSA between Oct 1998 and Jul 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (712).

Complaints
1,044
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
41
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling712
  2. Power train99
  3. Steering62
  4. Electrical system60
  5. Visibility49
  6. Suspension41
  7. Equipment30
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic29
  9. Vehicle speed control28
  10. Air bags23
  11. Exterior lighting17
  12. Seat belts17
  13. Seats14
  14. Structure14

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 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19981
199916
200037
200159
200278
2003180
2004243
2005165
2006127
200768
200831
200912
20109
20114
20125
20130
20143
20151
20162
20171
20182

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

712 reports4 crashes5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE INTREPID. AFTER PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A STOMACH INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2015Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10671900

Power train

99 reports9 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE INTREPID. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED, THE GEAR SHIFTER MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION ON ITS OWN. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2016Power trainODI 10923792

Steering

62 reports3 crashes1 fire
“EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL GO ON ITS OWN IN THE DIRECTION THAT I PREVIOULSY TURNED. IT WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER SAFELY THEN IT TAKES AN EXTRA SECOND FOR STEERING TO RESPOND. IT STEERS LIKE A BOAT. NO INJURIES VECHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2010SteeringODI 10354072

Electrical system

60 reports1 crash5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS PUSHED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,785.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 29, 2016Electrical systemODI 10838909

Visibility

49 reports2 crashes2 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE INTREPID. EVER SINCE THE CONTACT HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. SHE CANNOT ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ROLLED UP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,133 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2009VisibilityODI 10255990

Suspension

41 reports3 crashes2 fires
“I BOUGHT THIS 1999 DODGE INTREPID FROM CLIFFS USED CARS SALES TWO MONTHS AGO. EVERYTHING SEEMED GOOD ONE MONTH OR LESS LATER DRIVER SEAT BREAKS GOES BACKWARDS. THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT. TRIED EVERY TYPE IF BULB ITS THE HOUSING UNITS. NOW FRONT EBR CLYNKS OVER EVERY BUMP AND MAJESA THUNP WHEN HARD TURBUBG LFT OR RT. STEERING IS OUT IF LINE. HAVE NO MEANS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED STILL PAYING IN IT. 166000 NILES AND OWE $1500.00. CAN ANYONE HELP ME? THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE RECALLS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2017Suspension, Exterior lighting, SeatsODI 10979716
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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