Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Dodge Intrepid problems

Owners filed 656 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Intrepid with NHTSA between Jan 2001 and May 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (520).

Complaints
656
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
22
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling520
  2. Steering37
  3. Power train32
  4. Air bags20
  5. Electrical system16
  6. Equipment14
  7. Exterior lighting9
  8. Visibility9
  9. Seats8
  10. Vehicle speed control8
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  12. Seat belts7
  13. Structure6
  14. Engine5

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
20016
200218
200353
2004124
2005132
2006135
200775
200862
200925
20106
20115
20121
20130
20144
20152
20160
20172
20181
20192
20202
20210
20220
20231

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

520 reports2 crashes17 fires
“2001 DODGE INTREPID R/T 3.5L WITH 111,422 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE TOLLWAY, THE HEATER BEGAN TO BLOW OUT COOL AIR. LATER THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AND THE CAR JUST DIED. GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO BE TOWED. ENGINE IS LOCKED UP. NEW ENGINE ESTIMATE $5000-$7500. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNINGS. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT WE HAD A NEW RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, ETC. PUT IN ALONG WITH FIXING OIL LEAKAGE PROBLEM. THAT WAS JULY 28, 2011 WITH 107,809 MILES ON IT. WE ALWAYS CHANGED OUR OIL REGULARLY AND TOOK CARE OF IT. WE BOUGHT THIS 2001 R/T INTREPID NEW. THE ONLY OTHER REAL PROBLEM WAS @ 106,939 MILES IT WOULDN'T GO BACK INTO DRIVE ONCE YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE SO WE PUT IN A USED CONTROL MODULE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ABOUT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2.7L ENGINE BUT CAN'T FIND MUCH INFORMATION ON THE 3.5 R/T MODEL. SO SCARY TO THINK HOW MANY 2001 INTREPIDS ARE JUST DYING ON THE ROAD WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM SO GLAD THAT MY SON WAS DRIVING IT AND KNEW WHAT TO DO INSTEAD OF MY NEWLY-LICENSED DAUGHTER. IT WAS HER CAR FOR ONLY 4 1/2 MONTHS. DODGE SHOULD BE ASHAMED. WE GOT MORE MILEAGE OUT OF A CHEVY CAVALIER. ARE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10441908

Steering

37 reports1 crash
“WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL FUNCTION AND POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE NO POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, BRAKES, NOTHING. IT FLICKERS ON AND OFF LIKE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES. IT TOOK ME 1 1/2 HOURS TO DRIVE HOME, WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY HALF HOUR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW IN FEAR THAT I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH DODGE VEHICLES. I CAN'T DRIVE MY VAN IN FEAR IT WILL END UP KILLING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR SOME INNOCENT PERSON ON THE ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE. THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC DATE BUT A CONSTANT ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11363860

Power train

32 reports4 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER INTREPID. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. THREE DAYS LATER, THE SHIFTER CABLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPONENT. IN APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF 2008, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND WAS ALSO COVERED BY THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP PROPERLY. A MONTH AGO, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONNECTOR ROD IN THE ENGINE SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 07/01/09 *BF THE PCM WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/02/09.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10270124

Air bags

20 reports11 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE HORN FAILED WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE AS HE HAD TO INCREASE HIS SPEED TO AVOID BEING REAR-ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE03010 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND BELIEVES THE FAILURE WAS RELATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2020Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 11364711

Electrical system

16 reports3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10682056

Equipment

14 reports1 crash1 fire
“AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WE HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THIS RELIGIOUSLY. *AK THIS LAST TIME, IT WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND BARELY MADE IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. UPON GETTING IT TO MY MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP AND FUEL PUMP WERE BOTH GOING OUT AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS TOAST, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT BECAUSE THE ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUSLY BAD AND NOT WORTH IT. SLUDGE BUILD UP WAS ALSO PRESENT. ENGINE IS NOW BLOWN, AND WE STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS THING!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2007Visibility, EquipmentODI 10194956
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.