2001 Dodge Intrepid engine and engine cooling problems

“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…”

“I WAS ON MY WAY TO ALDI'S AND BEFORE I PULLED UP INTO THE PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF AND DID NOT START AGAIN FLUIDS WERE RUNNING FROM UNDERNEATH I HAD IT TOWED AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WATER PUMP AND THE RESULT OF THAT MADE ANTI FREEZE MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE AND I TOOK IT TO A SECOND MECHANIC AND THEY SAID PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING EXCEPT THEY ADDED THAT THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND IT FAILED SO IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT SOME POINT OF TIME . *TR”

“MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IT JUST SUDDENLY STARTED COUGHING AND CHOKING AND REVVING UP AND SLOWING DOWN - IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT-OF-CONTROL! I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A MAJOR FREEWAY (INTERSTATE 5 IN OREGON) AND WAITED ON THE SIDE FOR A TOW. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS TO GET THE ENGINE ANALYZER ON IT, BUT IT SOUNDED HORRIBLE, THE VALVES WERE KNOCKING FIERCELY AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF OIL, WHICH I CHECK FREQUENTLY. THE GUY THAT CHECKED IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN ANSWER EXCEPT A RELAY SWITCH. WE REPLACED IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WANTED ABOUT $4500 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AND SOME SORT OF BOLT THAT THEY COULDN'T GET TO DOWN IN THE VALVE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANYTHING ON THIS CAR AND I AM AMAZED AND DISGUSTED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT THIS KIND OF ENGINE OUT TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NOW ABOUT THE 2.7 L ENGINE - WITH PEOPLE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. AND IT'S NOT JUST ONLINE - I HAVE A NEIGHBOR WITH ONE THAT HAS THE ALTERNATIVE ENGINE AND HE'S HEARD THE SAME THING. HIS CAR RUNS GREAT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE 2.7L....CHRYSLER…”

“I HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. 2.7L ENGINE. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND NOW THE ENGINE IS TICKING. I WAS DRIVING AND THEN THE CAR JUST CUT OFF. THE OIL DIP STICK WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE GEAR IN PARK, THEN DRIVE BUT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RESTARTED SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SMOKE WAS VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOOD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”

“I WAS JUST DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY. NO INDICATION WHAT SO EVER OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. COLD AIR STARTED TO RUN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS INSIDE THE CAR, THEN I HAD NO ACCELERATION. I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHITE GRAYISH COMING OUT THE REAR AND FRONT OF CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND FAILED A COMPRESSION TEST. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE BEFORE AND ALWAYS CHANGED THE APPROPRIATE FLUIDS. I BOUGHT A USED CAR AND MY INTREPID IS STILL SITTING BROKEN IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR”