Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Dodge Intrepid problems

Owners filed 106 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Intrepid with NHTSA between May 2003 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (61).

Complaints
106
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling61
  2. Power train20
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  4. Electrical system7
  5. Air bags6
  6. Steering6
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Engine3
  9. Suspension3
  10. Service brakes2
  11. Latches/locks/linkages2
  12. Structure2
  13. Equipment2
  14. Wheels1

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
20036
200414
200517
200610
200716
200814
20098
20108
20115
20121
20131
20143
20150
20161
20170
20180
20190
20200
20211
20220
20230
20241

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

61 reports4 fires
“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY MADE A LOUD CLANKING BANGING SOUND. IT STALLED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER THE SOUNDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A FAMILIAR OCCURRENCE WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE, THE 2.7L V6. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10445980

Power train

20 reports
“THE CAR HAS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS LIKE ALL THE 03 2.7 L ENG SE. CONNECTING RODS IS FALLING OUT, AND ETC. THE CAR IS UNBALANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TODAY TO FIND WHY THE OLI LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN THE VEHICLE THERMOSTAT RISES. TURN OUT THE ENGINE ISN'T ALLOWING THE OIL TO REACH THE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE AND THAT IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND MAKE NOISES ON STARTUP. AND ALSO WHEN YOU REVERSE YOU HEARTHE CAR MAKE A BAD KNOCK SOUND AND FEEL THE VIBRATION. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 86000 MILES AND THE MECHANICS COULD ONLY SHAKE THEIR HEADS. THIS CAR SHOULD BE IN BETTER CONDITION THEN THIS. ANYWAYS, THE COST FOR NEW ENGINE WITH WARRANTY IS OVER $6000. AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING! NOW WHO HAS THAT TYPE OF MONEY AND WHY DIDN'T DODGE RECALL THIS PROBLEM ON THE 03 DODGE INTREPID??? ALL I WANT IS THE ENGINE REPLACE AND DODGE COULD DO THAT AT ANY OF THEIR COMPANIES OR AUTO LOTS. I'M A SIMPLE PERSON. I JUST WANT TO WORK AND BE AT PEACE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2016Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 10909442

Service brakes, hydraulic

11 reports1 crash3 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY STOPPED. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2007Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10198824

Electrical system

7 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN UNKNOWN LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED AND REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE TO OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 149,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2010Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10344085

Air bags

6 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER BOTH SUFFERED HEADACHES AND THE CONTACT ALSO SUFFERED AN UPPER BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,874. THE CONSUMER STATED ON JUNE 13, 2014, IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JERKED SUDDENLY AND ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. SHE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 09/03/14”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2014Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10598649

Steering

6 reports
“AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARKING JOB AGAIN, WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE WHEELS. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED WITH EASE IN MY HAND, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT BUDGE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOW I HAVE NO STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I'M IN A SMALL TOWN AND THE NEAREST DEALER IS 45 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK HAD "POPPED OUT." NOT SURE IF THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS BOTH BOLTS POPPED OUT OR IF IT WAS THE RESULT OF A POOR MECHANICAL REPAIR AT THE LAST SHOP, BUT AFTER READING MANY REVIEWS ON THE CAR, IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED "IN MY 25+ YEARS OF MECHANICAL WORK, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING THE DRIVER DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED." *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2013Steering, SuspensionODI 10499782
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.