Problems · by component

2003 Dodge Intrepid engine and engine cooling problems

61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Intrepid cite engine and engine cooling, 58% of all 106 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
61
58% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“HAVE A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. HUSBAND DRIVING CAR HOME AND NO LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR MADE LOUD BANGING TYPE NOISES AND HE PULLED OVER. HAD CAR LOOKED AT - ENGINE FAILURE. THIS COULD'VE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT FIRST STARTED BANGING SO LOUDLY AND WE ALSO HAD A COOLANT PROBLEM THAT SUDDENLY THE HOSES POPPED AND ANTI FREEZE WAS LOST EVERYWHERE - IT SPEWED AGAINST THE HOOD AND WE PAID 600 FOR THAT , AND WAITING TO HEAR COST OF ENGINE NOW - MAD THAT CHRYSLER WON'T STICK BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES! - WILL PROBABLY COST OVER 2,000 TO FIX MY CAR AND IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH MY JOB /TRANSPORTATION! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10399266
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROADWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE MAIN BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10329679
“THE MOUNT FOR MY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MY 2003 DODGE INTREPID BROKE AND ALLOWED THE TENSIONER TO GIVE SLACK, THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT RIGHT PISTON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10328485
“THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF PERIODICALLY BEFORE RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPT OF 2009. RECALL STATES 'THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON YOUR VEHICLE MA BECOME DAMAGED FROM CONTINUED OPERATION IN "LIMP-IN" MODE FOLLOWING A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAULT.' NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE ' THE REPAIRS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE' ACCORDING TO A CHRYSLER REP. THE REP ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME AND THEY WILL SEND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. THE LICENSE PLATES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE EXPIRED. BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, I AM NOT ABLE TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10308841
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD SOUND UNDER THE HOOD AND SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 110,794.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10298782

Showing 6 of 61 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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