Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dodge transmission on intrepids, caravans, and neons have a history of failing and needing to be replaced or rebuilt. My vehicle only has 55800 miles on it all original. Even though the car is 15 years old it has always been maintained since it was purchased from the dealer brand new in 1995. I believe that if Dodge is not held responsible for the problems then someone can seriously get injured from them. Whether it be from the transmission failing on the highway and causing accidents or something breaking while just driving and causing serious injury.
Three year old child shifted the car from park without keys in the ignition, without braking, and without pressing release button on gear shift. The car began rolling down a slight hill with a two year old girl hanging from the car near the front tire. Mother running to the car, was run over by the rolling car while trying to protect her children. Car crashed into a fire hydrant halting run away vehicle. After the incident was over, owners confirmed that car shifts from park with the slightest touch of the gear shift (without depressing button).
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Dodge Intrepid. The contact stated that the key would become stuck in the ignition sporadically and the contact would have to abruptly shift into park. The contact stated that the failure did not occur until having repairs to the vehicle under NHTSA recall campaign id number: 04V021000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shifter). The manufacturer stated that the repair had already been done and could not be corrected. The failure mileage was 143,600.
Dt: the caller had recall 2c45182 work done on August 17, 2005. Two days later while driving the vehicle it shifted itself into reverse and stalled in traffic. Dealer said she will have to pay to have it towed and repaired. Dealer said they wont even look at it until she paid.. She said she had no trouble before the recall work was done. Manufacturer said to take it back to the dealer.
04V021000/floor shift ignition park interlock. The consumer took the vehicle into the dealer to have the service work done. Two weeks later the original problem described in the recall recurred. The gears did not change properly and after repair there was stilla delay when the gears were changed and the motor was weak and the vehicle was not driveable.
The rear seat of my car was smoldering and giving off a lot of smoke and fumes with the exhaust problem. I was very alarmed since the back seat is very close to the gas tank. On the transmission and air conditioner both systems have had to be replced 3 or 4 times and usually about every 50K.
I was driving along with my family, in medium traffic flow, when all of a sudden without warning, the transmission dropped into 2nd gear, and would not shift out of 2nd gear. Scc ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****770802****
There were 3 problems relating to automatic transmission; 1) while stopping at an intersection and then proceding to cross, the car wouldn't go forward. The transmission line had come off and all the transmission fluid had sprayed across the driver's side of the car. The transmission line was fixed at a Dodge dealership. 2) two weeks later, while driving 65mph on a highway, the car started to shake and the engine was racing out of control. The transmission kept surging in and out of gear and we pulled the car off the shoulder right before the car wouldn't shift at all. Again the transmission line had come off and all the transmission fluid had spilled out. We had another Dodge dealership install a new transmission line. 3) a week later, the transmission would not shift into reverse unless the car was shifted into drive then back to reverse several times. …
I bought this car in 1995.......it has been in the garage for major repairs so many times I can't count them...but I do have documentation....I called the nys lemon law number but was 2 weeks past the statute of limitations...they told me to get a lawyer......since the statute has run out....fox Chrysler has had the car for at least 3 weeks in the last year & has given me a rental car (under my extended warranty) ...I feel forced to sell this car because the warranty will run out May 31, 2001....it has had the transmission rebuilt, the A/C replaced, the rotors were replaced at 13982 miles & the replacements are bad again....they were just turned at 30000 miles...the turn signals, door locks, headlamps (had moisture in them), airbag cover on passenger side was raised & curled from day 1...the tie rods were replaced in 1999 at my cost because fox said that they were not covered under my …
While switching lanes lost control of steering momentarily. Consumer had to use force to get vehicle under control. Took vehicle to two mechanics, and they said that rack and pinion steering had manufacturing design flaw. 2 independent mechanics stated that the bushings on the steering rack were worn and needed to be replaced, also stated that there was too much play or movement in the entire steering mechanism, however replacement of the bushings would not fix the problem since the play or movement in the steering box will continue to causing wear on the bushing, this problem occurs whenever stopping and turning in or out of a driveway, parking lot, etc, or accelerating after a stop, consumer can hear sounds and it feels like something is kicked out or slips from under vehicle's front end, consumer has complained to dealer on 4 occasions. …
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock May fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock May also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on June 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports cannot be determined due to missing or incomplete information.the fatality incident involved an…
Transmission complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1995 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 142 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1995 Dodge Intrepid, 24% of the model year's 589 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (107 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Dodge Intrepid transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Dodge Intrepid transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 114,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.