Most common 1996 Dodge Intrepid problems
Share of the 505 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Intrepid complaints by model year
Best Intrepid years: 2003, 2004, 2002. Years to avoid: 2000, 1999, 2001, 1995. Compare all years →
1996 Dodge Intrepid recalls (2)
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with 3.5l engines. The fuel injection delivery system can leak fuel from some of the sealing o-rings or from hair line cracks in the thermoset fuel injection rail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel rail o-rings and reinforce the outlet (passenger) side fuel rail. Vehicles showing fuel leakage on the outlet fuel rail must have the outlet rail replaced which includes changing the upper…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1996 Dodge Intrepid:
Fuel injection delivery system fuel leak
Steering system rack and pinion
Since opening the preliminary evaluation (pe), odi has received 6 additional complaints.during the pe it was determined multiple failure modes are involved in this matter.the warranty claim rate is high for a steering system concern.the issues reported involve premature wear out at the rack and pinion interface with the inner tie rod end(s), binding and sticking of the steering gear, cracked or broken tie rod ends,…
Steering system rack and pinion
There is no summary currently available
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…
Fuel rail, brake fluid, chassis
On September 5, 2004, mr. Robert galenty of iselin, nj, petitioned the agency to conduct defect investigations of certain model year (my) 1993-1997 vehicles produced by daimlerchrysler corporation.his petition identified three issues of concern: 1) fuel leaking from the fuel injector rails; 2) brake fluid contamination resulting in brake failure; and 3) susceptibility of the vehicle frame to damage while the vehicle…
What 1996 Dodge Intrepid owners say
Steering all 152 →
My son was traveling to work on August 10 2005. He was driving a 1996 Dodge Intrepid. He was turning a corner when his steering control was suddendly and completely lost. His car went over a curb at an elementary school before he was able to stop. No one was hurt. Inspection of the car showed that 2 bolts that connect the tie rods to the rack and pinion steering were completely severed. A picture here is worth 1000 words. If you go to this site : http://www.allpar.com/fix/Intrepid-steering.html you will see a clear picture of 2 center bolts that connect the inner tie rods to the rack and pinion steeing. These were the 2 bolts that suddenly broke leaving the car with no steering control. If that had happened a week earlier when I was traveling with my son on a super highway I am quite sure that several people would be going to the hospital or worse. …
Repeated overheating problems resulted in replacing my radiator two times, thermostat three times and thermostat w/ breather housing two times. Cooling system includes external metal pipes which help circulate coolant to heater. The pipes are hidden from clear view and when mine sprung leaks due to their placement the leaks were diagnosed as being blown head/head gasket by three separate shops. Replacement of pipes solved overheating. Moisture gets trapped in and around the frame and subframe areas where the motor and transmission mounts are located and allows for unnecessary premature deterioration of all the mounts, bushings, main frame and subframe. This hidden condition has resulted in all mounts needing replacement, transmission dropping, front inner&outer tie rods and bushings going out, rack n pinion problems and the subframe collapsing. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 87 →
On 3/16/06 the engine in my 1996 Dodge Intrepid caught on fire out of the blue. This car only had 60,000-70,000 miles on it. An investigator for Chrysler corp. Looked at the car and filed a report with Chrysler corp. Apparently there was a recall in 1998 having to do with fuel leaking from the fuel injection rail or o-rings which I was never aware of. Chrysler denied my claim and stated that they had sent me a notice in feb. 1999 at my current residence, although we did not even close on my house until May 1999. I never received a notice, and this fire was a result of a fuel leakage. When I called the customer claims resolution dept. And explained that I never knew about the recall etc. I was told that once Chrysler makes a decision to deny a claim there can no rebuttal, and that I would need to contact a lawyer if I wanted to go any further in resolving this. …
I had a 1996 Dodge Intrepid purchased in 3/04 from original owner. On /1/99 he had the fuel rail recall performed at palmer Dodge. In February 25 2005 I smelled gas from the engine compartment. I took the car to shadeland Dodge on 2/18/05 and they said the fuel rail and o-rings needed to be replace again and did so under the recall. On 4/21/05 I smelled gas again and was on my way to shadeland Dodge, when I had to stop at a stop light. The car then caught on fire under the front hood. The car was not repairable.
Engine & cooling all 83 →
Repeated overheating problems resulted in replacing my radiator two times, thermostat three times and thermostat w/ breather housing two times. Cooling system includes external metal pipes which help circulate coolant to heater. The pipes are hidden from clear view and when mine sprung leaks due to their placement the leaks were diagnosed as being blown head/head gasket by three separate shops. Replacement of pipes solved overheating. Moisture gets trapped in and around the frame and subframe areas where the motor and transmission mounts are located and allows for unnecessary premature deterioration of all the mounts, bushings, main frame and subframe. This hidden condition has resulted in all mounts needing replacement, transmission dropping, front inner&outer tie rods and bushings going out, rack n pinion problems and the subframe collapsing. …
Purchased 1996 Dodge Intrepid in May 2005. Following week had to take car back to dealer re: brakes, to no avail. A mechanic stated brakes will need to be replaced. Was advised that tires were not in such great condition either. Kept hearing strange sounds (rattling noises) from the car. In August, smoke started coming from under the hood. Car would not steer at all. Had to take car to mechanic, who told us fan belt had come off while driving. Power steering pump had to be replaced and power steering line. He also advised that rack and pinion would need to be replaced. Finally, on August 26th, was getting in car to drive and did not get very far, when the car came to a sudden stop and made a loud noise. Got out of the car and found two bolts on the ground. Please help !!! Distressed. Do we have any recourse here? Have receipts, but do not have old parts.
1996 Dodge Intrepid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Dodge Intrepid a good car?
Based on 505 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Intrepid rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Intrepid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?
The steering — 152 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rack and pinion. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (87) and engine & cooling (83).
How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Intrepid have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, the most recent from January 13, 2004 (floor shift). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Intrepid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2004 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1999, 2001 and 1995. See the full Dodge Intrepid years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Intrepid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.