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 1996 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I just turned 18 and graduated high school got a job bought a so called good used Intrepid. It looked as though it was well maintained I paid over $3,300 for the car and taxes. I drove it for less than ten days and less than 200 miles. Now it will not shift out of first gear. I took it to the Dodge dealer where they said the transmission kickedout 4 differant internal codes. They said it had to be replaced. Then I found out about other people that has had problems with their Intrepid transmissions.if Dodge would have posted a letter of the problems they have had with the Intrepid transmissions I would have never bought a Dodge Intrepid! I like the car but the bank that I received the loan through said the car is not worth $5,700.00. That is how much that 1996 Dodge Intrepid will end up costing me. Not counting the loss of transportation to get to and from work.
Dt: the consumer states received NHTSA recall 04V021000/Chrysler recall c45 on 1996 Dodge Intrepid concerning floor shift. The consumer took the car into the dealership to have repairs done, and the dealer did not have the parts available. The dealer said that they would call the consumer when they came in. The consumer received 3 notices from Chrysler on this recall during this time. The owner said that he has called the dealer to see if the parts were there. It has been over 6 months and the parts were still not available. The consumer has not called the manufacturer. The consumer received the first notice in March 2005. And as of right now the consumer was stuck waiting on the parts.
When the consumer went into the dealership to make an appointment to have the floor shift ignition-park interlock recall 04V021000 repairs done dealership indicated that they will need 2 days to order the recall part, and they will call the consumer when the part arrived. Three weeks past, and the dealership never called the consumer. However, consumer called the dealership and was told that the order was cancelled without explaining why.
Under normal driving conditions, automatic in "drive" position shifts into 3rd gear causing high [300-400K] RPM and high fuel consumption. Condition can be corrected by stopping vehicle, turning switch off, waiting until signal lights have disappeared, then turning switch on again. This is also a safety hazard due to potential for rear-end collision while vehicle is in off.
The vehicle was parked outside and driver was inside. Another individual informed the driver that vehicle crashed into the building. Driver took vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the shifter needed to be replaced.
I parked my car with the floor shifter in the park position and my key would not come out. I tried several times to turn the wheel and I checked the floor shifter and everything seemed to be the way it should. I drove my car back home and the next day I took it to a local garage. The mechanic at the garage informed me that this was a recall and I should call a Chrysler dealer. I did that and took the car in for repair. I also had an unrelated issue with the battery at the same time which they repaired. When I arrived to pick my car up they informed me that they did not have the parts to fix the recall but I could still drive the car. If the key doesn't want to come out then just slam the shifter into park and the key should come right out. I can't believe the dealer told me to do that. It can't be good for the car. …
On June 1st, 2007, I, sharon s. Hatcher, went to tuffy auto service center to get my car inspected. They proceeded to inspect my vehicle when they hooked it up to the computer to pass onboard diagnostic ii [OBD ii] language...my vehicle was rejected because the powertrain control module needs to be reprogrammed! Well, I drove this car all day yesterday and last night and I took it to 2 other places and the same thing showed up like at tuffy auto service center!! I took it to steve white motors [Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealership] and their serviceman said to drive it around for 20-30 miles at a constant speed of 45-55mph. Well, I did that and I took at back to tuffy's auto service center and the same bullentin popped up again as like at the other places. So the complait that I am filing is on a 1996 Dodge Intrepid. …
I bought this car less than two weeks ago, I have not even put two thousand miles on the car and the transmission has quit working in third and fourth gear. The motor has begun to use oil and is knocking. While driving,the car loses power and even dies. It also,while idling,begins to revs the engine to an unsafe level and you must shut the car off. I contacted the dealer I bought the car from, greene county auto auction & sales - 6319 hwy. 49 south paragould, ar 72450. The salesman I bought the car from didn't want to take the car back and was extremaly rude when I suggested that he try to work with me on getting the car fixed or trading it in. As I said I have had the car but a short time and all these problems are occuring. He assured me that the car was in good condition and that he had, had it serviced and checked out and there was nothing wrong with it.
This car was brought over from Canada and then sold to us by auto nation. When we went to register the car with the sales contract which states the make of the car as a Dodge we had some problems because it is a crysler. Now we have a problem where the odometer is only tracking .6 for every mile traveled. We are not sure how long this has been a problem. This is not something that you would normaly think to check. How ever, this would indicate a problem of how many actual miles are on this car. We are speaking with auto nation and they seem to think that this is not there problem. I feel that this is fraud on there part. When this car was brought from Canada some one did not adjust the odometer correctly. I would like to see some action on this. Thank you for your time. Traci sutton.
I had almost constant problems I.e. Mechanical,equipment and fought a neverending battle with the dealership/warranty dept. And lost work/jobs ultimately leading to having no money to all my monthly bills or to get the car repaired, I had to voluntarily give up to reposession to the lender, and just recently over a year later I am recieving notices of traffic violations on this vehicle.caus. No safety defec tstated.
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 1996 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, 9% of the model year's 505 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 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 1996 Dodge Intrepid transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires 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.