Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving suddenly a puff of smoke came from the engine. When this occurred consumer pulled off the road, to let the engine cool down. Then , consumer drove slowly home. The next day vehicle was towed to the dealership, and dealership indicated that engine blew out. The consumer was told that this was a standard failure with these vehicle's engines. The engine's were redesigned in the newer model year vehicles. The consumer request reimbursement for the faulty engine.
. Hello. My wife and I own a 1998 Chrysler Intrepid. I say Chrysler instead of Dodge because it is canadian built and they are called chryslers. We had 73,000 miles on it when it suddenly failed on us. My wife was on the freeway heading to work. The oil light came on and she pulled over immediately. Well, the engine stopped before she could even come to a complete stop. We had it towed to a Chrysler dealership. They told us the engine had no oil and it seized up. Well, I know the engine had oil. We just had it changed 2 weeks prior. The car never burned oil. Nor was there ever any leaking evident underneath it. I have receipts to prove many of the oil changes. We had them done every 3 thousand miles. So I called the corporation. I was treated very rudely. …
Purchased 1998 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 in year 2001 and engine shut down in summer of 2002. Kept up with oil changes and had oil in it when it shut down. Replaced engine in May 2002 for $4,100. This year June 2004 the engine started knocking real loud with no warning in the middle of 95 in virginia and shutdown. Had to have the car pushed off 95 and had police assistance to have the car towed all the way back to maryland and was told I needed a new engine for the 2nd time.... Estimated cost $6.300 purchasing engine through jasper who has stated the engine has oil line issues and water pump issues. They have revamped and redesigned (so they say to make it a better engine) but the cost to have a 2nd engine is just crazy and I refuse to fix it again.... Something needs to be done about this engine problem...... …
In December a mechanic told me the oil was like sludge in the car, accusing me of not having it changed although I had it changed every 3,000 miles. He told me then about the engine failure with the 2.7 lilter. In March, my engine started tapping and the oil light started blinking. The engine idle was lower than normal and it would sound like it was going to stall while sitting at a traffic light. I checked the oil when the tapping started, and it was fine. That was a Thursday night. I drove the car to work (3.5 miles one way) and back on Friday. Saturday morning I was on my way to the garage 3 miles away from home to have the car checked out, and while trying to get there, the engine started to make a racket, the check engine light was flashing, and then the car died in the middle of the road. My husband had to push me out of the road with his car as the metro police stopped traffic. …
1999 I bought a 98 Dodge Intrepid. 2000, engine blown from oil sludge at 42,000. I was taking kids to school and car stopped with no warning on railroad tracks and had to be towed. Paid $500.00 deductibles at dealership and they replaced engine. Had proof of oil changes. 2002 broke down again. The timing chain broke and broke other parts. This cost $800.00. Also, I have replace all window motors at least once and twice again on two more. And relay switches. At this point because I paid $21,000 for this car also all the money in repairs. Too much invested to just let it go. I started using fully synthetic oil and changes oil every 1000 miles. This was also expensive. I had to try something to save this car. Well that didn't work either. 2005 the engine blew again, oil sludge. I has set at the garage until 12/06. …
Bought my 1998 Dodge Intrepid in November of 2004. I did a routine oil check every 3000 miles. The one time I don't get it changed at 3,000 miles with it only being over by 700 miles my engine blows. I've drove many cars and I didn't get the oil changed at exactly 3000 miles. I was driving with my two little girls. I came to a stop at a stop light and it the oil and check engine light comes on with my engine making a very loud noise and my car shaking. I managed to get it into a parking lot I sat there for an hour waiting for someone to help. Just to find out its a blown engine and its going to cost me over four thousand dollars to replace. My car has 117000 miles on it. I'm unable to afford to fix it and I have heard of many problems with the 2.6 l. Why is there nothing being done about them or a recall especially with as many people having problems with them. …
My wife was on a trip to arkansas with her parents when the camshaft sensor was replaced and had to stay in a motel due to the fact the parts house sent the wrong part. After getting the car fixed and on her way, father in law was driving when all of a sudden the 2.7 engine dropped a rod through the oil pan.. This engine has been maintained by me when it comes to oil changes and maintenance... 3000 miles or 3 months faithfully since I have had this car for 8 months now. Bought in October of 2003...the car has 79,000 miles on it and this should not have happened.. I havbe been told by a reputable mechanic in jackson, tennessee where the car is and he has told me that this will be the 5th 2.7 engine he has replaced in the last 6-7 months.. Now I am out of one vehicle and probably won't have the money to pay for the repair of replacing the engine with another 2.7 crap engine... …
I bought this car used with about 100,000 miles for $2,000. It's a beautiful car in and out for the price great condition! I've noticed that when I start if up to let if warm, it war extremely loud, but I didn't think it was a big deal since it's cold out and it needed to warm. Tonight I was driving on a busy highway when I stopped at a red light and when it went silent, and stalled in the middle of a !@#$% highway at a red light too. No lights came on to indicate a problem. I finally got it started after a few minutes of harassing drivers and got it to a parking lot when it stalled again right when I pulled in. Started it again and parked it. Checked the oil and it was bone dry. I bought and put plenty of oil in it let it run drove a little and it worked great. Drove home when it happened again. Its now sitting in town until I have it towed tomorrow. Nice car inside and out!!!! …
I purchased in November 2003 a 1998 Dodge Intrepid for my daughter. Within 18 months this car was in the shop 10 times for engine problems. Oil changes were followed according to the manufacturers schedule. At 94,000 miles my daughter was driving with her two small children when the cars engine stopped. Thank goodness it was in a parking lot and not on a busy highway. After several calls to different mechanics the consensus was that this is a typical problem due to a design flaw. Dodge/Chrysler will not replace this faulty engine. This is a safety issue, what if she had been driving on a busy highway and it stopped in the middle of the road before she could get off the highway. I dread to think of what May have happened. Finally I had to spend $3600 dollars for a replacement engine and am now being told it could happen again. …
I currently own a 1998 chrylser Intrepid which has 110,000 miles on it. In that amount of time I have had to replace the engine twice. The first time occured on 1/1/1999 with only 12000 miles on it. The dealership told me that the motor seized up due to thick oil. The oil had lots of metal shavings from inside the engine. They would not replace staing due to lack of maintainence. After that I faithfully made sure I had receipts on all engine maintenence items. In July of 2003 the engine did the same thing and another replacement was needed. I went directly to a non-dealership location to have the second engine put in because 1. The dealership where I bought it is not there. And 2. Because of the attitude and problems I had fighting the first time with Chrysler. This complaint is being filed to make others aware of the problems that I have had with this vehicle.
Engine complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 198 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Dodge Intrepid, 53% of the model year's 377 complaints. The component named most often is engine (111 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Dodge Intrepid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Intrepid engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 0 injuries and 5 deaths to engine & cooling 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.