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 2000 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2000 Intrepid with 29000 on it and the engine has blown on it (premature engine failure) and it is still under warranty and daimler Chrysler has refused to pay costs related to this because I don't have all my receipts for oil changes. It is a 2.7 l engine and they are aware of engine sludge problems with this engine and they will not pay any costs toward a repair bill which they have quoted at $8000.00. Initially the engine caught on fire and they made my insurance company pay for the repairs and then 30 miles later the engine was blown and they say because my husband did the oil changes and we don't have all the receipts for oil purchases they will not pay the bill. …
I drive a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. My car has 80,000 miles on it and has always been in good condition. I have a maintenance track record proving that I keep my oil changes and tuneups, etc up to date. On December 20th my car was hit and the persons at faults insurance company (progressive) agreed to fix it. On January 9th I was told that my car was repaired and ready for pickup. As I was driving home my car made this loud sound so I immediately called progressive to have them tow it because I didnt feel safe driving it and it never done anything like that before. Progressive took it to champion Chrysler to assess it I was told that my cars engine locked up while being tested by champion Chrysler. So this means that progressive had my car in their pocession for over a month and now my engines locked up and stuck at champion. …
I have a defective 2.7 l engine in my car. I had just pulled into a driveway when it quit. The timing chain guides broke, and there was so much sludge in the engine it looked like the oil had never been changed. I have always had my oil changed every 3000 miles. I had the engine steamed 7 months prior to this incident for sludge buildup. I also spent around 2000.00 having every single sensor replaced, as well as all of the hoses in the engine and transmission. I had to have the steering line fixed less than 2 months after I purchased the vehicle. I had no idea that there were so many people with the same engine problems as I have had out of this car. …
Approximately 15 months after purchasing our used Intrepid, the engine locked up. Up to that point it was almost perfect, other than the crazy noise that came from the window mechanism. While driving to work about 4 am the car just quit. I lost power steering and brakes when it went. I was able to avoid the other vehicles on the road and made it to the side of the road and hit a road sign, which damaged the hood of my car. I went to get an opinion and an estimate, I was told this was a common thing happening with the 2.7l engines in the Intrepid and I needed a new engine! $5,500.00, not my idea of possible. It is still sitting in my driveway an eyesore and a financial burden. I maintain the payments and the insurance on the car although I can't drive it, and like most of the other people affected by this mess, I had to get another vehicle to replace it. …
On February 14, 2006 my husband was coming home when the car quit. He let it cool off and then proceeded to drive home. The next day he was going to work and when he pulled into his employers parking lot he noticed his car was on fire. He put it out right away. We called a tow truck to have it towed to the Dodge dealership. We were informed that the water pump went out and needed to be replaced. They also replaced the timing chain and other parts. In May we were going to a graduation in wyoming when our car broke down on interstate. Again we had to have it towed to a dealership where we were informed we needed a new engine at the cost of $6000.00. We do not have that kind of money to fix the car. We are now renting a car until we can decide what to do with the car. We would like to get information on what Dodge is doing to help other customers who have had this same problem.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway for 2 hours it caught on fire. The fire started in the engine compartment spreading thought out the entire vehicle. There was a fire report filed at the scene. There were no prior problems with the vehicle. The dealer was alerted and determined an inspector would need to inspect the vehicle. A letter received from the manufacturer stating there was no need for an inspection. Updated 7/11/2006 - the consumer contacted the manufacturer and was told not to contact their office again as the fire was not their problem. Per the crd chief used the most current incident date (internet voq request).
Tl contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving between 65-70 MPH, the contact's son noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. He attempted to pull over, but the brakes malfunctioned and would not stop properly. The contact was forced to coast to a stop. He exited the vehicle and notified the police. Flames began to appear from under the engine and hood. The police and fire departments arrived, stabilized the fire, and towed the vehicle. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to their salvage yard to investigate. The contact has still not heard back from the insurance company. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 130,400.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving between 68-69 MPH with the cruise control activated, the temperature gauge went high and the oil warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed a small fire under the hood. The fuse box and several wires were melted. The contact extinguished the flames. The police and fire departments arrived at the scene and both filed reports. It was unknown if the vehicle was destroyed at that time. There were no injuries. The current and failure mileages were 114,000. Updated 07/17/09 updated 07/20/09.
Consumer stated that 2.7 liter engine caught on fire. Consumer was driving and noticed the smoke under the engine. Consumer opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. There was evidence of motor oil all over the engine. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who insisted after an inspection that vehicle was fine. However, the vehicle had serious engine problems. Consumer's insurance company refused to assist stating that this problem was the manufacturer's fault. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, and was told that warranty expired. This vehicle had only 53,000 miles, and became totally useless.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Dodge Intrepid. While driving 60 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. He depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. He was forced to coast to a stop. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed flames underneath the hood and the undercarriage of the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the contact noticed that the vehicle overheated occasionally. The fire department arrived to extinguish the fire and the vehicle was towed to a storage area. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. Updated 09/15/08 updated 09/18/08.
Engine complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 785 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Dodge Intrepid, 74% of the model year's 1,065 complaints. The component named most often is engine (438 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Dodge Intrepid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Dodge Intrepid, though it has 7 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 2000 Dodge Intrepid engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 15 fires and 4 injuries 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.