Most common 2001 Dodge Intrepid problems
Share of the 656 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 →
2001 Dodge Intrepid recalls (3)
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
On certain passenger vehicles, seat back recliner bolt breakage can occur resulting in the seat back reclining unexpectedly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the recliner bolts. Owner notification began on April 23, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Structure › Frame and members
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles (non-sunroof only) fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact."
Remedy: Owners will be sent a storage bin accessory unit that can be attached to the b-pillar along with installation instructions. However, if an owner wishes, the dealer can perform the installation.
Child seat
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Dodge Intrepid:
Throttle control failure
Based on the low failure rate, the absence of failures over the past year, the absence of injuries, and odi's field investigation of incident vehicles, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action if warranted…
What 2001 Dodge Intrepid owners say
Engine & cooling all 525 →
Dt: the consumer was driving at about 30-35 MPH when the engine shut down. When the consumer lifted the hood he could see smoke and a small fire coming from a piece of wire. The consumer was able to put out the fire with a towel. About a month before the check engine light came on, and the dealership said all they did was to turn the engine light off. After the engine had time to cool off he was able to drive vehicle home. This was on 8-7-05. On 8-8-05 took vehicle to the dealership and they told him that the water pump bursted. Also, they a told him that there was water and oil mixed in the engine. The dealer implied that the engine might have to be replaced. The consumer contacted the manufacturer, and they had him on hold while they talked to the dealership. She told him the same information that they did. …
Engine light turned on, vehicle failed to start and was towed to garage. Mechanic diagnosed problem as timing chain sensor wear, due to stretched timing chain related to well documented oil sludge problem in 2.7l v6 engine. After the sensor was replaced, drove the vehicle for two weeks and engine light reappeared. For approximately 18 months, vehicle was driven with engine light turning on and off on its own. At times, the vehicle was difficult to start, particularly in cold weather, but would resolve itself and start fine with the engine light turning off. After 18 months, the engine light remained lit all the time. It would stall in traffic and the oil light would appear. At this point, after reading thousands of others complaints on this vehicle/engine and understanding engine repair costs would eclipse the value, I decided the vehicle was unsafe to drive.
Steering all 37 →
I was wearing my seatbelt traveling 30 miles per hour in my 2001 Dodge Intrepid es. My right font tire somehow snapped while I was traveling in a straight course and did not hit any debris or potholes while on the road. I had no control of any steering while it happened and crashed into and oncoming car at 30mph as I said I had my seatbelt on and hit the right front side of the opposing vehicle. The result was a 4 inch gash in my forehead from the b bar of the vehicle because the seatbelt didn't properly restrain me even though it was adjusted to proper shoulder height and pulled tight around my waist. The air bags did not deploy in the car at all. As a result I suffered injuries resulting in the payment of $2900 to my local hospital and ambulance business. …
When driving down the road at night, the vehicle loses all function and power. When this occurs I have no power steering, lights, brakes, nothing. It flickers on and off like that multiple times. It took me 1 1/2 hours to drive home, which should have taken only half hour. This is a serious safety issue. I can't drive the vehicle now in fear that I will be in an accident. This appears to be an ongoing issue with Dodge vehicles. I can't drive my van in fear it will end up killing myself, my family, or some innocent person on the roadway. This needs to be addressed. A recall is needed to find this ongoing issue. There isn't a specific date but a constant issue.
Transmission & drivetrain all 32 →
Vehicle was parked in a driveway and it jumped out of gear and hit a tree. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, but dealer was unable to resolve the problem. The consumers 4 year old daughters hand grabbed the shifting lever while being moved from the front seat to the child seat in the back. The vehicle began to roll forward. The keys were still in the consumers hand. The consumer was thrown to the ground. * tc
I was driving my 2001 Dodge Intrepid I pulled in to shopping center put my foot on brake put my car in park my engine revved up as though it was going 50 miles an hr a loud noise my car took off by itself and hit the car in front of me please tell me what could have caused that.
2001 Dodge Intrepid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Dodge Intrepid a good car?
Based on 656 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Intrepid rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Intrepid at the same age. It is one of the Intrepid years we suggest avoiding. 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 2001 Dodge Intrepid?
The engine & cooling — 525 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the steering (37) and transmission & drivetrain (32).
How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Intrepid have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2001 Dodge Intrepid, the most recent from February 5, 2003 (recliner). 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 2001 Dodge Intrepid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 15% 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.