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 2001 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle would sporadically decelerate while the contact's foot was still depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was losing power. Speed was not a factor during the failure. On one occasion, while driving, the vehicle lost power. He pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the engine was engulfed in smoke and brown sludge. The vehicle has been serviced for routine maintenance. He took the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the engine needed to be replaced at approximately $4,500. The technician also stated that this particular year, make, and model vehicle has common engine failures. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 100,049.
I was approx. 10 miles out of town when I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I pulled off the road and proceeded to open hood where I found flames coming from the engine. Fire was extinguished when hood was closed. I believe that the oil that was coming from the engine was what was burning. There was oil down the side of the car from front fender well to the back bumper and puddle along the side of the car. The car was towed to our local Dodge dealership. We were told that the coolant was evaporating inside the engine, and it was not cooling the engine. There was no warning from any gauges that the oil pressure was low or that the car was overheating. We were told that the engine would have to be replaced and that a rebuilt engine from Chrysler was $4700 and that was without labor.
Dt*: the contact stated upon merging into traffic at 40 MPH on the freeway, there was a loud bang followed by flames erupting from underneath the hood. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road. A bystander alerted the fire department who extinguished the flames. There were no injuries sustained. There was moderate fire damage to the engine compartment area. The police were not alerted. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, who was unable to determine the cause of fire. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, who determined the fire originated from the engine and engine oil. The manufacturer was alerted.
My engine began ticking, I pulled over popped the hood and smoke rolled out, I checked the fluid levels and tried to restart the car, it wouldn't start, I waited a few minutes tried starting it again and it worked, I drove 3 miles home and the engine died as I turned down my street, once again the engine was smoking so I popped the hood and flames shot up, I put the flames out and the car has been sitting in my driveway since. I have done nothing to repair it since apparently it's a design of Dodge and Chrysler's 2.7 v6 according to many other owners.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. While driving 74 MPH with the cruise control feature activated, smoke appeared out of the back of the tail pipe. The contact pulled off the road, opened the hood, and found the oil dipstick to be dark brown in color. The dealer stated that the engine was blown and needed to be replaced. The vehicle is currently under an extended warranty; however, the manufacturer stated that there was no guarantee that it would be used for this sort of failure. The failure and current mileages were 84,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. While at a red light, the engine failed. The vehicle was very difficult to restart. The dealer stated that there were three faulty coils and three faulty spark plugs. The contact believes the valve train is faulty. The check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel and bluish-gray smoke appeared from the tail pipe, which was an indication of engine failure. In addition, the fuel consumption increased. The current and failure mileages were 88,600.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. While driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a very loud clicking noise coming from the engine compartment. Shortly afterwards, the motor stopped running and white smoke appeared from the exhaust. The vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. A mechanic advised him to replace the entire motor. The vehicle is still at the contact's home and has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 110,000.
Dt*: the contact stated that the check engine light illuminated and smoke came from under the hood while driving 70mph on the highway. The contact pulled over and checked under the hood where flames were now present within the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the contact using a bottle of water. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not alerted.
Engine complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2001 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 525 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2001 Dodge Intrepid, 80% of the model year's 656 complaints. The component named most often is engine (301 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Intrepid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2001 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 2001 Dodge Intrepid engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 17 fires and 3 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.