Most common 2002 Dodge Intrepid problems
Share of the 329 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 →
2002 Dodge Intrepid recalls (1)
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 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 2002 Dodge Intrepid owners say
Engine & cooling all 212 →
An oil plug front left of engine block blew out pumping oil onto catalytic converter. Open flames melted wheel well, back bumper, and fuel hoses off of gas tank. Fire went out went all the oil was pumped out of engine and car stopped moving. I contacted Chrysler safety, they referred me to Dodge customer care; they initially created a case #31892226 but then sent a letter saying they were not responsible because the car was out of a three-year warranty period and also unspecified environmental factors. Although my wife and son were almost immolated, it wasn't important enough for them to check into. The car remains parked at a local garage awaiting investigation.
I was driving down hwy i75 south bound coming home from work in the middle of rush hr traffic. My car was at 70 MPH and was doing great, then it just stopped running with no warning, didn't get hot, nothing just done in one minute, mechanics said I needed a complete rebuild. Crank - cam - oil pump showed scars and metal fragments. Costs of 3500 in parts and machine time, 600 in labor. We couldn't get over fast enough to get off the rd and was able to stop traffic and then push it off to the side, later when picking up the car with a tow dolly was hit by a car, side swiping my other vehicle and leaving me an additional 3000 in repairs.
Transmission & drivetrain all 60 →
An oil plug front left of engine block blew out pumping oil onto catalytic converter. Open flames melted wheel well, back bumper, and fuel hoses off of gas tank. Fire went out went all the oil was pumped out of engine and car stopped moving. I contacted Chrysler safety, they referred me to Dodge customer care; they initially created a case #31892226 but then sent a letter saying they were not responsible because the car was out of a three-year warranty period and also unspecified environmental factors. Although my wife and son were almost immolated, it wasn't important enough for them to check into. The car remains parked at a local garage awaiting investigation.
Consumer complained about automatic transmission gear position indicated (PRNDL) problem. While vehicle is parked, the consumer's child can move the gear shift without the key being in the ignition. The vehicle was in the drive way and the consumer's son inadvertently was able to push gear shift in to neutral, this resulted in a collision off of a rock retaining wall. The child was slightly shaken up inside the vehicle. The manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem.
Brakes
Problems brake rotors and odometer on 2002 Dodge Intrepid es. The vehicle made an unusual noise and then shut down. The dealer indicated that the start-up alarm system needed to be regulated. The dealer made the repairs but the problem continued. A few days later the noises continued, the odometer stopped and the vehicle didn't indicate what gear it was in. The vehicle was taken to another dealer who corrected the problem. The consumer later learned that the vehicle needed new rotors and brake pads on all four wheels. The vehicle was returned to the sales dealer who was no longer in business. After contacting Chrysler, she was told there was nothing they could do. The consumer doesn't think the rotors should have failed within four months or ownership.
While wife was driving car to store on 2 June 2006, Intrepid engine shuttered and check engine light illuminated. Shuttering stopped and engine runs smooth but light is still illuminated. Mar 2006 engine oil change was accomplished along with a engine flush by ed's tire service, fayetteville, north carolina. July 2005 car failed inspection because of a bad battery, which was difficult to replace. Between 2002-2004 front rotors have been replaced twice, once by the Dodge dealership for $150.00 then once by me for $60.00. This sludge buildup problem that Dodge refuses to fix is becoming stupid! They are making the money off of us, they to at least own up to their design flaw and fix the problem. Does anyone know how to get sludge out of the engine other than tearing it down?
2002 Dodge Intrepid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Intrepid a good car?
Based on 329 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Intrepid rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Intrepid at the same age. It is one of the best Intrepid years by this measure. 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 2002 Dodge Intrepid?
The engine & cooling — 212 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (60) and brakes (16).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Intrepid have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 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 2002 Dodge Intrepid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 74,000 miles; 24% 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.