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 2004 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We are writing to let you know of a major car fire that occurred in our Dodge Intrepid. The driver was driving on the interstate. The hot/cold needle began moving up and down. Then the brakes gave out. Then, the power steering gave out. The car started smoking producing black chemical smoke into the cabin. Then, fire started shooting out of the vents. With no brakes and fire and smoke into the car, the driver was forced to jump out of the vehicle and roll onto the middle of the interstate with the car still going 30-40 MPH. The driver was in extreme danger inside the car and obviously laying on the interstate as well. The car ended up in the ditch while completely engulfed in flames. He was able to get onto the shoulder of the road. The fire department arrived to put out the fire. They determined the fire started inside the area of the heating core. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Intrepid. The contact stated while her fianc was driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Oil light and check engine light are coming on. Took it to a mechanic to get it inspected he said it is loosing oil pressure due to oil pump failure there is no way to tell when or if the engine will seize up, but that it could be while driving on the interstate. Some research showed that this is a major issue with the 2.7l v6 in the Dodge Intrepid. This is a major safety issue.
My 2004 Dodge Intrepid was in an accident. Over 5 miles per hour front end damage. Air bags did not deploy. When car insurance looked at car said motor seized at the scene of accident but not from accident. Terrible car,terrible auto insurance. Now paying for a car that is sitting at a garage.
My car temperature gauge showed it over heating, I pull hood to let air in as I was driving to work, the cooling system never kicked in, and 10 mins later as I pulled into work my car blew up while sitting inside.
Less than 54000 miles on it, I am the second owner; the first owner was a route salesman and had put 24K highway miles on it. I do my own oil changes and was told point blank that I would not be able to prove they were done unless I had commercial receipts. The first time the oil light came on was late November, since then it has been driven very carefully back and forth to the shop 2 times. I do not have the money to do a 1200.00 motor flush recommended, nor do I have the money to pay for a motor if needed. The past month and a half it has been a very expensive driveway ornament, I did not even get a full year?s use out of it, bought it in March of 2004 and problems starting in November 2004. I will not continue to drive it, it would be irresponsible to do that when the information on the net is so specific on the problems. …
1st incident on July 9th, 2005. Was driving on interstate i40 approximately 65 MPH, all of a sudden the "check engine light" came on and the engine turned off. I managed to pull across three lanes onto the emergency lane! I waited for apprx. 10 minutes before I tried to crank up the car. I parked the car for that day. The next day when I checked the car, the engine light was no longer on! Exactly one week later the same thing happen, again on a very busy hwy! I took the car to have the oil changed again and all other fluids checked. The engine light stayed on for that day and the next morning it was off! Two days ago it happened again, this time I was not able to pull out of traffic!!!!fortunately we did not get hit by other vehicles. This morning I was standing at a traffic light when the car all of a sudden turned off "again", this time I had a hard time getting it cranked up. …
I own a 2004 Dodge Intrepid which I have had for 2 years. I was driving to work a week ago when I looked down my oil light was on. Then after that my car completely died. I tried to jump it, but it wouldn't go. It was also -1 outside. I then had my car towed to a place to have them look at it. They called me back and told me that my engine was completely shot. They told me I had to replace it. Something to do with lack of lubrication inside the engine. Nothing to do with me. I had oil in the engine. The reason for my complaint is that when I called to get some help from someone they had told me they couldn't help me due to the fact I didn't bring it to where they told me to. I still owe 9,000 and now I have to take out another loan to cover the cost of the engine which is 5,300. I only had 105,000 miles on the car. …
I am still paying for 2004 Dodge Intrepid inwhich the motor just suddenly locked up on.my Intrepid is still under warranty and was told by dailmerchyrsler that it had to be taken to my local dealer,which it was by tow truck.after many weeks talking with the tech. At the dealer ship I was told that dailmerchyrsler was not going to honor the warranty.I had tried for two weeks to get a hold of the district manager that May this call but no one will give me his name or contact number.chyrsler customer service was rude and told me to go thru the dealership for handling this matter because they go thru the district manager.my car ran fine until that one night on my way home and it made a sudden light ticking sound and no warning lights was on and all the sudden about 3 minutes later my engine locks up leaving me in the middle of the road.the tech. …
I purchased a 2004 Dodge Intrepid in 2006 I brought the car at 71,000 miles the car has 102,000 miles on it that's 15,000 per year . I never really drove the car long distances except to go to work. I just recently had a problem on November 24, 2008 the car cut off on the highway on me took it to the Dodge dealership they said the battery was weak. On jan 17 the car cut on me in the middle of the street took it to the shop they said the car was over heating and I needed a thermostat. After I got it out on March 15, the car cut off on me again on the highway I pushed it off the ramp to safety called Dodge roadside assistance for help they denied me help stating my warranty expired so I used my last 70 dollars to pay for tow also had to get it towed again to the nearest Dodge dealer because the gas station said that my motor went. …
Engine complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2004 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 91 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2004 Dodge Intrepid, 71% of the model year's 129 complaints. The component named most often is engine (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Dodge Intrepid engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2004 Dodge Intrepid. 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 2004 Dodge Intrepid engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 1 injury 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.