1998 Dodge INTREPID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
340 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
84,679 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 183 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 111 of 340 complaints (32.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 39 | 11.5% |
| Engine operation | 37 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 37 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 111 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 52 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 20 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 111; Engine And Engine Cooling: 52; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 72 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 72; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (72). 157 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 25 |
| 2001 | 27 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 67 |
| 2004 | 78 |
| 2005 | 54 |
| 2006 | 30 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 25; 2001: 27; 2002: 34; 2003: 67; 2004: 78; 2005: 54; 2006: 30; 2007: 9; 2008: 9; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004447 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 1MPH, THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 23,397 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011297 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011379 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023428 · 2003-06-19 (June 19, 2003)
ENGINE ON A 1998 DODGE INTREPID WITH ONLY 64,000 MILES ON IT REQUIRES A NEW ONE. THE PISTON AND VALVES ARE SHOT. THE REQUIRED OIL AND FILTER CHANGES WERE PERFORMED TIMELY. I CANNOT FIX THIS BY MYSELF. THE COST IS 7,000.00. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT LIKE IT IS AND THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGER BECAUSE IF THE OIL ISN'T KEPT AT PROPER LEVELS IT COULD FREEZE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS NO INCIDENT YET BUT CAN BE IF LET THE WAY IT IS. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR THE WHOLE BILL. CHRYSLER IS NOT HELPING OR SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005578 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
STEERING RACK FAILED PREMATURELY
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018524 · 2003-05-11 (May 11, 2003)
I HAVE FOUND AN EXCELLENT AND INFORMATIVE WEBSITE AGAINST DAILMLER CHRYSLER AT WWW.DAIMLERCHRYSLERVEHICLEPROBLEMS.COM FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION MAINLY IN REGARD TO INTREPID, 300M, CONCORDE, LHS PREMATURE ENGINE, STEERING, TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMMON FAILURES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF AND DAILMER CHRYSLER SIMPLY DOES NOT CARE, I COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN KILLED IN ONE INSTANCE. AFTER OWNING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PUTTING NEARLY 30,000 MILES ON IT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THE RIDICULOUS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH CH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037436 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE OVERALL IS DEFECTIVE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. HAD TO REPLACE ROCKER ARMS AND ENGINE AT 51,000 MILES. HAVE SINCE REPLACED COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION, INTAKE MANIFOLD, COOLING SYSTEM, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NOW HAVE A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON AGAIN WITH CODES RELATING TO COOLING AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS VEHICLE IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL GO WRONG WITH IT NEXT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016963 · 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)
WE HAVE A DODGE INTREPID WITH THE 2.7 MOTOR BURNING OIL A QUART A WEEK SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000 WENT TO THE DEALER THEY SAY IT WAS A LEAK, LOW AND BEHOLD IT STILL BURNING THE OIL. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES THEY SAY ITS NORMAL IT HAD 78,000 WHEN WE GOT IT, NOW HAS OVER 103,000 STILL ADDING OIL WEEKLY, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FAN ASSEMBLY, THE THERMOSTAT ,ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOW TRACKS CAUSING THE WINDOWS NOT TO CLOSE PROPERLY,TENSION PULLEY HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO THE WATER PUMP, STARTER,(NOTE ALL DEALER PARTS SO IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036746 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT, MY CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A MILE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE POWER STEERING WENT AS WELL. DURING THIS SHORT DISTANCE, THE CAR WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING SOUND. WHEN CHECKED OUT, IT WAS FOUND THAT 5 OF THE 6 SETS OF ROD BEARINGS WERE SPUN AND ONE BEARING HAD BROKEN INTO PIECES AND HAD FALLEN INTO THE OIL PAN. MY 1998 INTREPID HAS 81,000 MILES AND I HAD NO WARN…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174056 · 2006-11-22 (November 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ON THE FIRST VISIT, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR ON THE SECOND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER BOTH REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174056 at NHTSA ↗