2002 DODGE INTREPID Electrical System Problems

WAS DRIVING SMELLED HOT WHEN GOT HOME 3 MILES LATTER OPENED HOOD COOLING FAN WAS SMOKING THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE

Mileage: 227,000

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER TURNING OFF CAR, SWITCH SLIPS INTO ACCESSORY POSITION AND DRAINS BATTERY. CAR DOES NOT START WHEN I RETURN TO THE CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE. I NEED TO PAY FOR A JUMP OR NEW BATTERY, OR TOW TO MY MECHANIC. THEN I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH LASTED UNTIL 2011. THE AFTER MARKET IGNITION SWITCHES FAIL WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR. SOMETIMES WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. SINCE JAN. 2011, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ON 1/10/11 COST $147.50, 2/16/2012, COST $220.39, ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY, COST $588.28 (MECHANIC THOUGHT IT COULDN'T BE THE SWITCH AGAIN), STARTER ASSEMBLY AGAIN 2/21/14, COST $384.23; RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE RADIO SINCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT 3/14/2014, COST $45:IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN ON 8/01/14, COST $110.56. ALSO THIS CAR KEEPS HAVING THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHTS FAIL. THEY TELL ME THIS IS ALL PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT WHICH THEY GUESS IS CAUSING ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. BUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL I MADE THE FIRST REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH. I BELIEVE THAT THE AFTERMARKET WAS FULL OF FAULTY GM IGNITION SWITCHES AND THERE WAS NO WAY FOR MY MECHANIC TO TELL IF WE WERE GETTING BAD GM DESIGNED SWITCHES. LUCKILY FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS MY CAR DIDN'T FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. BUT HAVING 95 YEAR OLD PASSENGERS, ON HOT FLORIDA DAYS, GET INTO A CAR THAT WON'T START, CANNOT BE COOLED DOWN, CANNOT EVEN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS SINCE THEY ARE ELECTRIC , THESE CONDITIONS COULD HAVE KILLED MY ELDERLY FRAGILE PASSENGERS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY OF INSURING THAT ALL THOSE BAD SWITCHES ARE REMOVED FROM THE AFTERMARKET. *TR

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AS THE THIRD OWNER THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK AND THE HORN WOULDN'T SOUND.AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET,AND FINDING OUT THAT THEY HAD MANY MANY OF THE INTERNAL PASTS CHANGED AND THE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE REIMBURSED, WE TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALER AND TOLD BECAUSE WE WERE THE THIRD OWNER,AND THAT THE MILEAGE WAS HIGH,THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR WAS NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT,NOR HAS IT BEEN ABUSED. I THINK THAT BECAUSE MY HORN CAN'T WORK IT MAY BE A CONCERN. I ALSO THINK WILE DRIVING MY AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY CAUSING AN INSIDENT.BOTH DODGE INTREPID , AND OTHER DODGES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BY PAYING 4-TO5 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE CONSUMER. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE COST AND REPLACEMENT OF THE PART SHOULD GO BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AS IT IS AN INTERNAL PART IN THE STEERING THAT BREAKS WITH OUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY CAUSE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES I.E.ACCEDENTSOR OTHER. BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE CONTACTED YOU, THE MANUFACTURER DECIDED IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED OR ISSUE A RECALL.

Mileage: 170,000

WE BOUGHT A 2002 USED IN 2005. IT RAN OKAY, THOUGHE H THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN IDLING. WE WERE ASSURED BY THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM THAT IT WAS JUST SENSOR AND NOT TO WORRY. HAD SOME SMALL PROBLEMS WITH IT, NOTHING TOO MAJOR. THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THEN IN 3/09 THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT FOR THE 2ND TIME, AND EVEN AFTER REPAIR THE CAR WOULD OVER HEAT OUT OF NO WHERE AND WITHOUT WARNING. CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF IT THEN, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW CAR. THEN IN 11/09 THE CAR DID THE OVERHEAT FOR NO REASON WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THANK GOD THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT. THE GAUGES DIDN'T INDICATE ANYTHING, ALL OF THEM INCLUDING THE SPEDOMETER WENT TO 0. IT STARTED GUSHING WATER AND ANTIFREEZE. THE ENGINE IS SHOT, IT IS NOW A GOLD LAWN ORNAMENT. WE MAINTAINED THE CAR, OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000MI ETC. WAS TOLD ITS DUE TO "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGES 2.7 ENGINES. WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND I WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TON YARD ORNAMENT I NOW HAVE.

Mileage: 145,000

BOUGHT A DODGE INTREPID THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IT'S AN 2.7 V.6 .... THE CAR STALLS , THE LIGHT FLICKERS ON AN OFF AS WELL AS MY RADIO!! MY SENSOR ARE FAULTY BECAUSE IT GIVE MY CAR FAULTY READING TO THE WRONG ERRS NOT ONLY, THAT I HAVE HAD BUILD UP IN BOTH ENGINES GRIME AND BROKEN DOWN PARTICLES! MY SPEED IS OFF SOMETIME MY CAR PICKS UP SPEED BY IT SELF OR IT DON'T GAIN SPEED AT ALL! THE CAR ALSO LOSES POWER FOR NO REASON AT ALL! DRAIN MY BATTERY FOUR TIMES! OVER HEAT WITHOUT WARNING! HAD MY THERMOSTAT REPLACE TWICE!!! TO MANY PROBLEM KEEP OCCURRING AND I CAN KEEP UP WITH ANY OF THIS!! TEXAS DMV TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT ANY GOOD!! PLEASE HELP WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS CAR? *TR

Mileage: 139,852

THE INTREPID HAS HAD TO SERVICED ABOUT EVERY 3 MONTHS. FIRST IT WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE 02 SENSOR GOING OUT. THEN IT WAS THE FAN THAT BELT BROKE ON THE CAR. THEN IT WAS THE TIRES THE WOULD WEAR THE TREAD REALLY EASILY. THEN IT WAS THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE IT BROKE ON THE INSIDE. THE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THAT STARTED SKIPPING GEARS THEN IT WOULD MAKE THE RPM'S GO UP. NOW THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND WE HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TO INSPECT ITS UNDERCARRIAGE. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND A MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT ALL OF THE MCPHERSON STRUTS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH, THE BRAKES, AND ALL FOUR ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT HARD AND DRIVE ROUGHLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 03-27-08 *BF THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED

Mileage: 54,000

IMMEDIATE LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER..CAR WENT DEAD AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SMOKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS UP IN FLAMES. VEHICLE DID NOT OVERHEAT.. ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUFFERED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE,INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATION STILL PENDING. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

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? *NM

Mileage: 68,000

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROAD THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START AGAIN. MECHANIC DESCRIBED AS LOWER END FAILURE. *NM

Mileage: 52,963

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BLEW OUT AND THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 49,595

THE COMPUTER "PM MODULE" AND RELATED COMPONENTS KEEP FAILING ON MY NEW 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DIED RIGHT IN THER MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 60MPH. THIS PUT ME DIRECT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PMMODULE CONTROLS THE IGNITION COILS AND THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTORS AND THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM 3 OTHER TIMES AND THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR HAS NOT YET FULLY BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST THE AFTER EFFECTS. *AK

Mileage: 38,557

THE COMPUTER "PM MODULE" AND RELATED COMPONENTS KEEP FAILING ON MY NEW 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR DIED RIGHT IN THER MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 60MPH. THIS PUT ME DIRECT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PMMODULE CONTROLS THE IGNITION COILS AND THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTORS AND THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM 3 OTHER TIMES AND THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR HAS NOT YET FULLY BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM JUST THE AFTER EFFECTS. *AK

Mileage: 38,557

IT STARTED OUT AS JUST A ROUGH IDLE. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GOT WORSE. I DID. IT THEN ADDED TRYING TO GO DEAD WHEN I PULLED INTO PARKING PLACES. THEY AGAIN COULDN'T DUPLICATE CONCERN. TAKE IT AND DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE. THEN IT STARTED RACING OCCASSIONALLY WHILE AT IDLE AND WOULD TAKE FIVE OR SIX TIMES TO START ONLY TO TO GO DEAD WHEN YOU PULLED A SHORT DISTANCE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THEY STILL CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CHRYSLER TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE HEAD. THE MECHANIC SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT HEAD AND THAT IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME AND SAY DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE AGAIN. THE NEXT STEP IS FOR IT TO GO DEAD IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A WRECK. *AK

Mileage: 376

LOOSE GROUND WIRE TO BATTERY POSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO, ODOMETER TAMPERING. VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, SUSPENSION/ STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR BULBS ON HEADLAMPS AND HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH ,AND CLEANED OUT ENGINE HOSES, PCV VALVE AND FUEL FILTER. *AK

LOOSE GROUND WIRE TO BATTERY POSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO, ODOMETER TAMPERING. VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, SUSPENSION/ STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR BULBS ON HEADLAMPS AND HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH ,AND CLEANED OUT ENGINE HOSES, PCV VALVE AND FUEL FILTER. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN AND THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. *JB

Mileage: 31,000