The 2003 Dodge Intrepid has 2 safety recalls and 106 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (62 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints106filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 10reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths11 · 1reported in complaints
2003 Dodge Intrepid in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 09E025000 · May 11, 2009 · 42,540 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2003 Dodge Intrepid 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Intrepid
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Intrepid
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
Intrepid
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S4) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system
62
0
4
0
79,000 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)
21
0
0
0
53,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Disc › Pads
12
1
3
2
32,480 mi
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Wiring › Interior/under dash
7
0
1
0
38,300 mi
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly; Hydraulic power assist system
6
0
0
0
60,000 mi
Air bags
6
2
0
6
53,110 mi
Vehicle speed control
4
1
0
2
—
Suspension Front; Rear
3
1
1
3
—
Engine
3
0
1
0
—
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
2
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Trunk lid; Frame and members
2
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 10, 2023Engine See attached document for complaint
Jan 29, 2021 · 73,000 milesService brakes WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED A SCRAPING NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKING UP. TIRE AND RIM WERE GROUND DOWN, WHILE I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. MECHANICS NOTES: "EBRAKE CAME APART PASSENGER REAR AND LOCKED BRAKE UP, CAUSING BACKING PLATE TO RIP APART FROM EBRAKE MOUNTING. EBRAKE ADJUSTER BRACKET DAMAGED AS WELL. THE BRACKET ADJUSTS THE BRAKE SHOES AND HOLDS THE BRAKE CABLE IN PLACE. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY VENDOR AND HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE DEALER. CONSEQUENTLY NEW EBRAKE SHOES AND HARDWARE CAN NOT BE INSTALLED." OF COURSE A PART CAN FAIL ON A NOW 17 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE ROUTINE FAILURE MODE AND EFFECT ANALYSIS OVERLOOKED…
Sep 24, 2016 · 86,000 milesEngine THE CAR HAS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS LIKE ALL THE 03 2.7 L ENG SE. CONNECTING RODS IS FALLING OUT, AND ETC. THE CAR IS UNBALANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TODAY TO FIND WHY THE OLI LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN THE VEHICLE THERMOSTAT RISES. TURN OUT THE ENGINE ISN'T ALLOWING THE OIL TO REACH THE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE AND THAT IS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND MAKE NOISES ON STARTUP. AND ALSO WHEN YOU REVERSE YOU HEARTHE CAR MAKE A BAD KNOCK SOUND AND FEEL THE VIBRATION. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 86000 MILES AND THE MECHANICS COULD ONLY SHAKE THEIR HEADS. THIS CAR SHOULD BE IN BETTER CONDITION THEN THIS. ANYWAYS, THE COST FOR NEW ENGINE WITH WARRANTY IS OVER $6000. AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING! NOW WHO HAS…
Jul 15, 2014 · 10,500 milesPower train MY CAR JUST WENT FROM FINE TO NOT FINE. I FELT LIKE IT WAS IN 2 GEAR WHILE DRIVING IT. SO I HAD TO PULL OVER STOP IT AND MAKE SURE I WAS IN THE RIGHT GEAR AND I WAS BUT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT TO DRIVE. STAYED IN 2 GEAR. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I GOT TWO CODES. PO700 AND PO871. I LOVE MY CAR BUT CANT PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED, BECAUSE TO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. DODGE SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE CARS OR PEOPLE WILL STOP BUYING THEM. *TR
Jun 13, 2014 · 153,874 miles · crash · 2 injuriesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER BOTH SUFFERED HEADACHES AND THE CONTACT ALSO SUFFERED AN UPPER BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,874. THE CONSUMER STATED ON JUNE 13, 2014, IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JERKED SUDDENLY AND ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. SHE TRIED TO APPLY…
Mar 6, 2014 · 122,000 miles · fireEngine DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN AZ THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND THAN TRAIL SMOKE.... AS WE PULLED OFF SMOKE ROLLED OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE... CHECKING THE PASSENGER SIDE, THERE WAS MELTING PLASTIC RUNNING TO THE GROUND AND THE TOP OF THE HOOD WAS HOT.. CAR LATER BURNT BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.. TIME FROM IT LOST POWER TO WHEN IT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE WAS LESS THAN 10 MIN.. I CAN ONLY ASSUME A TRANSMISSION LINE, POWER STEERING LINE, OR FUEL LINE STARTED TO LEAK AND STARTED A FIRE BY SPRAYING THE FLUID ON THE CATALYTIC/EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE... CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 11 OR 12 YEARS... IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE...…
Feb 22, 2013 · 192,468 milesSuspension AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARKING JOB AGAIN, WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE WHEELS. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED WITH EASE IN MY HAND, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT BUDGE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOW I HAVE NO STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I'M IN A SMALL TOWN AND THE NEAREST DEALER IS 45 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK HAD…
Oct 25, 2011 · 104,000 milesEngine and engine cooling WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY MADE A LOUD CLANKING BANGING SOUND. IT STALLED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER THE SOUNDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND HE SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A FAMILIAR OCCURRENCE WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE, THE 2.7L V6. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE03010 · opened Feb 27, 2003 · closed Sep 2, 2003THROTTLE 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 BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
