The 1999 draws 8.57 complaints per run and the 1994 2.7, a 3.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 80% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine and Engine Cooling, with 2,136 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.
Dodge Intrepid years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 105 | 28 | yes | |
| 2003 | 77 | 30 | yes | |
| 2002 | 251 | 54 | yes | |
| 2001 | 495 | 80 | yes | |
| 2000 | 771 | 104 | yes | |
| 1999 | 737 | 86 | yes | |
| 1998 | 287 | 64 | yes | |
| 1997 | 264 | 68 | yes | |
| 1996 | 378 | 105 | yes | |
| 1995 | 444 | 144 | yes | |
| 1994 | 565 | 209 | yes | |
| 1993 | 316 | 85 | yes |
Among the 6 Dodge Intrepid years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1999, 2000, 1993; the three worth hunting are 1994, 1995, 1996.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 4.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 10.6% | covered | |
| 2 years | 20% | covered | |
| 3 years | 33.1% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 50.4% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 67.7% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 80.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 88.3% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 93.4% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 96% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 97.3% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 98.5% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 99% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 99.4% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99.6% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 20% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 80% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 58% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Dodge Intrepid, the early trouble is Service Brakes — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine And Engine Cooling at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4.9 yrs | 19 | 52 | |
| Power Train | 4.4 yrs | 30 | 5 | |
| Steering | 4.6 yrs | 25 | 6 | |
| Fuel System | 4.7 yrs | 5 | 32 | |
| Gasoline | 4.8 yrs | 5 | 31 | |
| Electrical System | 4.9 yrs | 4 | 38 | |
| Service Brakes | 3.5 yrs | 22 | 6 | |
| Suspension | 4.8 yrs | 12 | 2 |
What else in this class
6 models share the Intrepid's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 4.68 for the Intrepid. That is the most complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Intrepid | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 133 | 1983–2026 | |
| Chrysler 300 | 86 | 1999–2026 | |
| Kia K5 | 21 | 2021–2026 | |
| Hyundai Sonata | 152 | 1989–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 98 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lincoln Continental | 80 | 1981–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Dodge Intrepid reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.68 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which Intrepid years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1999, 2000, 1993. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1994, 1995, 1996. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Intrepid problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Engine and Engine Cooling, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Power Train.
Will the warranty cover Intrepid problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 20% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 58% of the complaints here.
Is the Intrepid more reliable than the Dodge Charger?
No: 4.68 complaints per production run for the Intrepid against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.
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