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Electrical system

1998 Dodge Intrepid Electrical problems

Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Intrepid's electrical system with NHTSA - 9% of all its complaints, most recently on November 4, 2006. They describe 1 crash, 5 fires and 3 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

Electrical complaints

Electrical systemLights

Headlights will turn on and off intermittently while driving , or will turn on by themselves without the key in ignition. My mechanic have replaced 3 headlight switches but its not working. Also the car has major electrical problems from internal lamps to headlights. I have read lot of review from other users. I can file a lawsuit with user consumers if I have to against dodge. This thing is very annoying and dodge should pay for this. *Nm

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10172631
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structure

Since buying the vehicle in 1998, I have experienced issue with: electrical interior and exterior lights going on and off while driving (dealer has not been able to locate problem) rack and pinion had to replace at 36,000 miles I have to replace the brakes every year, they constantly are making a grinding noise. Have had to replace power window mechanism on driver side when first bought vehicle, now the automatic power down on drive side is not working as well as not being able to use power unlock and lock for rear driver passenger door. Automatic transmission leak from hose, have had to replace hose. *Jb

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Electrical system · Visibility · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10155215
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemWheels & tiresEquipment & accessories

I bought this car on 3/2002. Since I bought it I have replaced the starter three times; had a full front end replacement; new engine put in; new transmission; studs broke from the front tire and while the tire was rolling down the road my card was skidding down the road with my 2 month old granddaughter in the car. Now the electronic system is completely screwed up and the car is not even running. I have all my paperwork where the repairs were done. I believe that chrysler needs to replace this vehicle "no questions asked" because we have spent over $6,000 fixing this piece of junk. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical system · Wheels · EquipmentNHTSA 10145139
Electrical systemFire

Dt: the contact took vehicle to a mechanic to have a coil pack replaced. The mechanic said he let the vehicle run for approximately 20 minutes then it was ready to be driven. . All of a sudden vehicle caught on fire under the hood. The fire department was called, they extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was suspected to be electrical.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10142421
Electrical system

Dt: contact owns a 1998 dodge intrepid. The contact stated the main battery harness corroded, forcing the contact to replace the battery every year. The vehicle will stall unexpectedly at any given point while traveling at any speed, and the battery will have to be replaced. The service dealer replaced the cable at consumer's expense. The service dealer and the manufacturer stated that it was not a safety defect within the vehicle and that was why they would not cover the cost of the repair. The contact...

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stated this happened since purchasing the vehicle. The consumer had the battery replaced five times under warranty, therefore, the consumer did not have to cover this expense. Previously, when the car would have this problem the service dealer would only clean the cables to the battery, and this would remedy the problem for about six months.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10136721
Electrical system

The ignition lock on this vehicle will surrender the key in any position. Though the dealer has replaced both a push rod in the shifter and the shifter itself per chrysler recall campaign c45, the key continues to come out of the lock in the acc, off, run, and start positions. The dealer's service department suggested the fault is in the lock cylinder, though that was not covered under recall campaign c45 and was not replaced. Note that the cylinder will not turn to the lock or acc position without the shifters...

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being in park and the shifter also will not come out of the park position with the lock cylinder in the lock or acc position nor has either of the above failures ever occurred in this vehicle. The problem with the key coming out however was already occurring by the time the recall notice was first received but the vehicle was just now taken to the dealer for servicing due to a lack of alternate transportation and scheduling conflicts. *Nm

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10132594
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Dt: caller got recall letter on trans axle floor shifter ignition/park interlock system #c45. Caller took it to dealer, dealer said they did the recall work, but the caller said it was not fixed. She said she coudn't shift it without a key and she could take the key out while it is in gear. Manufacturer said the work was done, and the problem was something else . They offered no help. Caller said problem is listed on the recall letter but they will not fix it. Caller said one time she forgot to put it in park and took the key out and the car rolled away. She was able to stop the car. *Ak

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10126185
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Driving down interstate 65 mph 1998 dodge intrepid blewup so hard it even broke the starter off the transmission bell hausing. This was a nice clean taken care of car but the moters are junk and chrysler said tuff '!@#$% We dont care . Chrysler should have to fix every one of these were all bad. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10114259
Electrical systemFire

Vehicle caught on fire from under the hood while idling and parking on the driveway. The local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire was still undetermined. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10106994
Electrical system

Consumer, will provide more information on the faulty ignition switch. *Ak the vehicle would start but other electrical components would not work including the air bag, fan and power windows. *Nm

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10089481
Engine & coolingElectrical systemBody, doors & structure

The engine is failing, smoking. Upon investigation, it has been found that this is common in 2.7 Liter vehciles of this model. In other words, this engine is a lemon. I have also noted that the airconditioning has failed and I will also have to have this repaired. There is also a problem with the ignition that I haven't figure out yet. The power mirror on the driver's side doesn't work and the speaker system has little to be desired. The 3.2 Liter engines fair much better after talking with many mechanics, who consequentially are surprised there hasn't been a recall on the 2.7 Liter 1998 engines.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10074810
Electrical system

October, 2002 and july, 2003. Had to replace relay. Lights inside were blinking occasionally, then transmission would not shift out of first gear, all electric was out. It's now may, 2004 and the lights are beginning to blink again. I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10072447
Engine & coolingElectrical systemVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structureEquipment & accessories

Ltr fm travis phillips (ky) owner of a 1998 dodge chrysler intrepid reporting defective engine, window off track writer believes vehicle should be recalled reply to the fort wright, ky district office. *Ph the vehicle engine blew while the consumer's wife was driving 65 mph. There was no warning prior to this incident. The consumer indicated that he had the oil changed every 3000 miles and that the oil was just changed prior to the engine failure. The vehicles lights flickered, the windows came off the track when putting them up or down. The seals around the doors fell off. The air/heat only worked when on high. The starter failed. *Nm

Filed Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Visibility · Structure · EquipmentNHTSA 10066991
Engine & coolingElectrical systemLightsVisibility & wipers

STARTER WENT OUT.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10069573
SteeringSuspensionBrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Repairs were done to the engine on 3 occasions, rotors 2 occasions, brakes 1 occasion, control arms (suspension) 1 occasion, steering 1 occasion, & electrical. Although I only have 54,000 miles on my car and the engine has been replaced, the dealership refuses to fix the ongoing engine problems. The dealership manager, rod harris, admits it a lifter ticking but insists that it is normal. Chrysler gave me an "added care service contract" that is good through 6/26/04 and to 75,000 miles. Plan code is ad675h. ...

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They refuse to fix my car. This is the second time, after the first three attempts to fix it, I have been to the dealership. I filed a complaint with chrysler on 1/12/04. Also note they still have my vehicle today 1/12/04 because the transmission failed. It's been in service for 5 days. Transmission failed while I was driving on 1/7/04. I am concerned with the safety of the vehicle and the engine failing now with my 10 month old daughter. *La

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10052955
Engine & coolingElectrical system

While driving at any speed vehicle intermittently stalls. After sitting for a few minutes vehicle will start as if nothing has happened. *Ak as of october 2003, the consumer had to sit 25 minutes in a parking lot waiting for the vehicle to start. It continued to stall on her driving down the road twice. Consumer questioned why no one could give her an answer as to why this keeps happening and why there's not a recall. In addition, consumer decided to write every time she has a problem with her vehicle because she noticed it wasn't just her vehicle having problems. *Ph

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10040814
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10037436
Electrical systemLights

Vehicle was repaired for ignition problems and intermittent interior lights flickering. Ignition switch and dimmer light switch replaced. Ignition is still sporadic and vehicle shuts off when in drive(also sporadic). Dealership aware of problem but unable to repair/locate problem despite charging for repairs to fix problem.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Interior lightingNHTSA 10032675
Engine & coolingElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

Car stalls at speeds in excess of 60 mph. Check engine light flashes about 5 times and vehicle experiences an immediate loss of acceleration ability. Car coasts to a near stop and stalls completely locking the steering wheel. While engine is hot vehicle will not start. Cruise control light and oil light remain on longer than any other dashboard lights. Vehicle starts again only after sitting for hours. Vehicle will only start when it is cold. At highway speeds this has happened twice in the last two weeks. Vehicle stores no codes for mechanic to diagnose problem.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10028502
Engine & coolingElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

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,...

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starter,(note all dealer parts so it isn't cheap to fix)battery cables rotted out dodge should do or offer something to help fix or rectify all these motor problems but are they are to cheap in my mind. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 10016963
Electrical system

Consumer stated that it will be hard to start the vehicle and they will have to try numerous times before the vehicle will start. Dealer notified. Ts

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10004486
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Wiring harness was installed with wires that are too short, possibly causing vehicle not to start and/or to shake when it does start. Also windows won't roll down at times. Dealer replaced faulty starter. But not willing to do anything further because vehicle is over 36,000 miles. Extended warranty was purchased. *Tt...*Ak

Filed Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 567441
Electrical systemFire

While driving at 35 mph a fire started on passenger's side under the dash. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 8014317
Electrical systemCrash

Consumer removed key from ignition while vehicle was still in drive, vehicle then proceeded to roll back, resulting in a collision. *Ak

Filed Electrical systemNHTSA 8004527
Electrical systemFire

A fire in engine compartment after parking. Local fire department arrived and extinguished fire. Dealer / manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 8001953

Dodge Intrepid electrical complaints by year

Intrepid electrical problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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