Dodge is one of the most prolific car companies of all time. As such, the automaker has some of the most popular and many of the fastest rides on the market, both today and decades ago. Unfortunately, though the Dodge nameplate has experienced a great deal of success, the storied company has also faced many failures.
Perhaps one of Dodge's most significant failures is the Dodge Intrepid. While the full-size car was perfectly fine for much of its run, some later models were considered disastrous. The Dodge Intrepid debuted in 1993 and lasted until 2004 before ultimately being discontinued.
Nowadays, the car is hardly ever talked about, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many fans of everyday commuter cars from the 1990s. However, many people who remember the car’s time on the market have no idea why the company discontinued it. While Dodge never confirmed the actual reason for not selling the Intrepid after 2004, some plausible guesses could explain why.
Beginnings Of The Intrepid
The first Dodge Intrepid became available to the public in 1993. The 4-seater was a solid option for buyers with a group of people to carry around while also being no slouch regarding speed. A 3.3-liter V6 engine powers the first model of the Intrepid. The 93 Intrepid has a max power of 153 and a torque of 177 lb-ft, according to Cars Direct. The transmission used on this car is a 4-speed automatic with overdrive. The 1993 Dodge Intrepid also came with a second power train option. This one has a max power of 214 and a torque of 221 ft-lb.
In terms of speed, this car can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 11 seconds. While this isn’t the fasted Dodge in the world, the Intrepid was never meant to be. Its top speed is 112 miles per hour. The first Dodge Intrepid was well received. Though not considered one of the company’s best, it was deemed reliable and had a Kelly Blue Book rating of 3.9 out of 5. Unfortunately, this reputation for being a solid commuter would begin to erode as the years went on.
Dodge Intrepid's Reliability Problems
Things were going fine for the Dodge Intrepid. Then, however, drivers of the car began to experience some issues. Over 12 years on the market, there were recorded 1988 reports of significant problems, according to Dodge Problems. It was also ranked last in the overall reliability of Dodge vehicles by the site.
Overall, the Dodge Intrepid had three significant issues. One of them was a pretty weird one. Many drivers reported that their Dodge Intrepids were becoming stuck in park. This was also an issue on other Dodge cars, such as the Avenger. Another problem on the Dodge Intrepid, particularly the later models, was oil sludge build-up; this caused engine failure for many drivers.
The third most significant issue was more annoying than anything else. Many Intrepid owners reported random holes and cracks in their dashboards. Of course, no one wants to go out and buy a car only to soon experience interior damage, but at least their transmissions weren’t stuck in park.
Here's The Worst Dodge Intrepid Model
Sometimes the end of a car can be seen years before it actually happens. For the Dodge Intrepid, this happened with the 2000 model. Essentially, this model is the worst of the lineup. It has this ranking due to some of the previously mentioned reliability problems. However, they were more prevalent with one. The 2000 Dodge Intrepid came with three engine options. At the time, buyers could choose between a 2.7-liter, a 3.2, or a 3.5. The major problem impacting the 2000 Intrepid was the pesky sludge build-up problem. However, it only showed up on the cars with the 2.7-liter engine. The other engine options weren’t perfect, but at least the drivers didn’t have to deal with more frequent than usual oil changes to try and combat the sludge. It should be noted that drivers still had this problem despite increasing the frequency of their oil changes.
The second-biggest complaint for the 2000 Dodge Intrepid was engine knocking. While this is still a problem, only severe cases prevented the vehicle from working. Of course, the Dodge Intrepid continued on the market for a few more years after this disaster of a car. However, the problems persisted. The difference is that fewer people trusted the Intrepid enough to buy it after this. Nowadays, the Intrepid is hardly ever discussed in the car world. Unfortunately, this happens when a company allows a car to end on such a sour note. Perhaps someday, Dodge will bring the vehicle back to restore its legacy. A reboot of the Intrepid could work as long as the automaker handles it far better than the reboot of the Dodge Dart.