1993 Dodge Intrepid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report fuel smells and visible leaks around the fuel injection rail, followed by automatic transmission shifting and failure complaints. Reports also cover stalling or sudden engine shutoff, front suspension and steering problems, and headlight lenses that darken or yellow with age, limiting night visibility.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the fuel injection rail

   • 113 complaints (28%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 11.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2011

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell, sometimes inside the cabin through the vents and sometimes only when the hood is opened, with fuel seen pooling or spraying on top of the engine. Complaints mention leaks at the rail, the O-rings sealing it, and injector area cracks. Several owners say recall work was done but the smell returned, and some report the dealer covered only one side or replaced O-rings without other parts. Parts backorders and repeat repairs are mentioned. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 55,000 up to roughly 160,000 miles, often on 3.3L and 3.5L engines.

   Recall 98V184000Recall 98V130000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 98V184000 or 98V130000 was completed and on which side, then check the rail and injector area for wetness or a fuel smell after the engine has run.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Falvey's motors of norwich, ct performed recall 790 on my car in april 1999. For the next year, the car smelled of gas and ran rough. I reported the problem to falvey's and they said the coil pack and catalytic converter were bad. I spent the money and replaced both, but the problem persisted. After a year, they finally diagnosed a fuel leak from the fuel rail/injector area. They would look into it further except at my expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #732125, filed 2000-09

   “This is the second 3.5 litre chrysler engine owned by someone in my office to have identical failure. Fuel leakage was excessive. Fuel leakage came in contact with spark plug wires. Serious fire hazard. I was going to repair the vehicle myself when I found that the failed part was on back order at all chrysler/plymouth/Dodge dealers within a 30 mile radius. Indicated that this failure was not an isolated case. Furthermore, the specific failed parts, four $.59 o-rings, are not sold or available individually. …”

   NHTSA complaint #700279, filed 1998-11
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front suspension and steering shake or wander

   • 46 complaints (11%)
   • median 117,500 mi at 11.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2009

   Complaints describe vibration and shaking through the steering wheel, the car wandering and needing constant correction, and a wheel turning inward. Some owners report cracked control arm or mount points and frame cracking at the cradle welds, with shops replacing cracked parts. Others describe rear sway bar or link separation causing swaying and wheel shake. Reported from about 55,000 to 130,000 miles, often noticed during highway driving or turns.

   Recall 99V215000Recall 92V128000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 99V215000 and 92V128000 were performed and have a shop inspect the lower control arms, mounting brackets and subframe for cracks or rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nothing LED up to the failure, it happened while I was driving on the freeway. I noticed my car started swaying and floating I got off the freeway and looked under the left rear to see that the sway bar snapped at the joint, and the sway bar link had disconnected. The rubber bushing is still in the arm, but not the bolt. Can't find a new sway bar, but I have a repair kit for the link. This incident doesn't allow me to drive over 20 MPH with wheel shaking. Cannot reverse as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254275, filed 2009-01, 130,000 miles

   “The engine cradle frame cracked at the weld, which inturn ripped the front axle out from the wheel. I contacted chrysler, they said as a good will gesture they would pay for the axle, but that I should expect the frame to crack on car that old. The car has never been in any accidents and I feel that I was lucky that I diddn't loose control of the car and kill myself, my family or someone from on coming traffic since it was the left front wheel which came off.”

   NHTSA complaint #704911, filed 1999-03
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting or loss of drive

   • 41 complaints (10%)
   • median 108,000 mi at 13.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Complaints describe jerky or delayed gear engagement, slipping out of gear after stopping, and hard or abrupt shifts. Some owners report a sudden drop in speed or loss of drive with grinding and fluid on the ground, and others describe the car failing to move in drive or reverse. Dealers reportedly replaced gaskets, overhauled or replaced the unit, and in some cases said gasket failure was a known pattern. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles, on cars with the automatic transmission.

   What to check: Check transmission fluid condition and ask for service or rebuild records, and test drive from a stop to feel for delayed or harsh engagement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 1993 Dodge Intrepid from a used car lot. 2 days later the car started smoking when going down a hill. Then the brake lights began to stick I have to pull up on the pedal to get them to go off and the steering wheel pops when going around a curve. Now the car sits at a repair shop needing a transmission because the drive and reverse gears failed leaving me with a bill of 800-2000 to repair it. I believe if the manufacturers would've done their job right in the beginning alot more people would be proud to own a Dodge!”

   NHTSA complaint #10010774, filed 2003-03, 120,000 miles

   “Automatic transmission was reapired once and overhauled a second time while still under warranty. Transmission was shifting gears in an abrupt and hard manner. Transmission would also slip out of gear after coming to a stop and wind on acceleration prior to going into gear. Dealer found major problem with gaskets in transmission. Dealer stated gasket failure to be common problem requiring repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #755953, filed 2001-12
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 26 complaints (6%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2009

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at any speed, sometimes for under a second and sometimes requiring the ignition to be cycled to restart. Instrument panel flicker, bucking, and loss of power steering assist during the stall are mentioned. Several owners say dealers and independent shops could not identify a cause, and diagnostic checks returned no faults. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 110,000 miles, often after a brief warm-up or at steady speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, engine controls or wiring have been checked for intermittent faults, and note any history of unexplained stalls during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am the original owner of a 1993 Dodge Intrepid (3.3 engine) which has experienced unpredictable engine shut off while driving at any speed. The instrument panel flickers and then the engine shuts off, making steering very difficult and endangering the occupants because the motorists around me get no warning of the sudden slow down.”

   NHTSA complaint #10016950, filed 2003-05, 110,000 miles

   “My car has had numerous recalls and I bought it used a few months ago my car is a 1993 Dodge Intrepid what can I do about this?car will run for 20 minutes or until shut off and then die for 20 minutes to 10 hours, no warning lights come on diagnostics say car is fine even when it will not start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10254444, filed 2009-01, 105,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Headlight lenses darken and dim night visibility

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the headlight lenses oxidize, turning dark or yellow, which makes night driving difficult on both low and high beams. Some say the dealer or manufacturer told them nothing could be done, and replacement lamps were quoted at roughly $120 each. Others report defroster and window regulator problems in the same visibility group. Reported from about 40,000 to 120,000 miles, with the dimming described as gradual with age.

   What to check: Inspect the headlight lenses for yellowing or clouding in daylight and confirm brightness on a night test drive; lenses are commonly replaced or polished.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle is experiencing difficulty with the headlights. While driving at night the vision is poor due to the oxidation of the front headlamp lenses. Owner contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. However, consumer was told that there was nothing they could do.”

   NHTSA complaint #10115305, filed 2005-03, 65,000 miles

   “Headlights lenses become dark resulting in poor nightime visibility, both with high beams and low beams activated. The condition leads to driver fatigue. The headlights need to be replaced at the cost of approximately $120 per light.”

   NHTSA complaint #10074830, filed 2004-06, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Given the age of these cars, focus on the fuel rail area and the transmission during inspection, and confirm which open recalls were actually completed. Records of suspension inspection and rust checks are worth asking for, since several complaints involve cracking or corrosion in the front structure.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.