1998 Dodge Intrepid Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 10%of 377 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Dodge Intrepid, 10% of the 377 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,500 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10155215, filed 2006-04, 31,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10145139, filed 2005-12, 55,000 miles“On the air conditioning problem, the bearings in the tension pulley went bad and it shreaded the serpentine belt which we had just replaced along with the entire new engine. About the transmission. A sensor went bad and the car would not shift out of first gear unless the car was stopped and the ignition turned off. After that, as soon as we brought the car to a stop it would again fail to shift out of first when re-accelerating. The engine is the big problem. The oil light came on. My wife pulled over immediately. But the engine quit before she could even get the car stopped. …”
NHTSA complaint #10071002, filed 2004-01, 83,000 miles“Within the last month our family has experienced two transmission failures in two different chrysler vehicles we own. The first, a 1999 chrysler sebring, had the transmission catastrophically fail after only 60,000 miles. The second, a 1998 Dodge Intrepid, had the clutches in the transmission fail after 79,000 miles. Both of these cars were extremely well cared for and driven normally. Both vehicles have been serviced according to the service manual supplied with the car. As a consumer, its hard to see how a company can charge $2,000.00 to replace a part of a car that failed without reason. …”
NHTSA complaint #10052345, filed 2004-01, 79,000 miles“1998, Dodge, Intrepid was parked in front of house. Ignition off, key out, in park. Car rolled away due to failure of the floor shift parking interlock, struck house down the street. Car was totaled. Notified by mail of recall for this problem after the accident. Contacted daimler chrysler who will not repair or replace car.”
NHTSA complaint #10118113, filed 2005-04, 112,000 milesRelated recalls
- 04V021000Jan 13, 2004On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key…Covers: Dodge Intrepid 1993–1999, Chrysler Concorde 1993–1999, LHS 1993–1999 +6 more
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 10 | 8% |
| 2003 | 20 | 19% |
| 2002 | 60 | 18% |
| 2001 | 32 | 5% |
| 2000 | 41 | 4% |
| 1999 | 95 | 10% |
| 1998 | 36 | 10% |
| 1997 | 53 | 15% |
| 1996 | 44 | 9% |
| 1995 | 142 | 24% |
| 1994 | 160 | 22% |
| 1993 | 60 | 15% |
Other parts of the 1998 Dodge Intrepid
198 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsSteering
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsAir bags
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsEquipment
12 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology