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2004 Dodge Intrepid Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Rating: 4.07
Based on 26 Owner Reviews β–Ά
Cathleen V | March 31, 2025
The 2004 Dodge Intrepid, a full-size sedan produced from 1993-2004, was known for its spacious interior and distinctive cab-forward design. The 2004 model was the last of its kind. Key trims included the base SE, SXT, and sporty R/T. New, it ranged from around $20,000 to $25,000. It was popular for offering a lot of car for the money, especially its generous passenger room.
The Good

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid offered a comfortable ride and a spacious interior, appealing to practical buyers. Its powerful V6 engine options provided decent performance. The Intrepid's "cab-forward" design gave it a distinctive look, while its affordability made it a value-oriented choice, even used. These appeal to drivers wanting an affordable and roomy sedan.

The Bad

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid has known weaknesses, primarily concerning reliability. Potential issues include transmission problems, electrical glitches, and premature water pump failure. Rust can also be a concern, especially in regions with harsh winters. Carefully inspect the car's history and condition before purchasing.

2004 Dodge Intrepid: Quick Overview

  • Engine Options:
    • 2.7L V6: (SE, SXT)
    • 3.5L V6: (SXT, R/T)
  • Horsepower:
    • 2.7L V6: 200 hp
    • 3.5L V6: 232 hp (SXT), 250 hp (R/T)
  • Fuel Economy (estimated):
    • 2.7L V6: 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway
    • 3.5L V6: 17 mpg city / 24 mpg highway
  • 0-60 Times (estimated):
    • 2.7L V6: Around 9.5 seconds
    • 3.5L V6: Around 7.5-8 seconds
  • Towing Capacity: Not recommended for towing.
  • Trim Level Features:
    • SE: Air conditioning, power windows and locks, AM/FM radio with cassette player, cloth upholstery.
    • SXT: Adds features such as alloy wheels, upgraded audio system with CD player, power driver's seat, and cruise control. Some SXT models may have leather trim.
    • R/T: Sport-tuned suspension, 3.5L high-output V6 engine, performance tires, leather seats, premium audio system, and unique exterior styling cues.

2004 Dodge Intrepid Specifications

Vehicle Information
Year 2004
Make Dodge
Model Intrepid
Trim -
Style -
Type Sedan
Category Compact Car
Manufacturing Details
Made In United States
Manufacturing City -
Dimensions
Doors -
Curb Weight -
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating -
Overall Height -
Overall Length -
Overall Width -
Wheelbase Length -
Standard Seating -
Engine & Performance
Engine 2.7 L 6-Cyl.
Engine Size 2.7L
Engine Cylinders 6
Transmission -
Transmission Type -
Transmission Speeds -
Drivetrain -
Additional Features
Anti-Brake System -
Steering Type -
Pricing
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) -
Invoice Price -
Delivery Charges -

Vehicle History Report

Vehicle
Specifications
Ownership
History
All History
Events
NMVTIS Title
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Salvage/Rebuilt
Check
Accident
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Theft
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Open Lien
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Past Sale
Listings
Safety
Recalls
Odometer
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Market Price
Analysis

What Problems Does the 2004 Dodge Intrepid Have?

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid, like many of its contemporaries, is known for certain recurring issues. Transmission problems are frequently reported, including slipping gears and complete failure. Electrical issues, such as malfunctioning sensors and problems with the power windows and locks, are also common. Water pump failure is another well-documented problem, potentially leading to overheating and engine damage.

While there weren't a substantial number of recalls specifically targeting the 2004 model, earlier years of the second-generation Intrepid (1998-2001) faced recalls related to issues like airbag deployment and potential fuel leaks. These earlier issues might indicate potential long-term reliability concerns that could eventually surface in the 2004 model due to component aging. Rust, especially in areas with road salt, is a consideration. Long-term, these cars can suffer from issues with the suspension components and general wear and tear given their age. Potential buyers should carefully inspect the vehicle's history and condition, paying particular attention to these common failure points.

How long will the 2004 Dodge Intrepid last?

Given its age, a 2004 Dodge Intrepid's mileage varies significantly based on owner care. Well-maintained examples could reach 200,000 miles or more. However, many will likely have significantly less due to the previously mentioned reliability issues. Long-term durability is a concern, particularly regarding transmission and cooling system components. Regular maintenance, especially fluid changes, is crucial. Neglecting these items significantly shortens the vehicle's lifespan. Rust is also a factor impacting longevity, particularly in colder climates. Ultimately, remaining lifespan depends heavily on prior maintenance.
Positive Owner Reviews
kpritch
If you are looking for a spacious car, then look no further! This car is extra reliable and has all the space you need! Go check it out!
Hmmmmmmmmmm
. Bought my SE 3 years ago at 101,000 miles. Comfortable enough. Huge trunk. Stylish on inside and out. Some road noise. Loved it until it hit 110,000 miles (yes, I drove it only 9000 miles in three years) and then everything seemed to hit the fan. Starter is going (had that looked at by a mechanic who said that it had already been replaced once), needs new power steering pump, passenger window can only be controlled by driver (already had that fixed once), and sometimes speedometer doesn't work. Time to trade it off.
Laura
Really happy about it. Had the SXT, sport car but gas saver at the same time. Really good look and performance. No problem with it.
Negative Owner Reviews
krob
This vehicle has been nothing but problems since the day I have bought it. It had numerous breakdowns beginning with the electrical problems, the electric windows worked sporadically, the truck button inside the vehicle stopped working, the air condition system consistently went out, among other electrical problems that left me stranded. On top of this the engine went out at 60k, after properly maintaining the engine. If I had not purchased the warranty It would have cost me right at seven thousand dollars just to replace this engine. Although these vehicles are inexpensive, I highly recommend that you spend a few more dollars and purchase something that is more reliable.

What Technology & Safety Features are Included?

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid offered relatively basic tech and safety features for its time. Standard entertainment included an AM/FM radio with a cassette player on the base SE trim. Higher trims like the SXT and R/T offered CD players and upgraded audio systems. There were no advanced driver-assistance features like lane departure warning or blind-spot monitoring, which were uncommon at the time.

Safety features included standard front airbags and optional anti-lock brakes (ABS). Side airbags were not a common feature. Power windows and locks were standard across the range, adding some convenience. The R/T trim included features like leather seats and a premium sound system. Optional features sometimes included a sunroof and upgraded wheels.

Crash test ratings from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) generally showed acceptable performance for frontal impacts, but side-impact protection was less impressive. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) ratings varied but generally indicated moderate protection. Given the age of the vehicle, safety standards were less stringent compared to modern cars.

What Colors Options are Available?

Exterior Colors
Bright Silver Metallic Clearcoat
Deep Slate Metallic Clearcoat
Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat
Black Clearcoat
Stone White Clearcoat
Graphite Metallic Clearcoat
Light Taupe Metallic Clearcoat
Interior Colors
Dark Slate Gray
Light Taupe

2004 Dodge Intrepid Prices and Market Value

When new, the 2004 Dodge Intrepid ranged from approximately $20,000 for the base SE to around $25,000 for the R/T trim. Currently, used market prices are very low, typically ranging from under $1,000 to around $4,000, depending on condition, mileage, and location. The Intrepid has depreciated significantly due to its age, reliability concerns, and the availability of newer, more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced vehicles. Factors affecting resale value include its mechanical condition, rust, and overall maintenance history. Low demand further drives down its value.

2004 Dodge Intrepid Cost of Ownership

Insurance costs for a 2004 Dodge Intrepid are typically low due to its age and value. Fuel costs depend on the engine, but it's not particularly fuel-efficient. Maintenance and repair costs can be significant due to potential reliability issues, especially with the transmission and cooling system. Long-term ownership can be costly if repairs are frequent. While the initial purchase price is low, potential repairs make it less economical than more reliable used cars.

2004 Dodge Intrepid Fuel Efficiency

Fuel Type -
Fuel Capacity -
City Mileage -
Highway Mileage -

2004 Dodge Intrepid Safety Rating

NHTSA
Overall Rating Not Tested
Overall Frontal Star Rating Not Tested
Side Overall Star Rating Not Tested
Overall Rollover Star Rating Not Tested
Combined Front Seat Rating Not Tested
Combined Rear Seat Rating Not Tested
Overall Frontal Star Rating Not Tested
Frontal Barrier Star Ratings Not Tested
Side Barrier Star Ratings Not Tested
Rollover Resistance Star Rating Not Tested

2004 Dodge Intrepid Recalls & Defects

Exterior Lighting
Recall date 2009-04-07
Recall no. 09e012000
Source NHTSA
Summary Sabersport IS Recalling 16,270 Combination Corner and Bumper Lamp Assemblies OF Various Part Numbers Sold FOR USE AS Aftermarket Equipment FOR Various Passenger Vehicles. These Headlamps Fail TO Conform TO THE Requirements OF Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard NO. 108, "lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." These Lamps DO NOT Contain THE Required Amber Side Reflectors.
Consequence Decreased Lighting Visibility MAY Result IN A Vehicle Crash.
Remedy Sabersport Will Notify Owners and Offer A Full Refund FOR THE Noncompliant Combination Lamps. THE Safety Recall Began ON MAY 11, 2009. Owners MAY Contact Sabersport AT 1-909-598-7589.
Notes This Recall Only Pertains TO Aftermarket Replacement Equipment and HAS NO Relation TO ANY Original Equipment Installed ON Vehicles Produced BY THE Vehicle Manufacturer.in Order TO Determine IF Your Aftermarket Lamp Assembly IS Affected BY This Noncompliance, Please Review THE List OF Model Numbers Provided TO US BY Sabersport.the List CAN BE Found Under "document Search" Located AT THE Bottom OF Your Screen.owners MAY Also Contact THE National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline AT 1-888-327-4236 (Tty 1-800-424-9153), or GO TO <A Href=http://Www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Exterior Lighting:headlights
Recall date 2009-05-11
Recall no. 09e025000
Source NHTSA
Summary Dope, Inc. IS Recalling 42,540 Combination Corner and Bumper Lamp Assemblies OF Various Part Numbers Sold FOR USE AS Aftermarket Equipment FOR Various Passenger Vehicles. These Headlamps Fail TO Conform TO THE Requirements OF Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard NO. 108, "lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." These Lamps DO NOT Contain THE Required Amber Side Reflectors.
Consequence Decreased Lighting Visibility MAY Result IN A Vehicle Crash.
Remedy Dope, Inc. Will Notify Owners and Offer A Full Refund FOR THE Noncompliant Combination Lamps. THE Safety Recall Began ON July 28, 2009. Owners MAY Contact Dope, Inc. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Notes This Recall Only Pertains TO Aftermarket Replacement Equipment and HAS NO Relation TO ANY Original Equipment Installed ON Vehicles Produced BY THE Vehicle Manufacturer.in Order TO Determine IF Your Aftermarket Lamp Assembly IS Affected BY This Noncompliance, Please Review THE List OF Model Numbers Provided TO US BY Dope, Inc.the List CAN BE Found Under "document Search" Located AT THE Bottom OF Your Screen. Owners MAY Also Contact THE National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline AT 1-888-327-4236 (Tty 1-800-424-9153), or GO TO <A Href=http://Www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

2004 Dodge Intrepid Insurance

Insurance for a 2004 Dodge Intrepid is moderately priced, reflecting its status as a Sedan with strong safety ratings and
reasonable repair costs.

How Does the 2004 Dodge Intrepid Compare to Other Sedan?

Compared to its rivals in the full-size sedan class, the 2004 Dodge Intrepid offered competitive interior space and a distinctive design. However, it often lagged behind in reliability. Rivals like the Toyota Avalon and Honda Accord offered superior reliability and resale value, albeit at a higher initial price. The Ford Taurus was a closer competitor in terms of price, but also suffered from similar reliability concerns.

In terms of performance, the Intrepid's V6 engines were adequate but not class-leading. Features were comparable to other vehicles in its price range. However, reliability concerns make it difficult to recommend over alternatives like the Avalon or Accord. Other alternatives include the Buick LeSabre, known for its comfort, or the Mercury Grand Marquis, known for its traditional full-size sedan attributes. If reliability is a priority, spending slightly more on a Japanese competitor is a wiser choice. The Chrysler 300 (starting in 2005) offers similar styling to the Intrepid, but with improvements in reliability and performance. Keep in mind these alternatives would be a year newer.

Ranks #2188 Sedan

1 2023 Toyota Camry (5.0β˜…)
2 2023 Honda Accord (0.0β˜…)
3 2023 Lexus ES (0.0β˜…)
4 2024 Subaru Legacy (5.0β˜…)
5 2022 Mazda MX-30 (5.0β˜…)
6 2024 BMW M3 (0.0β˜…)
7 2023 Ford Mustang (5.0β˜…)
8 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT (0.0β˜…)
9 2023 Audi A3 (0.0β˜…)
10 2023 Chevrolet Camaro (5.0β˜…)
11 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (0.0β˜…)
12 2023 Nissan Altima (4.0β˜…)
2188 2004 Dodge Intrepid (5.0β˜…)

Final Verdict: Is the 2004 Dodge Intrepid a Good Sedan?

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid is best suited for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing interior space over long-term reliability. Given its age, buying new is impossible. It *might* be worth buying if you find one in exceptionally well-maintained condition with a comprehensive service history and a pre-purchase inspection reveals no major issues. The SXT or R/T trims offer more features, but the base SE might be a safer bet due to potentially lower maintenance costs. However, due to known reliability issues and the availability of more reliable alternatives, it's generally not a recommended purchase unless the price is exceptionally low and you're prepared for potential repairs.

2004 Dodge Intrepid Owner Reviews

4.07
Consumer Rating, Based on 26 Consumer Reviews
Overall rating
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Jonathan T on November 18, 2020

2004 2.7 Used car

Overall not bad. I bought it in July 2020 for $1500. It has a few defects. The drivers interior door handle does not work so you have to roll down the window to get out. Easy fix. It does use about 1 qt of oil between changes. I use synthetic oil and change every 5000 miles. I'm told this is Ò€œnormalÒ€ for these engines. Everything works on the car A/C Heat windows stereo etc. The front end is concerning. There is a loud pop from the front end while making low speed maneuvers. There are no shakes in the steering. The ride is smooth but rough. I feel all the bumps in the road. The 2.7 is adequate for power. It's not exciting by any means. The car sits very low. If u r elderly or disabled it may be a challenge to get out of. I don't see many of these cars on the road. They have a really bad reputation. I bought this one solely for the price. If u can find one in decent shape for really cheap and u have some basic mechanical skills I would go for It. Watch the coolant level and oil level religiously. I check mine every time I drive it.

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Forget dodge products on January 8, 2020

Loves to go to the garage.

As a used car still under 100,000 miles it's quite the car. But when the parts go wicked expensive; everything is a $500.00 job....and everything seems to go almost at once. Engine light always one; hard to get it inspected; one cylinder forever misfires..........................to me if you want to keep trading cars and nobody wants it it is so bad! Huge troubles are the water pump, and solenoid for the transmission-you'll have to shell huge buckaroos and no time at all something else goes, the battery is mounted upside down....I'd pass. Dodges' faulty reputation shines here in the 2.7L 6 cylinder intrepid. I think don't own it after 90,000 miles but why bother to begin with? This car was so bad that I hear Dodge changed the name but kept maunfacturing it!! You would think they'd give their competitors a run for their money but you'll run out of money-but fast if you own this short lived junk.

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Rodney Billman on November 8, 2019

I own a 2004 Dodge intrepid

I starting having problems with it the day after I got it the trany went out then when it hit 170000 miles I had to get a new radiator then I needed a new thermostat tried to do it myself no way took it to a mechanic cost me 270.00 they put a new one in it just to tell me the weep hole on my water pump is leaking they want 1000.00 to fix it I don't have that kind of money so I guess that I got a lemon

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kpritch on July 21, 2019

Best first car ever!

If you are looking for a spacious car, then look no further! This car is extra reliable and has all the space you need! Go check it out!

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joycur7 on September 21, 2017

My Old Dodge is for Parts

This car has a new motor and battery and needs has two seats in the front and a rust free body. Winter wipers, front wheel drive, roomy trunk, CD player.

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Hmmmmmmmmmm on July 5, 2014

2004 SE

. Bought my SE 3 years ago at 101,000 miles. Comfortable enough. Huge trunk. Stylish on inside and out. Some road noise. Loved it until it hit 110,000 miles (yes, I drove it only 9000 miles in three years) and then everything seemed to hit the fan. Starter is going (had that looked at by a mechanic who said that it had already been replaced once), needs new power steering pump, passenger window can only be controlled by driver (already had that fixed once), and sometimes speedometer doesn't work. Time to trade it off.

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Garlynne on November 28, 2013

Only good for 150,000 miles

When I read that some people have had their Intrepid's for over 400k miles I am quite shocked. Either they love the car so much and are willing to pay loads of cash to have them repaired, or they are fibbing. I bought my Intrepid in February of 04' and kept it till August of 2012. Starting in 2012 all of my problems erupted at once. All my belts needed replacing along with my Tie-rods, heating core, radiator, thermostat, water pump, valve body, etc. This amounted to over $4,000. Since I knew I couldn't sell the car for that much, I decided to ride it out until it died. At 154,000 miles it finally did. I have to admit that my total cost of ownership (.38 per mile) was very low and proved to be a sound economical choice. The car was reliable up until a point.

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Little Miss Traveller on November 3, 2012

Love this car

I bought this car to replace a van. I have never regretted buying this car. Not even once. Most reliable car I have had. Rarely put money into fixing it. Lots of space for me and passengers as well as plenty of cargo space. I work at trade and consumer shows. So cargo space is very important as well as comfort. No complaint there. This is one of my favourite cars that I have owned. Gas isn't so great, but not terrible.

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Laura on June 12, 2012

Great car

Really happy about it. Had the SXT, sport car but gas saver at the same time. Really good look and performance. No problem with it.

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dodge man on April 23, 2012

Great handling car

The performance and handling of this vehicle makes it a pleasure to drive. Acclerates quickly and handles the curves without leaning. Has a very secure feeling. Sports car handling while enjoying the room of a family sedan.

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Cathleen V

Cathleen is an exceptional freelance writer covering hot topics in the automotive world from a gearhead's perspective. Her articles delve into various aspects of automotive technology and history, offering readers detailed insights into engine performance, reliability, and maintenance. Through her engaging and informative writing, Cathleen provides valuable information to automotive enthusiasts and consumers alike, helping them make informed decisions about vehicle maintenance and purchases.