2001 Dodge Intrepid Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

RevDrJim on June 15, 2018

This car is in very good condition in every way. I enjoyed driving it, has a 3.2 L V-6 with very good acceleration and power, handles well in all weather with FWD. Reliable transportation with high safety rating. Both A/C and heat are very good. Previously owned by brother and mother who both did regular maintenance. Big trunk.

Ravyv on October 4, 2017

The engine was built to last. Has been an extremely reliable car with regular maintenance. For an older car it maintains well. I would say that as a person who works on it can be difficult to work on because of the location of items around the engine, such as the battery, or alternator.

Teetot77 on June 11, 2017

when its running right its very comfortable and reliable, but it has wate in the oil so I changed the oil and noticed the water and it could come from the water pump, or the head gasket only 50-75$ for the parts

PESindy on March 11, 2017

We bought our 2001 Intrepid ES 3.2 liter new. It now has 162k miles on it and looks and drives like new. No rust (March 2017) and still gets 30mpg highway. No plans to trade, nothing out there that can match it!

Roadie #1 on July 13, 2016

Bought this car in 2001 with 14000 miles (lease). Someone ran into me last week or I would still be driving it. I had to replace the alternator earlier this year and the thermostat a few years ago, oh and the struts last year. It had 178,000 miles and a lot of memories. Still has original muffler and it's still quiet. The battery lasted 12 1/2 years! No problem with sludge, just keep the oil changed. I went to synthetic a few years ago. I did have trouble with the rubber seals around the doors shrinking which made the road noise kinda noisy. All in all, it was a great car. I'm writing this as a kind of tribute to it. I'm going to miss her.

Car enthusiasts on January 27, 2015

We got a 2001 dodge intrepid SE about 8 years ago and it was the most reliable car we've had, it got through 4 years of highschool years total and 4 years of college, it performed great, never had any problems with the oil sludge prone 2.7L engine all around a great car, it was a little sad to see it go, I'm getting my next car soon but I would have gotten another Intrepid if one was close, people say this a terrible car but I don't know what they are saying, if you treat the car right, you will have this car longer than 8 years

Buhbye2u on October 20, 2013

On 10 /19/2013 I took this Intrepid on test drive and it was making extremely loud noise coming from the rear end make sure you find out what was wrong with it before buying

Schwan on January 18, 2013

This was my first car, I bought it with 149k on it in great condition. I had it for 2 months before I was replacing the water pump which is inside of the engine itself and everything needs to be taken out in order to get to it. After a thousand dollars I got it running again for about a year and then the engine blows on me. Took it too a mechanic and a filter got clogged with slugged and the timing chain broke and bent all of the rods with it. It had a nice ride but, it is just a money pit after awhile

Mr. Intrepid on July 14, 2012

The nickname is real... I've had 3 '02 Intrepid R/T's, a 2000 R/T, and, a 2002 ES, and 1994 Base Model Intrepid - ALL w/ 3.5l, or 3.5l H.O. (R/T's) engines. No 2.7l's. All were bought used w/ less than 30,000 1-owner miles, except the original '94, ordered (to get a 3.5l engine) new on 10/18/93 (delivered on 12/09/93), and 1 '02 R/T bought w/ 67k. Other than test drives of other cars, and work suplied vehicles, I've driven only Intrepids, by choice, since 12/93, and only R/T's, since 2/04. Maintenance can get expensive on Intrepids, because they last so long. (201k+, 113k, & 108k at accident loss, on 3, and 131k on the over heated loss, all still going strong, 'til being killed) However, the only non-maintenance item ever needed was a new engine due to rapid total coolant loss, and trying to make the next exit in 93 degree weather. (It was only another 1.3 mi., but, when I stopped her, she never ran again.) Repairmen claim the 3.5's were "pretty much bulletproof... UNLESS you really overheat them." The '02 R/T's were the epitome of the Dodge Intrepid line; all Intrepids having excellent styling, capacity and handling, esp. for their size -- the R/T's took things up a notch, w/ stiffer suspensions; wider 225/70-17 tires (vs. 225/60-16); upgraded, faster-response steering pumps; and, a 244 H.P., 250 ft/lbs of torque H.O. uprade to the 234 H.P./248 torque standard 3.5l, using short/long fuel rail technology. Any of the 3.5l engines moved the Intrepids well... the H.O. engines also did it relatively effortlessly (55 mph never reaching 1700 rpm, 65 @ about 21-2200 rpm; and on rolling type roadways, not flat), w/ better gas mileage in actual usage, than the standard 3.5's, in the ES and (upgraded) base models. Why go for the '02? They were the last of the breed (only 2000 - '02), and benefited from all earlier improvements, incl. the highest H.P. & torque, and, even gas mileage w/ continual refinements to the computers for the manumatic transmission and fuel delivery programs. Plus, while the standard equipment list was already the longest on R/T's over any other trim, starting w/ an ES, and then adding upgrades; but, most "options" that were available on '00 & '01 R/T's (not the moonroof, leather seating, CD-changer or full-size spare, but, everything else), actually became standard on the '02. Why did I have so many? During 2008-10, I was "overtaken" (the other vehicle moves into the lane you occupy, where you occupy it!), by a tractor-trailer, a huge honkin', blinged-out Escalade, an appliance delivery "box" truck, and a small (but, not a van) school bus. None were my fault, each other driver claimed to not see me there, but, each was in the process of passing me... and, Intrepids are NOT small cars!); however, I still lost a car to each accident, and, immediately set out in search of another. Intrepid R/T's were "replaced" w/ the SXT's, in the latter half of '02, continuing until "04... but, they weren't even close. SXT's started as base models, that were upgraded to better-than-ES suspensions, but not R/T's level, w/ the 3.5l H.O. engine (upped to 250/250), and no manumatic (std. on R/T), was even available, as an option. Anybody out there have a nice 2002 Intrepid R/T, they'd like to sell, now? With the way traffic is getting these days, I'm also afraid to buy anything brand new.

RT Driver on March 23, 2012

We bought the R/T new and have done very little maintenance on it. Handles great in snow w/good triple tread tires and rides real nice. Style is great! Only replacement of water pump and a tie rod in 142,000 miles. Other than that, just general maintenance (e.g., oil changes, belt replacements, flushes, etc.) It just started having issues w/'warm starts' - speculation is something with the sensors. As w/technology...it can't be tested unless they can run diagnostics on it when it is acting up. One could pursue this, but it may be the start to 'trickle maintenance' that may start nickel and diming us. Due to mileage on the car, we are opting to trade it in. Our only complaint is that of others...the location of the battery! One has to have it put up on hoist in order to change the battery. I saw that they are still putting the battery for the 2012 Avenger there. Sure wish they would still manufacture Intrepids. Our choice of car to replace the Intrepid R/T will be the Charger SXT (battery is under the trunk (like the spare tire). Hoping the dealer 'works w/us re:$$$ - Oh so EXPENSIVE!