VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Dodge Intrepid1993–2004
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Dodge Intrepid
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Dodge Intrepid Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 613 complaints
26 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5 recalls · 368 complaints
14 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3 recalls · 237 complaints
6 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 5 past investigations into the Intrepid became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 16, 2026.
Dodge Intrepid — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 | 82 | 4 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2003 | 2 | 79 | 7 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2002 | 3 | 237 | 6 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2001 | 5 | 368 | 14 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2000 | 8 | 613 | 26 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 1999 | 5 | 664 | 20 | 1 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 1998 | 3 | 263 | 11 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1997 | 0 | 251 | 18 | 4 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1996 | 0 | 370 | 12 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1995 | 1 | 554 | 39 | 13 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 1994 | 1 | 575 | 27 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 1993 | 3 | 329 | 16 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Dodge Intrepid Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Intrepid compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Intrepid to buy?+
The 2003 Dodge Intrepid scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 2 recalls and 79 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Intrepid years have the most problems?+
The 2000, 2001, 2002 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2000 Intrepid leads with 8 recalls and 613 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Intrepid problems?+
The most frequently reported Dodge Intrepid issues involve: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.