Dodge Intrepid Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Intrepid should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1999 Dodge Intrepid has the most documented problems with a problem score of 718 — driven by 3 recalls, 664 complaints, and 1 reported death.

Q: What is the best year Intrepid to buy?

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 96, meaning 2 recalls and 82 complaints on record.

Q: Which Intrepid has the fewest problems?

The 2004, 2003, 2002 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Dodge Intrepid model year (1993–2004) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

4385

Total Complaints

200

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Dodge Intrepid Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1999

3 recalls · 664 complaints

20 reported injuries

1 reported death

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 718

#2 WORST

1995

2 recalls · 554 complaints

39 reported injuries

13 reported deaths

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 703

#3 WORST

2000

5 recalls · 613 complaints

26 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 680

Best Dodge Intrepid Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2004

2 recalls · 82 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Problem score: 96

#2 BEST

2003

2 recalls · 79 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 99

#3 BEST

2002

2 recalls · 237 complaints

Main area: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Problem score: 255

Found the right year? Verify that specific Intrepid with a free VIN report.

Dodge Intrepid — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2004	2	82	4	—	96	Good
2003	2	79	7	—	99	Good
2002	2	237	6	—	255	Caution
2001	3	368	14	—	405	Caution
2000	5	613	26	—	680	Avoid
1999	3	664	20	1	718	Avoid
1998	2	263	11	—	291	Caution
1997	0	251	18	4	307	Caution
1996	1	370	12	—	397	Caution
1995	2	554	39	13	703	Avoid
1994	3	575	27	—	638	Avoid
1993	3	329	16	—	370	Caution

All 12 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Dodge Intrepid Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Intrepid models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Intrepid should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1999 Dodge Intrepid if possible. It has 3 recalls, 664 owner complaints, and 1 reported death. The overall problem score is 718 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Intrepid to buy?+

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 96. It has only 2 recalls and 82 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Intrepid has the fewest problems?+

The 2004, 2003, 2002 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Dodge Intrepid Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Dodge Intrepid.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Dodge Intrepid.

Check a Specific Dodge Intrepid VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →