NHTSA Complaint #10217797 — 2004 DODGE INTREPID

IN AUGUST 2004 WE BOUGHT A 2004 DODGE INTREPID WITH 17,000 MILES FROM A DODGE DEALER. IN SEPTEMBER 2005 THE VEHICLE STARTED EXPERIENCING HESITATION AND STUTTERING AT START UP WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FELL BELOW 40 DEGREES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY. IN NOVEMBER 2005 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SOME IMPROVEMENT WAS NOTICED. IN OCTOBER 2007 THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. THIS HAPPENED WHETHER THE CAR WAS DRIVING OR AT A STANDSTILL. BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE BATTERY. WE AGREED TO PAY FOR A NEW BATTERY AND LEFT THE CAR THERE WHILE THE BATTERY WAS BEING REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP TEST DROVE THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS STILL FLICKERED. THEY THEN DETERMINED THAT A GROUND WIRE WAS LOOSE, PROBABLY CAUSING THE FLICKER. THIS CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND CURRENTLY HAS 30,000 MILES. WE DON'T DRIVE IT MANY MILES PER YEAR AND DON'T FEEL IT IS REALLY RELIABLE. NO WONDER DODGE STOPPED PRODUCTION ON THE INTREPID!! *TR