Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Intrepid, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 52 | 49% |
| Power train | 11 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 8% |
| Air bags | 5 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED A SCRAPING NOISE WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKING UP. TIRE AND RIM WERE GROUND DOWN, WHILE I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. MECHANICS NOTES: "EBRAKE CAME APART PASSE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE CAR HAS MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS LIKE ALL THE 03 2.7 L ENG SE. CONNECTING RODS IS FALLING OUT, AND ETC. THE CAR IS UNBALANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TODAY TO FIND WHY THE OLI LIGHT WAS COMING ON WHEN THE VEHICLE THERMOSTAT RISE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY CAR JUST WENT FROM FINE TO NOT FINE. I FELT LIKE IT WAS IN 2 GEAR WHILE DRIVING IT. SO I HAD TO PULL OVER STOP IT AND MAKE SURE I WAS IN THE RIGHT GEAR AND I WAS BUT IT WOULDN'T SHIFT TO DRIVE. STAYED IN 2 GEAR. THEN
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN AZ THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND THAN TRAIL SMOKE.... AS WE PULLED OFF SMOKE ROLLED OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE... CHECKING THE PASSENGER SIDE, THERE WAS MELTING PLASTIC RUNNING TO THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE CAR LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY MADE A LOUD CLANKING BANGING SOUND. IT STALLED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER THE SOUNDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART T
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2003 Dodge Intrepid. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 52 of them (49%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.