1998 Dodge Intrepid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
493 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 47/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 87,019 miles.
Below average
Where 1998 sits among all Intrepid years
What owners report
“1998 dodge intrepid engine failed while driving. Car had 68,000 miles and had regular oil changes every 5000 miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
“Consumer states that the brake rotors are wearing and when applying the brakes the vehicle will have a heavy vibration and extended stopping distance. Dealer notified. Mr”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
“Steering wheel shakes between 55 and 65 mph. Right rear door panel is loose. Interior lights go off speratically”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
“Transmission has not seated into park on more than one occasion. Key can be removed from ignition no matter where the shift lever is.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
“Vehicle continously pulls to the left. To steer requires a constant turn of the wheel to the right.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
“Consumer states of having problems with power windows. This has been replaced a few times. Dealer was not confused. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Intrepid
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 231 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 85,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 68,771 and 101,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
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.
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…
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLE. SOME PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING SOME REQUIRED COMPONENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE IN THESE VEHICLES.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V021000.
Technical service bulletins
155 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and engine — are on file for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Intrepid TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Dodge Intrepid reliable?
The 1998 Dodge Intrepid drew 493 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 47/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 1998 Dodge Intrepid problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Dodge Intrepid are engine (206 complaints), brakes & stability (45), and electrical (44).
At what mileage do 1998 Dodge Intrepid problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Dodge Intrepid problems around 85,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 68,771 and 101,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Dodge Intrepid have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Dodge Intrepid. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.