1999 Dodge Intrepid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

1,236 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Dodge Intrepid, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 99/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 84,305 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 1999 Dodge Intrepid sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2003–2004.

1,236Complaints
99/100Trouble index
6Recalls
81,556Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 1999 sits among all Intrepid years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 720 complaints (58%) · typically ~84,305 miles
“Consumer has notice premature failure of the engine. The dealer has been notified. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid
Transmission & drivetrain 98 complaints (8%) · typically ~69,000 miles
“I just had the check engine light on my car fixed, oil leak and transmission leak fixed, and the windows fixed because they were off track. My air conditioning unit is broke and i hate that because i have a newborn baby and its hot! I had to get a new transmission at 95,000 miles. I was unhappy…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid
Electrical 80 complaints (6%) · typically ~72,000 miles
“While driving my car caught fire under the hood. The brakes would not work. Me and my passanger had to jump from the passenger side of the car. Car stopped down road on its own. It was a total loss. The car is to be determined electrical fire, but is still under investigation. Mr”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid
Steering 59 complaints (5%) · typically ~79,902 miles
“Steering has excessive free play, about 4 inches of rotation left to right. Also the steering is starting to bind in the middle of turns. The wheels 'sticks' instead of returning.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid
Visibility & wipers 53 complaints (4%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“3 window motors replaced; dealer stated they had replaced several motors; 2 other customers in same day for same problem. Dealer quickly and professionally took care of problem. Excellent car otherwise.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid
Other 41 complaints (3%) · typically ~70,000 miles
“Ever since i purchased my 1999 dodge intrepid at the dodge downtown la, many problems have occurred. The first problem was that sensors in the car kept blowing out, heater/ac went out and window motor blew out. All of these problems occurred more then once.dodge downtown la could never determine…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 Intrepid

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 768 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 81,556 miles. Half of those reports fall between 66,190 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

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.

POWER TRAIN 04V021000 2004

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…

SEATS 03V035000 2003

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…

SEAT BELTS 01V119000 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE…

SEAT BELTS 00V034000 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.

Federal defect investigations

AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK EA03011 opened 2003, closed 2004

Led to recall campaign 04V021000.

THROTTLE CONTROL FAILURE PE03010 opened 2003, closed 2003

Technical service bulletins

124 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and engine — are on file for the 1999 Dodge Intrepid. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1999 Intrepid TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1998peak 274 in 20042018

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1999 Dodge Intrepid reliable?

The 1999 Dodge Intrepid drew 1,236 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 99/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).

What are the most common 1999 Dodge Intrepid problems?

The top reported problems for the 1999 Dodge Intrepid are engine (720 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (98), and electrical (80).

At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Intrepid problems show up?

Owners most often report 1999 Dodge Intrepid problems around 81,556 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 66,190 and 100,000 miles.

Does the 1999 Dodge Intrepid have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Dodge Intrepid. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1998 Intrepid All Intrepid years 2000 Intrepid →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.