Wrench.Pro

1994 Dodge Intrepid Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1994 Dodge Intrepid has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Fuel rail and injector leakage.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1994 Dodge Intrepid.

Reported to NHTSA

Fuel rail and injector leakage

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

27 NHTSA complaints · 2000-10 → 2021-03

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I STARTED SMELLING GAS. THE FUEL RAIL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING BY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT INJECTOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11403689
“GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICE WHILE DRIVING HOME, CONSUMER NOTICE FUEL LEAKING FROM THE INJECTION FUEL RAIL ONTO THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10101645
“THREE YEARS AGO THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE "FUEL RAIL" REINFORCEMENT: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V184000. THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM IN THIS AREA AND WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE RAIL REINFORCEMENT WAS ONLY REPLACED ON ONE SIDE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10009811

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission failure and replacement

POWER TRAIN

43 NHTSA complaints · 2000-09 → 2006-04

“IT AMAZES ME THAT THERE IS THIRTEEN OR MORE INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND 150 OR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ON THIS SITE AND YOU HAVE NOT ENFORCED A RECALL FOR THE DODGE INTREPID”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #738050
“2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER 95,000 MILES - I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEM ON INTREPID TRANSMISSION FAILURES - I COUNTED 140 COMPLAINTS SINCE 1995 ON YOUR WEB SITE ALONE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #736763
“THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A DODGE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY US. THE FIRST TIME WAS A DODGE CARAVAN-V6, PROBABLY A 1990 BUT I AM NOT SURE. MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER 60,000. THIS TIME IT IS A 1994 DODGE INTREPID, PERHAPS THE SAME TYPE OF TRANSMISSION AT 87,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #740359

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlamp lens fogging and dim illumination

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

11 NHTSA complaints · 2001-11 → 2004-04

“HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS BUT ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO TO BE ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY WITH OR WITHOUT THE BRIGHTS ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10050680
“BOTH FRONT HEADLAMP LENSES ASSEMBLIES ARE SEVERELY, INTERNALLY CORRODED. LIGHT OUTPUT IS TREMENDOUSLY DIMINISHED AND THEREFORE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10008525
“MY HEADLIGHT COVERS (A SMALL BULB GOES ON THE INSIDE OF THE COVER ) HAS BEEN GETTING CLOUDY FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #753986

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power seat frame and seat-back bracket failure

SEATS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2000-09 → 2003-08

“THE METAL SUPPORT UNDER THE SEAT CUSHION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS TWO EXTENSIONS THAT HOLD A PIVOT ENGAGING THE SEAT BACK SUPPORT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #768632
“METAL FRAMEWORK OF SEAT BROKEN AT RIGHT REAR CORNER OF POWER DRIVERS SEAT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO SEAT BACK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #734855
“POWER ADJUSTING DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT REMAIN IN ONE POSITION DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. SEAT WILL SLIDE FORWARD DURING BRAKING, AND WILL MOVE BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #893550

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tie rod and rack-and-pinion steering failure

STEERING

30 NHTSA complaints · 2000-12 → 2010-01

“BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A BANG AND THE STEERING FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THE FAILURE OF BOTH OF THE BOLTS CONNECTING THE INNER TIE RODS, TO THE RACK AND PINION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #739193
“I HAD THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION INSPECTED AT 73,000 MILES AND I WAS GIVEN A CLEN BILL WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. APPROXIMATLY 3 MONTHS LATER WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT APPRX, 10-15 MPH THE INNER RACK AND PINION BOLTS SHEARED OFF AND LEFT ME WITH NO DIRECTIONAL CONTROL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #763530
“RACK AND PINION SNAPPED, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWERING STEERING. DEAELR WILL REPAIR VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #887042

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Lower control arm and suspension bracket failure

SUSPENSION

21 NHTSA complaints · 2000-09 → 2009-10

“REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE FATIGUED AND SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10286700
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRAKET WAS SPLIT FROM THE FRAME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8022218
“BOLT THAT HOLDS LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BRACKET FELL OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO DISCONNECT FROM VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #883522

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Frontal air bag non-deployment in a crash

AIR BAGS

14 NHTSA complaints · 2000-12 → 2004-10

“WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A BRICK WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10095280
“FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, 2 ADULTS AND ONE CHILD IN THE CAR AND CAR WAS TOTALLY FLIPPED OVER AND THEY DID NOT COME OUT WHEN COLLISION OCCURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #764289
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A "T" BONE HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8015391

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

171 crashes 1990–2024

How the 171 occupant deaths break down

116

driver deaths

55

passenger deaths

171

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1994 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

50

complaints mentioning a crash

25

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1994 Dodge Intrepid reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →