Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Dodge Intrepid Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine — runs 3.8× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
377Complaints
5Recalls
30Crashes
12Fires
25Injured
5Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (29.4% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 3.8× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 111 · 29.4% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 52 · 13.8% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 22 · 5.8% | Recalled | Recall 04V021000 |
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 22 · 5.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 16 · 4.2% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 13 · 3.4% | Recalled | Recall 98V049000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 377 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seats:front Assembly:recliner
NHTSA campaign 03V035000 · 2003 · reported 02/05/2003
IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
NHTSA campaign 04V021000 · 2004 · reported 01/13/2004
EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Air Bags:frontal
NHTSA campaign 98V049000 · 1998 · reported 03/09/1998
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A AWFUL TAPPING NOISE 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME. GOT HOME, TOWED MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE PROCEDED TO…”NHTSA complaint 10005495 — filed 02/07/2003 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE ROD KNOCKING IN THE MOTOR.”NHTSA complaint 10002489 — filed 01/10/2003 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“WHILE IN MOTION, THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE IN THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CORP. BUT THE ONLY RESPONSE TO CONSUMER WAS THAT IT WAS NORMAL…”NHTSA complaint 567590 — filed 09/24/2002 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Intrepid?
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 111 of 377 NHTSA complaints (29.4%), followed by engine and engine cooling (52), power train:automatic transmission (22), visibility:power window devices and controls (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Dodge Intrepid have?
377 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 30 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, and 25 reported injuries. 5 deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Dodge Intrepid have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Dodge Intrepid's reported problems?
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
