Model year guide

1996 Dodge Intrepid

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Dodge Intrepid is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.

1996 Dodge Intrepid — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Dodge Intrepid at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints580
Combined18–20 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Dodge Intrepid recalls 2

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift NHTSA Campaign #04V021000 · 13/01/2004

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 PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

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 1-800-853-1403.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System NHTSA Campaign #98V184000 · 06/08/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THE FUEL INJECTION DELIVERY SYSTEM CAN LEAK FUEL FROM SOME OF THE SEALING O-RINGS OR FROM HAIR LINE CRACKS IN THE THERMOSET FUEL INJECTION RAIL.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET (PASSENGER) SIDE FUEL RAIL. VEHICLES SHOWING FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL MUST HAVE THE OUTLET RAIL REPLACED WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-R…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Dodge Intrepid common problems

Owners have filed 580 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

1996 Dodge Intrepid MPG & running costs

Combined18–20 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,533
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,667 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Dodge Intrepid costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,665
Fuel only$17,665
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Dodge Intrepid trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
3.3L 6-cyl

1996 Dodge Intrepid vehicles on record

1996 Dodge Intrepid 1996 Dodge Intrepid Base1B3HD46T9TF153012 1996 Dodge Intrepid 1996 Dodge Intrepid Base2B3HD46T2TH237851

Other Dodge Intrepid model years

2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

1996 Dodge Intrepid — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Dodge Intrepid have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?

Owners have filed 580 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are steering, air bags, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Dodge Intrepid get?

The 1996 Dodge Intrepid has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.