DodgeIntrepid19933.5L/dodge/intrepid/1993/3-5l/
LH platform

1993 Dodge Intrepid — 3.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Intrepid 3.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.5LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Dodge Intrepid 3.5L is a passenger car built on the LH platform, powered by a 3.5‑liter engine paired with a four‑speed automatic transmission. It requires 5.5 quarts of 10W‑30 API oil and carries an EPA rating of 16/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined. Owner‑reported trouble totals 488 complaints for the model year, with the fuel system gasoline area leading the list and five recalls issued, placing the 1993 Intrepid near the low‑complaint end of the 1992‑2004 range where 1992 saw only two complaints and 2000 peaked at 1,094.

Model year200420032002200120001999199719961993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04573031 discontinued
Fuel filter04554040 discontinued
Spark plug68304020AA alt SP0RN14MC5
Front wiper blades04746318 discontinued · alt 04723444
Serpentine belt04573234AB discontinued · alt B0015545
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume105 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Power Steering FluidMS-5931

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Automatic Seat Belt Track (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Dodge Intrepid sits near the peak of the complaint curve, with 488 complaints and 78 TSBs, far above the 2 complaints in 1992 and the 848 complaints that would follow in 1994. Recall activity is modest—five recalls—yet investigations and TSBs are high, indicating a concentration of safety‑related issues. Compared to the surrounding years, 1993’s complaint volume is higher than 1992 but lower than the 1994‑1999 highs, positioning it at the upper middle of the trend. The top complaint areas—fuel system, power train, engine cooling, and suspension—suggest recurring mechanical concerns. With 30 crash complaints and 12 fire complaints, the safety record for 1993 is not exceptional but typical for the era. Overall, 1993 remains a viable purchase if proper maintenance records are available, though buyers should be vigilant about the identified mechanical and safety issues.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
78
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
10
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
488
Owner complaints
30 involved a crash · 12 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 488 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline109
Power Train46
Engine & Engine Cooling42
Suspension36
Visibility25
Exterior Lighting23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic22
Air Bags20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

99V215000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower ArmReported 09/08/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BRACKETS CAN CRACK DUE TO FATIGUE AND SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE ENGINE CRADLE AT THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO IT.

98V130000Fuel System, Gasoline:DeliveryReported 12/06/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.3L ENGINES. THE 'O-RINGS' USED TO SEAL THE INTERFACE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL SUPPLY, RETURN AND CROSS OVER TUBES ARE NOT AS ROBUST AS THOSE USED IN LATER MODEL… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 78 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
R2118796A2016-02-26Engine And Engine CoolingValve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.
18020022002-06-24Unknown Or OtherFLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC
07002022002-02-04Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING LOW OR NO CABIN HEAD, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM SYSTEM FILL PROCEDURE. *TT
09008012001-11-02Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING CAMSHAFT / BEARING SERVICE. *TT
08010012001-05-25Electrical SystemSUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Intrepid. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Intrepid 3.5L take?

5.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Intrepid have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.5L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.