Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10141932November 7, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BUMPER WAS CRACKED, BUT THE FRAME WAS NOT DAMAGED. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO REPORT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 02/13/06.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141244October 30, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE STEERING LOCKED TO THE RIGHT, RIGHT SIDE FELL DOWN AND PULLED CAR SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS NO STEERING, NO CONTROL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, PULLED CAR UP A CURB INTO A FIRE HYDRANT THEN ANOTHER 25 FEET INTO A POLE. CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FRONT END PARTS ARE ALL IN TACT, ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO TURN COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS INSPECTED ON VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER EXPLANATION OR EVIDENCE PRIOR TO THE CURB THAN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CAR LOST CONTROL CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10140884October 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SUBSEQUENT TO HAVING A RECENT OIL CHANGE AND ENGINE FLUSH MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLICKING SOUND, WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF SO I COULD CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. UPON VISUALLY INSPECTING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS NOT OBVIOUS SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG, NO LEAKS ETC, I THEN CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL AND CLEAN. I THEN TRIED RESTARTING MY VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START, JUST CLICK ONCE THEN NOTHING. SUBSEQUENTLY I CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN. I WAITED FOUR DAYS TO HEAR FROM THEM AND THEY NEVER CALLED SO FINALLY I HAD MY WIFE CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN BUT BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING I HAD TO AUTHORIZE THEM TO LET SOMEONE FROM CHRYSLER WARRANTY INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND THIS WOULD BE A $400.00 FEE, WHICH I HAD TO PAY. AFTER THE ALLEGED INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO SLUDGE AND THAT CHRYSLER WARRANTY WOULD NOT REPAIR MY CAR,EVEN THOUGH I HAD A 7YR-100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME THE ENGINE WAS 50,000 MILES AND ANY AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO GET COPIES OF THE ALLEGED INSPECTION WERE DENIED NOT ONLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALSO FROM CHRYSLER WARRANTY. NUMEROUS TIMES I CALLED CHRYSLER WARRANTY IN HOPES OF GETTING SOME RESULTS BUT THE REPS WERE RUDE AND HAD THE ATTITUDE THAT ( OH WELL ) IT'S YOUR PROBLEM. NOW IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS MY CAR STILL IS NOT FIXED, I STILL HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT IN ADDITION TO EXTENDED MEDICAL BILLS FOR MY WIFE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ACTIONS OR LACK THERE OF BY DODGE/CHRYSLER. IN REGARD TO THE MEDICAL MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED IN EXTREME DEPRESSION AND ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAK DOWN AND OUR FAMILY"S EMOTIONAL LIFE HAS BEEN IN DISARRAY AND A FINANCIAL STRAIN BY PAYING FOR A VEHICLE THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140767October 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM STOPPING. THE RPMS REVVED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 205, AND THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED. THE DEALER HAS DONE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND FOUND NO SOLUTION. CHRYSLER OFFERED HER NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OR ANY FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A CAR AS A RESULT OF THE SURGING.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137844October 18, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED. THE MECHANIC GAVE THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP BACK TOT HE CONSUMER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONSUMER PREFERRED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HER MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CALLED THE MECHANIC TO CONFIRM HER STORY. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137121October 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THERE WERE TWO FIRES THAT ORIGINATED IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALERSHIP DID SOME WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRES WERE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FIRST FIRE WAS ON JULY 2005, AND THE SECOND OCCURRED ON AUGUST 2005. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140047October 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE LOCAL STORE, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE STORE. APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES LATER THE TAG NUMBER OF VEHICLE WAS ANNOUNCED OVER THE INTERCOM SYSTEM, STATING THAT THE OWNER NEED TO REPORT TO THE PARKING LOT IMMEDIATELY. I WENT TO THE PARKING LOT TO FIND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BROKEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE HOOD RELEASE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD APPEARED TO BE BURNED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO RALLYE DODGE IN OCALA FLORIDA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DOMINICK, ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT RALLYE DODGE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE CAR COULD BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROX. $5000. BACK ON MARCH 16, 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE PCM AT THE SAME DEALER AT A COST OF $999.91. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER I AM OUT A $1000 COMPUTER AND A $5000 CAR. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? HOW AND WHEN WILL CHRYSLER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THEIR VEHICLES? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139678October 14, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE HAD TWO {2} RECENT EVENTS, WHERE THE CAR KEEPS TRYING TO GO FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE AUTO. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE AUTO. LAST NIGHT 10/13/05 IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139292October 11, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, I NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED THE AREA AND FOUND THAT THE BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE TRAILING ARM LINK HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST. THE TRAILING ARM LINK WAS "FLOATING" AT THE FRAME END. IT SERVES TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION. I REPLACED THE BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES (LEFT AND RIGHT) AS THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO NEAR FAILURE. THE REST OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE ARE NEARLY RUST FREE. THE FAILED AND NEARLY FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139371October 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STARTING KNOCKING. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING GEAR HAD GONE CAUSING METAL TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH ENGINE. THIS WAS DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7L ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS JUST FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138592October 4, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005. FRONT END TIE ROD ENDS CAME APART FROM THE WHEEL. HAD NO WARNINGS SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONTACT'S 171/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT TO PICK UP A FRIEND, WHILE PULLING OUT FROM DRIVEWAY THE TIE ROD ENDS BROKE . AS SHE WAS PULLING OUT A FRIEND'S FATHER HEARD THE NOISE OF THE TIE ROD END BREAKING . HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND TOLD HER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONTACT'S HOME. IN THE MEANTIME CONTACT FOUND PART AVAILABLE AT ADVANCE AUTOMOBILE, AND CONTACT'S HUSBAND FIXED THE TIE ROD ENDS. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPORTS. NO FIRES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138276September 30, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN
CLICK SOUND IN LEFT FRONT AREA WHEN ACCELERATING (FWD AND REVERSE) AND BREAKING. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH STRATUS R/T AND THE SIMILAR MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND DISCUSSION CAN BE FOUND HERE. HTTP://WWW.ECLIPSEFORUMS.ORG/FORTOPIC8583-0-ASC-0.HTML. *NN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138148September 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF WHILE IN PARKING LOTS OR AT RED LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OUT LAST TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WAS ALL HOT! THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY AND THEY WOULD NEED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I READ A WEBSITE FORUM FULL OF STRATUS' THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STOP WITHOUT WARNING, THE RADIO STAYS ON AND EVERYTHING! THIS COULD LEAD TO A WRECK!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138168September 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES FAILED ON MY SONS '96 DODGE STRATUS. HE WENT OVER APPROXIMATELY A 20 FOOT EMBANKMENT AND LANDED IN A CREEK. LUCKILY HE ONLY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND YOUR SITE ON RECALLS AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE BRAKES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, HOWEVER, HIS VIN # WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT COST ABOUT $600.00 TO REPLACE THIS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10134466September 29, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CALLER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE THROTTLE STUCK. HE TRIED TO PULL THE FOOT PEDAL UP WITH HIS FOOT BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. HE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT FINALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. THE CALLER SAID THE BRAKES WERE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICLE REACHED THE SPEED OF 80 MPH. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO HER OWN MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND SHE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED.*AK THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULATOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134467September 29, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT GO OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-26-05. SHE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 60 MPH, BUT INSTEAD IT KEPT CLIMBING HIGHER. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD TO CUT THE WIRES TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO GO OFF. THE BRAKES WERE RUINED BECAUSE SHE HAD TO RIDE THE BRAKES FOR SO LONG. THE SERVICE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE MODULE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BAD. HE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. HE TOLD HER TO CALL THE NHTSA AND REPORT THIS BECAUSE HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST INCURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER SHE IS EXPERIENCING BACK PAIN FROM BEING JERKED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10134769September 29, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR OR NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF A SOLENOID PACK. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION COMPUTER HAD TO BE FLASHED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE GEAR STILL MOVED WHILE IN DRIVE. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137870September 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59,000 MILES ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND AND STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AND/OR DELAY SHIFT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HARD PART TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $2100.00 AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF WARRANTY AT 50,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137089September 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 FOR NHTSA RECALL 04V021000 REPAIRS. RECALL WAS CORRECTED, HOWEVER, THEY CHARGED THE CONTACT FOR CYLINDER LOCK/IGNITION LOCK, NEW KEY, AND RECODED CYLINDER, WHICH TOTALED $406.00. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THESE REPAIRS WHERE NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL, AND THAT THEY HAD TO BE DONE TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136762September 16, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: WHERE THE HOOD FASTENED THERE WAS A LEVER IN THE OUTER SKIN OF THE HOOD WHERE IT WAS NOT MOLDED PROPERLY. THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH METAL TO MOLD IT PROPERLY. THE PAINT RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT COULD CAUSE THE LATCH TO COME UNDONE AND THE HOOD FILE UP. NOTICED THIS ON ALL 2000 MODELS, AND ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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