Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10029390September 2, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIE ROD SNAPPED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ALL THAT DAY. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE UNTIL LATER ON. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP BUT DIDN'T HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOR REPAIRS THE FOLLOWING MORNING. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037940August 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. *MR WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE AND THEN FAILED. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN HAD BROKE AND PUT A LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036671August 27, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS VIN # [XXX] 2.4 LITER MOTOR HAD A BAD FUEL PUMP. UPON REPLACEMENT MY MECHANIC NOTICE THAT THE SENSOR WIRING THAT CONNECTS TO THE PUMP INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK HAD BURNT UP AND MELTED . THE ONLY THING THAT POSSIBLE KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM BLOWING UP WAS THE GAS CAP WAS ON TIGHT AND THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE TANK. IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR NOW KNOWING WHAT STILL OR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND KIDS IF THE GAS TANK EXPLODED OR CAUGHT ON FIRE I KEPT THE PUMP TO SHOW THE BURNT CONNECTIONS. PLEASE CONTACT ME ON WHAT TO DO TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN OR SO SOMEONE ELSE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037826August 27, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
POSSIBLE BRAKE DEFECT IN 2000 DODGE STRATUS. *MR THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM COLD, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED. AFTER EVERY START FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE FRONT WHEEL LININGS AT MEDIUM SPEEDS WHEN APPLIED LIGHT TO MEDIUM. THIS ALSO OCCURRED IN THE REAR BRAKES. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037844August 27, 2003
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THREE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE VEHICLE HAD A PERPETUAL OIL LEAK AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SHE HAD TO SEEK HELP FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH OIL LEAKING OUT, THE CONSUMER PLACED OIL IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF GAS. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID, ALSO THE FRONT SEAL BEGAN TO LEAK AS WELL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MISSING OUT, SPUTTERED, AND THE STARTER WAS INTERMITTENT DUE TO A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED A REFUND OF REPAIRS. OTHER REPAIRS WERE AS FOLLOWED: THE AIR COMPRESSOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, STARTER, REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET THREE TIMES, ONCE AT 11565K MILES AND SECOND AT 20495K MILES AND AGAIN AT 69000K MILES. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033411August 25, 2003
INTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), TIRES
MY NAME IS [XXX], AND I AM A TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD FATHER OF THREE WHO IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TODAY BECAUSE I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN# [XXX]). THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING CONSISTS OF AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS THAT MALFUNCTION, TRANSMISSION TROUBLES, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION PRIDES ITSELF AS REPRESENTING VALUE, QUALITY, DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY, BUT I CANT SEEM TO SEE THAT AS A TRUE STATEMENT WITH ALL OF MY CURRENT PROBLEMS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ONE GIVEN TIME SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH MY DIFFICULTIES ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. I FEEL THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REPAIRS DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSED BY SHODDY PARTS AND QUALITY. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, AC COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. I AM IN DYER NEED OF A EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, HEAD GASKET. ALSO, I AM EXPERIENCING STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE & BOTTOMING OUT ON POTHOLE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATS IN TRAFFIC &/OR A/C BECOMES INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION & DRIVEWAY DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, INSIDE LIGHTS WORK IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC, LATE OR HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS , FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM FRONT BETWEEN 50 & 70 MPH , MUSTY ODOR AND DEFROSTER FAILS TO CLEAR GLASS. AS IT APPEARS I NEED A LOT OF WORK AND BEING LOW INCOME I NEED HELP.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034554August 25, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A CITATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE CONSUMER BY THE POLICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029658August 22, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE FUEL PUMP WIRE BURNED INSIDE THE GAS TANK, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNT INSIDE THE TANK. THE PUMP WAS BURNT IN SEVERAL PLACES. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034237August 20, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, A BULL WONDERED ONTO THE ROAD AND WAS HIT. UPON IMPACT WITH THE BULL FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES BASED ON DOCTOR'S EVALUATIONS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10032998August 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032674August 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033575August 11, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE, WHEN APPLYING GAS VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033578August 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATES BRAKES DO NOT GRAB, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033639August 11, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY UPPER AND LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032389August 7, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032295August 6, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
DEALER REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. ALSO, REPLACED STEERING PUMP AT COST OF $200, THE DEDUCTIBLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032291August 6, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DEALER WILL REPLACE COIL SPRING. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THIS COIL IS NOT COVERED, AND WILL COST $750 TO REPLACE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030644August 2, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE 2003 DODGE STATUS WITH THE 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER COMING BACK FROM A TRIP, MOST OF WHICH WAS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED SUDDENLY JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 2000 RPMS. THE CAR LUCHED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AT THE NEXT 2 STOPS THE ENGINE SPEED JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 1400 RPMS. FOR THE NEXT WEEK THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN DURING NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I AGAIN HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THIS TIME STITTING AT STOP SIGNS THE ENGINE IDLE WOULD SOMETIMES DROP TO THE POINT OF ALMOST STALLING THEN RECOVER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME A MECHANIC WENT WITH ME AND WITNESSED THE IDLE SPEED DROPPING. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SWANTY'S CHRYSLER CONTACTED THE FACTORY AND HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT PER THE FACTORY THIS IS COMMON TO CHRYSLER 4 CYLINDER ENGINES IN HOT WEATHER. THE DAYS THE ENGINE ACTED UP THE MOST WERE VERY HOT. THE TEMPERATURES WERE 128 AND 124 DEGREES. THE ENGINE IDLE SLOWING PROBLEM IS ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT THE ENGINE SPEEDING UP IS A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE DEARLER AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING IN PARK AND I DID SEE THE IDLE SPEED JUMP UP ONCE TO 1400 RPMS. MYSELF AND MY WIFE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND THE DEALER IS STUMPED. THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWING, BUT I FEEL THIS IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTERS ARE UNDER THE HOOD AND OUR COMMOM 120+ DEGREE DAYS ARE CAUSING THE COMPUTERS TO MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF THE EXTREMELY HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY FUEL MILEAGE IS DEREASING SIGNIFICANTLY WHICH COULD BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY UNDERSTANDING AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO HELP, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029304July 27, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAKS FROM HEAD GASKET IN 97 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 - SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM! WHEN WILL CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT? PAID $700 FOR REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029206July 25, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VISIBILITY PROBLEM. HEAD LAMP COVERS HAVE BECOME FOGGED AND DISCOLORED ,NOT ALLOWING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF ROAD AT NIGHT. THE HEADLAMP COVERS CAN ONLY BE REPLACED AS AN ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. A MORE DURABLE OR A REPLACABLE COVER WOULD ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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