Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#854394December 23, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NHTSA RECALL # 96V006 000/ENGINE: VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKAGES FROM ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#854395December 23, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT, ESTIMATED SPEED OF 20-25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILEDTO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716376December 23, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER LAST MONTH REGARDING THE LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON OUR 1996 DODGE STRATUS WITH 57003 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS REPORTED ABOUT LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. BUT, TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US IT WOULD COST $100 OR SO TO JUST CHECK IT OUT. EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. BECAUSE OF OUR FINANICIAL STATUS, WE CHOSE TO APPLY THE $100 TO OUR MECHANIC TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK THE MEHCANIC 3 WEEKS TO GET THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. IMAGINE THAT, NO PROBLEMS REPORTED AND STILL THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. IT TOOK 3 DAYS TO FIX. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT HE TALKED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. HE SAID THEY WERE REPLACING ABOUT 2 A WEEK. ALSO THAT CHRYSLER WAS PAYING FOR EITHER ALL OF IT OR PARTS. I CALLED CHRYSLER BACK AND TRIED TO TALK WITH THEM. I EVEN GOT MORE IRATE THAN I SHOULD HAVE. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT HELP US BECAUSE WE CHOSE NOT TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS LEAKY HEAD GASKET WAS NOT A RECALL. WERE WE REQUIRED TO PAY AN EXTRA $100 JUST SO THEY COULD SAY "YES" IT IS THE HEAD GASKET IN ORDER FOR THEM TO THEN SAY "NO" WE ARE NOT COVERING IT? UNDERSTAND MY POSITION, ALL I WANT REEMBURSED FOR IS THE HEAD GASKET ITSELF WHICH WAS $136.30. BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A RECALL, WHY COULDN'T I TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC? MY MECHANIC CHARGES $24/HR LABOR COMPARED TO THE $54/HR THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES. DOES IT MATTER WHO INSTALLS IT WHEN IT IS NOT A RECALL? ALSO, MY MECHANIC SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS THE SAME IDENTICAL ONE THAT WAS TAKEN OUT. IN CONCLUSION, WHY SHOULD I BE PENALIZED FOR SAVING EXTRA MONEY WHEN IT IS CHRSYLER FAULT FOR THE DEFECTED PART? ALL I ASK FOR IS THE PRICE OF THE HEAD GASKET $136.30. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716375December 23, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE EVERY RECALL, CONSUMER PAID COST OF FAILED ENGINE HEAD GASKET, ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO IMPROPER TIMING BELT INSTALLATION. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 50MPH ON INTERSTATE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO PARK TRANSMISSION BLEW UP AND CAR LOCKED UP. PREGNANT PASSSENGER SUFFERED WIPLASH ETC. DODGE CONDUCTED INVESTIGATION (# 5804935) STATED THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE. NOTE: INCIDENT OCCURED DAYS BEFORE NOTIFICATION OF SHIFTER RECALL. LETTER SENT BY DODGE STATING THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, REFUSES TO RELEASE FULL REPORT CLAIMING PROPRIATORY INFO. CONSUMER AGAIN HAD TO PAY FOR FULL COST OF REPAIR, NEW TRANS. $ 1,700. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#550031December 20, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER FEELS 26 DAYS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS MADE FOR BRAKES (RECALL # 99V244000). NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716252December 20, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
30MPH FRONTAL CRASH, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, BUT CAR DIDN'T RESPOND. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#716253December 20, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2ND ACCIDENT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR DID NOT SLOWDOWN, DIRECT FRONAL IMPACT 45MPH, DRIVER'S & PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#716135December 16, 1999
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
BOTH REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE POWER AND WILL NOT GO DOWNWARD WITH POWER BUTTON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715929December 11, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CARPETED FLOOR MAT GOT CAUGHT IN COTTER PIN IN BOTTOM OF STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING IN A PARKING LOT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549878December 8, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853754December 7, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES TO THE FLOOR, INCREASING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES RESPOND LATE. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853619December 2, 1999
SEAT BELTS
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. CSS WAS LOCKED IN SEAT BELT & IT BECAME UNLATCHED. LOCKING MECHANISM WAS BROKEN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK COMPLETELY WHEN A LITTLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO BRAKES. WOULD HAVE TO JERK TO RELEASE BELT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC ORDERING PARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715544December 2, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SPONGY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. AFTER THIS HAPPENS I TRY TO DUPLICATE THE DEFECT BUT IT WON,T HAPPEN AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#549774December 1, 1999
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
RIGHT HIGH BEAM HEAD LIGHT CONTINUALLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, THE FAILURE UNKNOWN. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853488November 30, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL WHICH CAN SPRAY ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER WILL NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853489November 30, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE SENDS OUT LIGHT SMOKE DUE TO A LIGHT SMOKE. THIS SMOKE HAS RADIATOR FLUID IN IT, COULD BE DANGEROUS IF INHALED TOO LONG. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER TO LOOK AT ENGINE. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715451November 30, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL..THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO LAST OIL CHANGE .TOOK CAR BACK TO PLACE WHERE OIL WAS CHANGED AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE AND WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL ENGINE.CAR WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER WITHOUT COST TO ME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715375November 29, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET ON LOTS OF STRATUS/CIRRUS/BREEZE HAS BEEN LEAKING. I WAS TOLD BY 4 MECHANICS THAT THEY HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I HOPE BY TELING YOU THIS IT WILL MAKE CHRYSLER PAY FOR MY REPAIR AND ALSO OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE YOUR INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND HAPPY WITH THERE MAJOR PURCHASES. THE SECOND LARGEST INVESTMENT FOR MOST PEOPLE. THANK YOU .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715334November 28, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I HAD MORE TO REPORT, BUT I RAN OUT OF SPACE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ENGINE STARTER, AND EGR VALAVE HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. ALMOST FORGOT, THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD TO BE REPLACE AGAIN AT 51,000 MILLES/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715297November 27, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTO MAKES LOUD WHINING NOISE AT 30MPH & ABOVE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL...SOUND IS SUGGESTIVE OF FINAL DRIVE GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM...ALSO WHEN BRAKING CAR FREQUENTLY 'KICKS'...TOLD BY WELTON MOTORS REPRESENTATIVE WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE WHINING NOISE AND 'KICK' THAT THESE ISSUES ARE TYPICAL IN THE STRATUS & PRESENT NO PROBLEM. QUESTION...IF IT IS TYPICAL THEN WHY DIDN'T I EXPERIENCE THESE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE 1995 STATUS WHICH I OWNED FOR 4 YEARS PRIOR TO BUYING THE STRATUS 2000??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Stratus