Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#8024225December 11, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. ALSO STATED THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR WEB SITE WHERE THERE IS MORE THEN 40 COMPLAINTS.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS PHONE CALL. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000001December 11, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 86,000+ MILES THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND THE ASSOCIATED TSB(09-05-98). WHEN I NOTICED THE LEAK, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN TOWN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF THE REPAIR. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, BUT GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR $800. NEXT, I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IN DETROIT, MI.(1-800-992-1997). I WAS TOLD POLITELY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME BUT THAT MY CAR WAS TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED WHY SOME PEOPLE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE OTHERS DID NOT, AND WAS TOLD THAT "THIS OFFICE WOULD NOT HAVE AUTHORIZED THOSE PAYMENTS". I ASKED FOR A NUMBER OR ADDRESS TO MAKE AN APPEAL TO THIS DECISION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD ALREADY MADE THE FINAL DECISION, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO APPEAL TO, AND THE DECISION WOULD NOT BE OVERTURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770560December 6, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FROM ALL THE PEOPLE I'VE READ ABOUT HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DODGE STRATUS. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN 1998 AND NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. THE ENGINE SMELLS LIKE IT COULD START ON FIRE FROM ALL THE OIL THIS CAR LEAKS. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HELP US. THANKS DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770454December 4, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE CAR HAVE GONE OUT TWICE, ONCE AT 37,000 MILES AND NOW AT 65,000 MILES. NOW THE DODGE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE TIMING BELT PULLEY HAS LOCKED UP AND HAS SHREDDED THE BELT AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PULLEYS NEVER GO OUT AT THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. HOWEVER, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER 1997 STRATUS OWNERS. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO WENT OUT ON THE CAR, I WONDER IF THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING ON IT FROM THE BLOWN HEADS. THIS PART IS STILL UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BUT WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER 80,000 MILES? I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? MAYBE THEY ARE WAITING ON A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE TIMING BELT FAILURE, OR FROM FIRES CAUSED BY THE OIL DRIPPING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS EVERY 30,000 MILES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE THE CAR BECAUSE I OWE WHAT THE CAR RETAILS FOR. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL HELP THOSE OF US WHO WERE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUY THIS LEMON BEFORE LOTS OF DEATHS OCCUR. IF DODGE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US. I THINK A CLASS ACTON LAW SUIT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#568461December 3, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDED REAR SEAT BELT PROBLEMS, NO POWER ON THE BACK WINDOWS, EGR VALVE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND SPEED SENSOR FAILURE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023544December 2, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP. VEHICLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023459November 29, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN CHECKING THE OIL, CONSUMER STATES THE OIL READING KEPT DECREASING RAPIDLY. CONSUMER TOOK TO DODGE, DODGE SAYS THE GASKET IS TOO THIN AND IS CAUSING A LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770194November 27, 2002
SEATS
I'VE LOST A SEAT PART TO MY CAR AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT FROM ANYONE. I'VE CONTACTED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HAD THE PART ON ORDER AND THEN THEY CANCELLED IT WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME OR TELL ME WHY. THE PART # IS RD161AZAA AND IS A PILLOW THAT CONNECTS TO AN INTERGRATED CHILD SEAT IN THE BACK. I'M NOW UNABLE TO USE THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT FOR FEAR THAT ONE OF MY CHILDREN WILL GET HURT. CAN YOU HELP? DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770053November 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770028November 22, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
SHOULD BE NATIONAL RECALL. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769999November 21, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS THE SECOND HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769951November 20, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TRIED CONTACTING DODGE AND EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW OF IT THEY SAID TOUGH. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769785November 16, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
IF I REPORTED THIS BEFORE I APOLOGIZE. CAR OVERHEATED ON 10-14-02. PULLED ASIDE LET COOL DOWN. DROVE HOME CHECKED UNDER HOOD. COOLANT IN RESERVOIR, OIL IN ENGINE. STARTED CAR THE NEXT DAY, NO HEAT FROM HEATER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT MOVE OFF OF COLD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CAR DECELERATED AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WENT ON. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CALLED FOR TOW. CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. COMPRESSION TEST DONE, THEY SAID BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TWO DAYS LATER, CAR TOWED TO SELLING DEALERSHIP, AUTHORIZED TEAR DOWN OF ENGINE. THEY STATE CAR OVERHEATED, SEVERELY DAMAGED ENGINE TO POINT WHERE SOME COMPONENT WAS CRYSTALIZING. THEY SAID NOTHING ABOUT A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSES TO HELP. DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ASSIST AND WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. HAVE MADE CALLS TO CHRSYLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED COMPLAINT, WROTE A LETTER TO CHRYSLER. THEN SENT A FAX TO CHRYSLER ONLY RESPONSE WAS THROUGH DEALERSHIP AND MESSAGE LEFT ON ANSWERING MACHINE. "WON'T ASSIST YOU WON'T LOOK AT CAR. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008565November 15, 2002
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE JACK TO CHANGE A TIRE AND THE JACK FAILED. THE ALUMINUM HOUSING IN WHICH THE SCREW TURNS IS VERY POROUS (I.E. LOTS OF AIR BUBBLES IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING).**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 TURN-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769754. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022705November 14, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER STATE. THE FUEL PUMP WIRE WAS BURNED INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK, DUE TO THAT DEFECT CAR WAS STALL ON THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769638November 12, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769552November 11, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A TOP PRIORITY INVESTIGATION. THE FRONT AXLES BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT. THE FRONT BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MANUFACTURER. AXLE BEARING FAILURE OCCURED AT 21,000 MILES VEHICLE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD. THEN AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER WITH 38,000 MILES ON IT , AT THAT TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS ON THE UPPER AND LOWER ON BOTH SIDES WERE WORN OUT, MANUFACTURER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY A POWER STEERING LINE WHICH RUNS FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO THE POWER STEERING RESEVOIR STARTED LEAKING, UPON INSPECTION I FOUND IT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE BUT FINALLY OPENED UP. THE CASUE IS THE DESIGN OF THE POWER STEERING LINE, IT RUBS AGAINST THE A/C LINE WHICH IS METAL AND WORE A HOLE IN THE LINE. I PURCHASED THE LINE FRONT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER. THE LINE HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED 3 TIMES, A OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM. I AM ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN, THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS I LISTED ARE VERY SERIOUS AND DODGE IS AWARE OF THEM. COMMENT TO ME WAS THE AXLE BEARINGS AND BALL JOINTS ARE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, THIS CAME FROM THE DEALER IT SELF. THE DEALERS ALSO CAN NOT KEEP THE POWER STEERING LINES IN STOCK. POTENTIAL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURES ARE AS FOLLOWS, BALL JOINT AND AXLE BEARING FAILURE SHOULD THEY BREAK WHILE OPERATING ON THE HIGHWAY CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING LINE WHEN IT FINALLY RUPTURES AFTER IT HAS WORN THROUGH CAN CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALSO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT, IT IS ONLY 15 MONTHS OLD AND IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE FAILURES ARE NOT NORMAL ON ANY VEHICLE WITH THE MILEAGE I LISTED AND SHOULD PROMPT AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. THE SUPERCEEDED POWER STEERING LINE CAN BE CONFIRMED AT ANY DODGE OR CHRYSLER DEALER. THANK YOU KEVIN GILMORE DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769358November 6, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL, BUT HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. APPARENTLY A COMMON AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE YEAR CAR. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769271November 4, 2002
WHEELS
THESE WHEELS BEND TOO EASY. AFTER HAVING REPLACED 2 WHEELS ALREADY, AND NOW NEEDING TO REPLACE ANOTHER TWO (DUE TO BENDING FROM SMALL POTHOLES MOST LIKELY). THESE ARE MADE AS "SPUN ALUMINUM" AND HAVE LITTLE TO NO STRENGTH. (NOTE: WHEELS ARE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURED, STRATUS R/T IS SIMILAR TO THE ECLIPSE. NOTE THE WHEEL PROBLEMS LISTED THERE ARE VERY SIMILAR.) DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769227November 3, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CAR WAS SERVICED ON 09/07/02. ON 10/14/02, LOOKED UP TO SEE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE "H" RUNNING HOT. NO WARNING, NO DASHBOARD LIGHT WARNING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, CAR COOLED OFF DROVE HOME. POPPED HOOD, COOLANT IN RESERVOIR AND CHECKED OIL, OIL IN ENGINE. NEXT DAY, 10/15/02, STARTED CAR, STARTED FINE. NOTICED THE TEMP GAUGE WAS NOT MOVING OFF THE "C" FOR COLD, NO HEAT COMING FROM THE HEATER STARTED OFF TO WORK. WAS DOING ABOUT 68, WHEN CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO DECELERATE AND IMMEDIATELY THE LITTLE "RED GENIE LOOKING OIL LAMP LIGHT" WENT ON. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AS CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY LOOSING POWER. CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TOWED NOT TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF ON-GOING SERVICE PROBLEMS, BUT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I AUTHORIZED THEM TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND TOLD ME "BLOWN HEAD GASKET." BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL IF ANY MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE WITHOUT TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TWO DAYS LATER TO SELLING DEALERSHIP. ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN. THEIR RESPONSE, "ENGINE OVERHEATED" DOING SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. NO MENTION OF A HEAD GASKET BEING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. DEALER OFFERS TO DO NOTHING. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 3, 2002 AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY OPINIONS OR PRICES TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WAS NOTIFIED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT MANAGER WHO SAY "THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO ASSIST; WON'T EVEN COME LOOK AT THE CAR. I NOW HAVE A 3-1/2 YEAR OLD CAR THAT IS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A CAR THAT HAS HAD ITS SHARE OF ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THE NHTSA, THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY AND JUST UNDER DODGE DEFECTS, I NOTE THAT THE STRATUS, CIRRUS AND NEONS HAVE A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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