Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#753152October 12, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN TOWN AT APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN I STARTED LOSING POWER AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST. I KNEW FROM AN EXPERIENCE MY FATHER HAD WITH HIS CAR, THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. KEEP IN MIND THAT AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS RUNNING WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE SMOKE.UPON HEARING FROM THE DEALER, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I COULDNT POSSIBLY AFFORD THE $3000 OR $4000 ESTIMATE THEY GAVE ME, SO I TOLD THEM TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND WOULD HAVE IT TOWED OUT OF THEIR LOT. WHEN I MET THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH THE TOW TRUCK ON THEIR LOT, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR LOT.WHEN I TOLD THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ABOUT WHAT IT WAS DOING WHEN I GAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR TO THE DEALER, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY OUT OF ME. HE THEN TOLD ME TO START THE CAR AND LET HIM SEE WHAT IT WAS DOING. WHEN IT STARTED IT WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. NOISE IT WAS NOT MAKING WHEN I SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. WE COULD ONLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER SEEING WERE THE CAR WAS PARKED THAT THE DEALER MECHANICS HAD DRIVEN IT AGAINST MY INSTRUCTIONS AND CAUSED THE MOTOR TO BLOW. SO INSTEAD OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REPLACED HEAD GASKET, TURNED INTO A MOTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER CONTACTING CRYSTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY REFUSED TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGES I HAD INCURRED. EVEN AFTER ADMITTING WHAT I HAD HEARD FROM MANY MECHANICS, THAT THE 95 2.0L MOTOR HAD THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897690October 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW VEHICLE, AND BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, RESULTING IN A CRASH, WHERE IT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT OR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT MADE A DETERMINATION FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897610October 11, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THERE WAS A NOISE IN STEERING GEAR, NOISE SOUNDED AS THOUGH A BOLT OR NUT WAS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE.*AK*YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897571October 10, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLING VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC AT A TIRE SHOP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE IN HALF. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897576October 10, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE TRAVELING, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEXT GEAR CORRECTLY. WOULD SUDDENLY SLAM INTO GEAR, AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. *AK REAR BRAKES MAKE NOISE. CONSUMER STATES STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP. WINDSHIELD WASHER IS NOT WORKING. REAR BUMPER IS COMING LOOSE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS NOISY A SUSPENSION. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897447October 9, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
RECALL 96 V 006 000/ENGINE: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; SAHARA MOTORS; DELTA, UT; PHONE # 435-864-7756 TO HONOR RECALL; SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 3 MONTHS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897519October 9, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S DOOR JAMMED WHEN IT IS OPENED, WOULD OPEN APPROX. 1 INCH. DOOR PANEL WAS COMING LOOSE. PLASTIC CLIPS HOLDING PANEL WERE COMING OFF. PANEL WOULD SHIFT, AND CAUSE JAMMING PROBLEM. WOULD NEED TO KICK FROM INSIDE TO OPEN DOOR. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897391October 5, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, ALMOST FAILED TO STOP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752874October 3, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES
FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON A RIGHT TURN. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD. SECOND INCIDENT WAS AGAIN A RIGHT HAND TURN IN AN INTERSECTION, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND THOUGH I WAS TURNING RIGHT THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BRAKED HARD, LUCKY CAR BEHIND ME SWERVED. THERE IS STEERING RELATED SAFETY RECALL ON 95 STRATUS, BUT DEALER SAYS MY CAR IS NOT COVERED AND WANTS ME TO PAY OVER 600 $ FOR REPAIRS. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS RUDE AND CALLOUS, REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE STEERING FAILURE AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897310October 3, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15-20 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752756September 30, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING HAS BECOME DIFFICULT AT LOW SPEEDS, LIKE EXITING DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING LOTS OR TURNING ONTO OTHER ROADS. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, STEERING IS FINE. STEERING IS VERY HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS BACK AND FORTH DURING A TURN. OPINION OF MECHANIC IS FAILURE OF STEERING RACK AND PINION. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL IS CORRECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896692September 24, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AFTER FUELING VEHICLE, CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PARKED VEHICLE, AND SAW FUEL GUSHING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER , FUEL FILTER HAD EXPLODED, LEAKING FUEL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896620September 20, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 50-70 MPH VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SURGE WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. *AK CHRYSLER INFORMED CONSUMER OF AN UPDATE THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE SURGING, HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN FIVE MONTHS WITH NO REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004513September 19, 2001
SUSPENSION
BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIE-ROD END BROKE. THE CAR IS SERVICED & MAINTAINED THROUGH DODGE. IT ONLY HAD 43,875 MILES ON IT. NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THESE TIE-ROD ENDS, SO THEY CANNOT BE SERVICED. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A LIFETIME PART THAT NEEDS NO SERVICING. I TOOK AN EXTENEDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED 3 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENT. DUE TO TIME NOT MILAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND HAS LOW MILES FOR YEAR. DODGE SAID THEY WOULD PAY HALF THE BILL BUT I THINK THE WHOLE BILL SHOULD BE PAID (TOW, RENTAL, & RIM) COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THIS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896413September 17, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVINING CONSUMER'S SON FELL ASLEEP AND KNOCKED WATER OFF CUP HOLDER ONTO FLOORBOARD. STARTED TO SMELL WIRES BURNING, AND HEARD CRACKLING NOISES. CONTACTED FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT WIRES UNDER FRONT SEAT WERE EXPOSED AND CAUSING THE NOISE. INDICATED TO LET WIRES DRY BEFORE USING VEHICLE. AFTER DRYING STARTED VEHICLE ND CRACKLING NOISE WAS STILL HEARD UNTIL FUSE WAS REMOVED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, IT WAS OWNER'S FAULT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896416September 17, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. STOPPED VEHICLE AND LIFTED HOOD. HEAD GASKETS WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD NO INDICATION WHAT CAUSED LEAKAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896424September 17, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#563031September 12, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION, HOWEVER UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE MANAGER THAT PART WAS UNDER RECALL(#750) THE SERVICE MANAGE ADVISED CONSUMER TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM CHRYSLER, CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS KNOW TO BE DEFECTIVE AND TO SEND IN ALL DOCUMENTATION, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT HE HAD NOT MET THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER STATES HE COMPLIED THE WITH CONTROL ARMS INSPECTION PER RECALL ON DEC 15, 1998 BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752064September 11, 2001
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
I HAVE AN EVENFLO MEDALLION V CONVERTABLE CAR SEAT, MODEL# 254191P2, MANUFACTURED 1/25/00. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A PLASTIC HARNESS TIE THAT GOES ACROSS THE CHEST THAT THE SHOULDAR STRAPS SLIDE INTO. MY SON CAN VERY EASILY SLIDE IT OFF AND GET OUT OF THE STRAPS. I HAVE CALLED EVENFLO 9/11/01 AND SPOKE TO JENNY REQUESTING THEY SEND ME SOMETHING THAT SNAPS TOGETHER TO REPLACE IT. SHE TOLD ME THEY DO NOT MAKE ONE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR TOP OF THE LINE MODEL, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE)BUT SHE CAN SEND ME A NEW PLASTIC CLIP SO IT WILL TAKE HIM LONGER TO GET IT OFF. I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY MAKE THEM FOR SOME MODELS, BUT NOT ALL. I PAID OVER $100.00 FOR THIS SEAT AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT WILL NOT PROTECT MY SON IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THIS COMPANY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ALL OF THEIR CONSUMERS, ONLY THOSE THAT BUY PARTICULAR MODELS. I AM ASKING YOU TO FIND OUT WHY!!! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL, WRITE OR E-MAIL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752046September 10, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY HUSBAND HIT A TRUCK AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED 4 CARS,OURS BEING THE LAST IN LINE. MY HUSAND HIT THE TRUCK WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT THREW THE TRUCK INTO THE MEDIAN.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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