Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#865841July 21, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR JERKS WHEN PUTTING IN PARK AND STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS, AND DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PART FOR VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725626July 18, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CLUNK IN THE LEFT FRONT REVEALED FAILED TIE ROD END. UPON REMOVAL IS WAS FOUND THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD END HAD SEPARATED AT THE BALL STUD. THE BALL STUD WAS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE RUBBER BOOT. WE ALSO REPLACED THE RIGHT TIE ROD END AND FOUND THAT IT TOO WAS FAILING. IT WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF BINDING. FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553087July 18, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006367July 15, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1ST BRAKE FAILURE, 15,000 MILES, SECOND AT 40,000 MILES. ENGINEERING DEFECT, NOT ENOUGH SURFACE AREA TO COMPENSATE FOR CAB FORWARD DESIGN. MANY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HYDRAULICS. LETS GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER ARTEMIS**725472
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725457July 15, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHAT I AM DOING IS TRYING TO GET HELP; MY VEHICLE IS BADLY LEAKING OIL, THE RECALL IS FOR GALLEY PLUGS, BUT THE DEALER IN PHOENIX SAYS IT IS THE HEAD GASKET AND NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, APPROXIMATELY. $900.00 TO FIX. THE DEALERSHIP SAID TO ME ON THE PHONE, "AT THAT MILEAGE IT WON'T BE THE GALLEY PLUGS, IT'L BE THE HEAD GASKET, THAT'S WHAT IT ALWAYS IS WITH THOSE STRATUS'"(EMPHASIS MINE). WHAT I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF IT IS A COMMON OF ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO SAY THAT, AS WELL AS A HEAD GASKET TO BE SHOT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, WHY ISN'T THIS JUST AS MUCH AS A RECALL AS THE GALLEY PLUGS, ALLOWING ME AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS TO BE HELPED. CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE ANSWER THIS REQUEST, I CALLED THE CHRYSLER FACTORY ABOUT THIS AND THEY COULD HAVE CARED LESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865409July 14, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EINGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. GASKET IS BEING REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865310July 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725234July 10, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKING SYSTEM LOSES PRESSURE WHEN PEDAL IS ENGAGED. ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. NEW ROTORS AND PADS INSTALLED @ 50K MILES, BUT PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. PEDAL LOSES PRESSURE WHEN TRANSMISSION CHANGES TO LOWER GEAR AND VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKING POWER AND "GLIDES" UNTIL BRAKES "CATCH" AGAIN. DOES THIS OVER AND OVER DURING SINGLE BRAKING/STOPPING INCIDENT. PEDAL EVENTUALLY PRESSED TO FLOOR WITH LITTLE EFFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725170July 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD - UPON DEALER REPLACING DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO TAKING TO DEALER ANOTHER GARAGE HAD DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR OVERHEATING TO BE FROM A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER FEELS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALER UPON REMOVAL OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OR DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED BY OVERHEATING FROM THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLITY AND REFUSED TO CONTACT DODGE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. THEY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO RE-INSTALL THE CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. STEERING RACK - THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WE THEREFORE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. WE FEEL THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725086July 7, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR TRANSMISSION HAD AT LEAST 1500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE FROM THE FACTORY. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER 'S SERVICE DEPT SEES AT LEAST ONE PER WEEK. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724994July 6, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMED IN MAY 1999. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOW TO DECELLERATE.. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND SAYS IT OPERATES NORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725005July 6, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE LEAKING OIL. DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET SUSPECTED AS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#864844July 6, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. CONTACTED THE DEALER NO WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724901July 4, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET & CAMSHAFT SEAL HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT 52,000 & 75,000. I AGAIN HAVE AN OIL LEAK AT 82,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724927July 4, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR MADE NOCKING NOISE WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE ENGINE OR TAKE IT OUT IN FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. HE WROTE A NOTE AND SAID THAT IF THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE THAT HE WOULD REPAIR THE CAR IF IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. NOW THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS IN TO LOW OF A GEAR. ALSO I HAVE LOST A LOT OF POWER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724682June 28, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS NOT BEING USED AT THE TIME AND WHICH WAS NOT OPERABLE [HAD NOT BEEN WORKING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT] SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE FLOORBOARDED. DRIVER AVOIDED OTHER TRAFFIC BUT ENDED UP IN A FIELD. CAR WAS TOTALED. INSPECTION OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO UNIT WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#864409June 28, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES ARE OPERATING POORLY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. ALSO, BRAKES MAKE A SQUEALING NOISE AND PULSATE. DEALER SAYS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724433June 23, 2000
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED FOR A SEC THEN IT WENT OFF RIPPING MY HAND OFF THE STERING WHEEL I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR . IT WAS LOUD AND MY ARM HAD PLASTIC IN IT . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#724414June 22, 2000
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ON SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2000 WHILE TRAVELING IN LEWISBURG TN , IT STARTED RAINING HEAVILY. HAD RAN THE AIR CONDITIONER EARLIER IN THE DAY BUT AFTER SOME SHOWERS IT HAD COOLED THINGS DOWN AND JUST HAD ON THE AIR VENTS. AFTER ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAIN TURNED THE DEFROSTER ON TO CLEAR FOGGY WINDOWS AND HEARD A HOWLING GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AFTER TURNING THE DEFROSTER OFF. TRIED IT AGAIN AND SAME NOISE AND ALSO TRIED TO TURN ON AIR CONDITIONER WITH SAME RESULTS AND CAR CHOKED OUT AND QUIT. SO I JUST TURNED OFF THE COMPRESSOR AND USED VENT ONLY TO TRY TO GET HOME. I ACCESSED YOUR WEBSIT FOR INFO REGARDING STRATUS. I F OUND INFO ON TECH SERV BULLETINS ABOUT COMPRESSOR FAILURE AT 90+ TEMPS WE HAVE HAD 90+ MORE THAN NOT SINCE MAY. CONTACTED THE DEALER MONDAY MORN ABOUT PROBLEM TALKED TO GEN MGR. MR. STEPHENS HE TOLD ME TO BRING INFO AND CAR IN WED FOR FREE INSPECTION OF PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND TRIED TO TALK TO HIM AND SERV DEPT ABOUT COMPRESSOR FAILURE PROBLEMS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHECK OUT COMPRESSOR AND CALL ME. THEY CONFIRMED COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP ON CAR AND OFFERED TO FIX THE CAR FOR 700.00 INSTEAD OF REG PRICE OF 940.00 SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 36,000 MILES THATS THE BEST THEY WOULD DO. I ARGUED ACCORDING TO INFO I HAD F OUND AND BROUGHT TO THERE ATTENTION I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTED COMPRESSOR AND THEY SHOUD FIX AT NO COST. THEY SAID NO. I WENT AND PICKED UP CAR AND F OUND CERTIFIED A/C TECH CAR REPAIR PLACE TO DO THE WORK FOR MUCH LESS. WHEN CHECKING AROUND FOR ESTIMATES ONE AUTO REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME I WAS THE 5 INQUIRY ABOUT FAILED A/C COMPRESSOR ON 98 STRATUS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MFG DEFECT AND POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN IT LOCKS UP GOING DOWN STREET OR HWY BECAUSE IT CHOKES OUT THE ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY ESP CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE ON CAR I HAVE F OLLOWED ALL REASONABLE MAINT GUILDLINES AND IN MY OPINON THIS COMPRESSOR SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724416June 22, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I REQUESTED RECALL INSPECTION FOR TRANSMISSION POWER TRAIN ON 6-19-2000. WHILE LOOKING FOR INFO ON MY DODGE STRATUS 9 8 ON YOUR WEBSITE I ACCESSED RECALLS AND NOTICED THAT THEIR WERE TWO FOR THIS CAR. ONE WAS FOR BRAKE RECALL AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY HUNTSVILLE DODGE AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE INSPECTION THE OTHER RECALL WAS FOR POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THE RECALL DATE WAS OWNER NOTIFICATION OCT 1998 I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DEC 98 AND ACCORDING TO THE INFO AT THAT TIME THIS CAR WAS ON THERE LOT AT THE TIME OF RECALL NOTIFICATION. I TOOK THE RECALL INFO TO DEALER AND ASKED IF THAT RECALL INSPECTION WAS DONE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THERE POSSESSION AND ON THERE LOT BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME IN DEC 98. THEY LOOKED IT UP I GUESS BY VIN AND TOLD ME NO IT WAS NOT I ASKED THEM TO DO IT WHILE THEY HAD IT THERE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD AND DID. MY QUESTION AND POSSIBLE COMPLAINT TO YOU IS SHOULD NOT THEY HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO DO THE RECALL INSPECTION WHILE IN THERE POSSESSION AT THE CAR LOT BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO SELL THE CAR. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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