Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#721709April 20, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. I HAVE BRAKE LINE TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG CRYL/DODGE SAID BECAUSE I HAD CAR TOWED TO MY REPAIR PLACE THERE WAS NOTHING THAY COULD OR WOULD DO FOR ME.AND THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I HAVE MY 5 SPEED TRANS. REBUILT AND HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING IN THEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721512April 15, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721515April 15, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THROUGH LASSEN COUNTY PARK IN CALIFORNIA, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW INTERNALLY AND I LOST ALL POWER, ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED TO GIVE ME ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, MY FIRST NOTICE WAS THE VECHILE ACTUALLY LOSING ALL POWER. DURING THE INITIAL SEIZE UP, A FULL SIZE CHEVY PICK UP WAS BEHIND ME AND QUICKLY CAME UP ON ME AS I QUICKLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CHEVY WAS INCHES FROM HITTING MY LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. (AT THIS MOMENT I WAS TERRIFIED, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE PROBLEM!). AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING INTERALLY IT CAUSED THE RODBEARINGS TO SPIN. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO HAVE THE RODS, RODBEARINGS, HEADGASKET, OIL FILTER, OIL PAN PICKUP, TIMING BELTS, INJECTION SEALS, OIL PAN, AIR FILTER, PCV VALVE, THERMOSTATE, EGR VALVE GASKET, EGR TUBE, CV SHAFT, SPARKPLUGS, FUEL FILTER REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $925.38. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MACHINE WORK DONE ON THE BOTTOM END OF MOTOR FOR A TOTAL OF $1,000. A GRAND TOTAL OF ALMOST $2,000! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721407April 13, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET TO MY 1995 DODGE STRATUS IS LEAKING. THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATLEY $700 TO $1,000. THE HEAD GASKETT SHOULD NOT BE LEAKING AT 78,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR SOME TIME, BECAUSE IT IS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I SAW OIL ON THE GROUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721354April 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HAD PROBLEM WITH TIMING BELT WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. NOW HAVING PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE AND STALLING OF VEHICLE IN OPERATION. JUST PAID 790.42 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR ON APRIL 11, 2000 NAD WORK IS STILL NOT SOLVING PROBLEM. IT STALLED ON ME 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND STILL LEAKS OIL. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE PLACED OR VEHICLE REPLACED. IM SICK TO MY STOMACH OVER THIS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER OR DODGE AUTOMOBILE AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721310April 11, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AT RATE OF 1 QUART PER 3,000 MILES. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CONTACTED BUT KEPT DETAILS REGARDING SCOPE OF FAILURES A SECRET. THEY OFFERED TO SPLIT REPAIR COSTS 50-50 WITH ME (MY PORTION TO EXCEED $300). CONTACTED A NUMBER OF DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES, ALL OF WHICH CONFIRMED LARGE NUMBERS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL AND ENGINE LINES. AFTER SEEING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME SUBJECT ON THIS SITE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN EITHER GASKET DESIGN OR MATERIAL AND WARRANTS A RECALL TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. VEHICLE COSTS TOO MUCH ($20,000) TO ALLOW THIS TYPE OF A FAILURE TO CONTINUE. I CURRENTLY OWN 2 CHRYSLER BUILT VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DAIMLERCHRYSLER PRODUCT, EVER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860087April 11, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP FOR OIL LEAK, AND FOUND OUT FROM MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER CONFIRMED THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL 96V006000/ ENGINE DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860089April 11, 2000
SEATS
WHILE TRYING TO MOVE DRIVER'S SEATBACK FORWARD CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH VERY HARD TO MOVE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860092April 11, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721264April 10, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS ENGINE LEAKS 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK AT HEAD GASKET, AND HAS SINCE LAST OCTOBER (1999). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551805April 10, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR TOGETHER BROKE OFF. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711157April 7, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING WHILE DRIVING, AND MORE FREQUENTLY OF NOT STARTING ON OCCASION REGARDLESS AS TO WHETHER IT SAT OVERNIGHT OR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. THREE VISITS TO EITHER JAY CHEVROLET OR AL SERRA DODGE, HAS RESULTED IN ONLY THE TIMING CHAIN BEING FIXED. HOWEVER THIS SOLVED ONLY THE ORIGINAL STALL, BUT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY, AND NO OTHER SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED. ON SECOND TRIP TO DEALER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE ON THE TOW TRUCK, BUT DID START LATER WHEN SERVICE TRIED IT. THEY JUST KEPT SENDING THE CAR BACK WITH NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN DRIVING THIS CAR, AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THEM BEING STRANDED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUTION FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE IN AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711174April 7, 2000
CHILD SEAT
WE HAVE CONCTACED SEVERAL CAR SEAT MANUFACTURERS (FISHER PRICE AND EVEN-FLO) AND THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND USING CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS IN THE REAR POSITION WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY LOCKING DEVICE SEAT BELTS WHICH IS IN MY DODGE STRATUS. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NOT A SAFE CHILD SEAT MADE THAT WILL WORK IN THE REAR POSITION IN A CAR WITH A AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY LOCKING DEVICE. THIS I ASSUME INCLUDES ALL OR MOST CHRYSLER VEHICLES. WE INFORMED THEM THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF PARENTS TRAVELING AROUND THE DAILY WITH CARS THAT ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING USED WITH REAR FACING CHILD SEATS. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT A CAR MAKER COULD EVEN PRODUCE A PRODUCT WITH SURE DISREGARD FOR CHILD SAFETY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711284April 7, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS REALIZED, I HEARD A VERY LOUD WHIRRING SOUND. I HAD TAKEN IT TO FEENEY DODGE IN PALATINE TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES DONE. THEY DID THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT NOTICE THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR IN MT. PROSPECT FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY NOTICED IT RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD AN AMOCO STATION I KNOW WELL DO THE REPAIR. WHY DID A CAR THAT IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD NEED A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED? I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY WASN'T THIS UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY? I CONTACTED FEENEY AND ANOTHER DEALER IN THE AREA AND GOT TOLD THAT NO, THAT IS NOT UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER NOT ME. THE PART HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721045April 5, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FOR A 1996 DODGE STRATUS I HAVE ALREADY HAD A HEAD GASKET ($600.00) AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NEED HELP WITH ANY RECALLS ON THESE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721068April 5, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VALVE COVER GASKET HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721092April 5, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT 5 MILES PER HOUR COLLISION. NO DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR BUT OUR CAR HAD A BLOWN OUT WINDSHIELD, SIDE WINDOW, BLOWN APART DASH AND STEERING COLUM. ONLY DAMAGE TO CAR WAS IN THE INTERIOR. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#551778April 4, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER REFUSES TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ORIGINAL DEALER FOR RECALL 99V-244 OF THE BRAKE TUBE BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE WAS CHARGED FOR RECENT BRAKE PARTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721017April 4, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. I CONTACTED PARKWAY DODGE AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. THEY BROKE AN EGR VALVE DOING THE REPLACEMENT. NOW MY DODGE HAS A VIBRATION IN IT, AND IS WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY AND CHRYSLER CORP. ENGINEERING CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MY ENGINE IS STILL VIBRATING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721020April 4, 2000
TIRES
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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