Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10147396January 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. FIRST IN 3/13/2003 THEN IN 4/2004 BOTH TIMES FIRE DEPT WAS DISPATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REPORTED TO CHRYSLER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147248January 9, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED IN DECEMBER 2005 THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTERWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, AND A THERE WAS A CRACKLING NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 0801001 ON THE CLOCK SPRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147317January 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DODGE STRATUS 2002 2.7 MOTOR FAILURE AT 80,000 DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSED BY WATER LEAKING INTO MOTOR, POOR ENGINE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD OF ADVISED THAT THIS CAR NEEDED AGGRESSIVE OIL CHANGES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL NOT FOSSIL FUEL BASED OIL. STRANDED WIFE ON HIGHWAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SAID THAT I DID NOT DO ENOUGH OIL CHANGES. CAR WAS MAINTAIN TO COMPANY SPECS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147042January 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
02/2005 - DURING NORMAL COMMUTE HOURS, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DURING ACCELERATION. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP (63,067 ODOMETER), THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE LEAKING AND BOTH HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.( I PARK MY CAR IN THE SAME SPOT AT WORK AND AT HOME, AND HADN'T NOTICED ANY LEAKAGE) I WAS ASSURED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SPOTS, THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH A FLUSH, CLEAN, AND CONDITIONER. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE PARTS WEREN'T COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.($406.62 IN REPAIRS) NOTHING WAS LISTED OR MENTIONED ABOUT ANY OTHER PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 11/2005 - ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AGAIN AND WENT OUT ON ME. THIS TIME I'M BEING TOLD I NEED A FRONT PUMP, VALVE BODY, AND TORQUE CONVERTER ($2,900 IN REPAIRS). WITH 81,000+ MILES ON THE CAR, AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I'M BEING TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146886January 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED WITH MILEAGE OF LESS THAN 35,000. GASKET WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE BY DEALERSHIP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146773January 3, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE , AND THIS BENT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR RIMS. THE DEALERSHIP AGREED THE RIMS WERE TOO SOFT. BUT STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH THESE RIMS. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE TIRES WERE TO GO FLAT THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGED RIMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145887December 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 19000 MILES, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 12000 MILES. NOW THE CAR HAS 22000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS FRONT ROTORS REPLACED AGAIN. I REFUSE TO AGAIN PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 55000 MILES OR MORE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A DEFECT IN THE ROTORS BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHY????????? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145256December 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OK MY CAR MAKES A HUMMING NOISE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD. ITS A LOUD HUMMING SOUNDS. I THOUGHT IT JUST MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG (EVERYDAY THING) BUT WHEN I GOT ANOTHER CAR THAT DID THE SAME THING IT MADE ME WONDER. . .SOMETHING MUST BE DEFECTED. MY LAST CAR WAS TOTALED. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. . AND I SOMETIMES THINK THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT. IT SEEMED LIKE FOR EVER FOR MY CAR TO STOP AT LOW SPEED EVEN. AND THE HUMMING NOISE BOTHERS ME, ITS SCARY. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS AND IT MUST BE ON MORE CARS IF THIS IS MY 2ND CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. 2000 DODGE STRATUS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW. . . PS. . .I RECENTLY GOT THIS CAR (AFTER I FOUND OUT MY OTHER ONE GOT TOTALED) AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PAST RECALLS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! -ROBERT MCFADDEN PS. . .PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOMETHING!. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145262December 15, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR SIDE SEAT BELT ADJUSTORS BROKE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145247December 14, 2005
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAD FREQUENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE LIBERTY DEALERSHIP IN JOHNSTOWN, OH TO GET THEM FIXED UNTIL WE GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THE CARE WAS VALUED TO GUARANTEE THE FIX. THESE ITEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. ONE DAY AFTER PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AFTER WORK, I SHUT THE CAR OFF, OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, GIVING ME A PRETTY GOOD SHOT IN THE FACE. THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL AND NOT RUNNING. THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. I CALLED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND FILED AN INCIDENT. THEY ASSIGNED A.L. GILBERT TO WORK ON THE CASE. A INVESTIGATOR WAS DEPLOYED FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY OUT OF DAYTON, OH. HE TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN MT. VERNON, OH AND DETERMINED BY LOOKING AT THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT IT HAD BEEN WRECKED. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WASN'T THE CASE AS THERE WASN'T A DENT OR SCRATCH ON THE CAR AND I WAS SITTING STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER REFUSED TO CHANGE THEIR DETERMINATION. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REQUESTED MULTIPLE TIMES, A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE INVESTIGATOR FROM DAYTON, OH WAS NEVER PROVIDED ME. A.L. GILBERT BLATANTLY CALLED ME DISHONEST BECAUSE HE SAID THE COMPUTER DIDN'T LIE. I CONVINCED HIM TO LET ME TAKE IT TO THE LIBERTY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOK AT THE CAR WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. THE LIBERTY SERVICE MANAGER TOLD A.L. GILBERT THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY ACCIDENT ON THE CAR. A.L. GILBERT SAID THERE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAID SO. THE LIBERT SERVICE MECHANIC SAID, IN FACT THE ONLY SCRATCH I SEE IS ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND LOOKS LIKE HE'S DRIVEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. GILBERT RESPONDED AND SAID THAT WAS ALL THE EVIDENCE HE NEEDED AND THAT THE DECISION STOOD. I STILL DRIVE THE CAR TODAY BUT WITHOUT AIR BAGS AND WITH A DASH THAT LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10145011December 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144701December 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FELT A SLIGHT BUMP WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FOUND IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT WHERE WORN OUT. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144118December 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND STOPPING AT A LIGHT A LOUD NOISE (CLUNK) WAS HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ELIMINATED. RETURNED TO RESIDENCE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE SPEED SENSORS HAD FAILED. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS BE REPLACED, DROP TRANSMISSION PAN FOR INSPECTION, AND PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUSH. AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP TO INQUIRE ABOUT POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS NOT PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD A 3YR/36,000 WARRANTY ON THE POWER TRAIN. BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT DUE TO WARRANTY BOOK RECEIVED WITH VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THE POWER TRAIN MODULE IS 7YR/70,000. INVESTIGATING FURTHER. BELIEVE THAT THIS SENSOR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN SINCE IT PROVIDES CONTROL TO THAT COMPONENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143963November 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THANKSGIVING DAY OF 2005 I PICKED UP MY 74 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER, WHO IS BLIND TO GO SEE MY MOM, WHO LIVES ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM ME. AS WE WERE APPROACHING MY MOTHER'S HOUSE, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE POWER STEERING HOSE FROM MY 1999 DODGE CHRYSLER STRATUS AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I FROZE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND REALIZED WE HAD TO GET OUT FROM OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT AROUND TO GET MY GRANDMOTHER OUT AND THE LOCKS WENT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. I OPENED HER DOOR AND TOLD HER TO GET OUT, HOLD ON TO ME AND RUN AS FAST AS SHE COULD. SHE ASKED ME WHAT WAS GOING ON AND I TOLD HER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND COULD BLOW UP. WE STARTED RUNNING AND SCREAMING FOR HELP. PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES AND TWO MEN TRIED TO PUT DOWN THE FIRE BUT TO NO AVAIL. AFTER A WHILE, THE FIRE DEPT AND POLICE ARRIVED. THE FIRE DEPT. WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE CAR'S FRONT WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR TOLD ME HE HAD HEARD OF SIMILAR STORIES WITH THIS CAR. I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP IN PUERTO RICO AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INSPECTOR FROM CHRYSLER COMES DOWN TO PUERTO RICO AND INSPECTS THE CAR TO SEE IF THEY ARE LIABLE OR NOT. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK TO BRING THE CAR TO WHEREVER IT IS THEY WILL INSPECT IT AND ALSO, THE LADY WHO TOOK MY COMPLAINT AT CHRYSLER SAID IF THEY FIND THERE WAS A DEFECT, I HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT CHRYSLER DECIDES TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE NO CAR, MY NERVES ARE SHOT AND MY GRANDMOTHER IS A NERVOUS WRECK. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING WAITING FOR CHRYSLER TO CONTACT ME TO SEE WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO INSPECT MY CAR. PLEASE HELP!!!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143351November 21, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DAUGHTER TURNED A CORNER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE PULLED OVER AS THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143407November 21, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE BRAKING AND CHANGING LANES A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AND THE WHEEL ON THAT SIDE LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL THE BRAKE PARTS HAD BEEN PUSHED THROUGH THE WHEEL TO THE OUTSIDE AND THE BOLTS CONNECTING THE WHEEL PARTS HAD SHEERED APART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143126November 18, 2005
AIR BAGS
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THEN, SHE WAS DRIVING AT A LATER DATE AND HIT A DEER. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS ONCE AGAIN IN CRASH WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143195November 17, 2005
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, TIRES
CONSUMER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DODGE STRATUS 1999. *TS (11/17/05) THE A/C STOPPED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AT PURCHASE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142485November 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 96 DODGE STRATUS, I PURCHASED IT YEAR OF 97. I RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VECHICLE SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASED. I FOLLOWED UP ON EACH RECALL THAT I RECEIVED. AS TIME WENT ON I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. OVER THE YEARS I AWAYS BELIEVE IN CHRYSLER PRODUCTS TO BE SAFE AND SOUND.I FEEL THAT IT'S BEEN TRULY UNFAIR TOO LOYAL CONSUMERS SUCH AS MYSELF MANY OTHERS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY SUCH AS CHRYSLER AND ENGINEERS WOULD ENGINEERED A PRODUCT LIKE THE DODGE STRATUS WITH SO MANY DEFECTS. ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2005 I WENT TO PAY A BILL ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MILES AWAY FROM HOME. RETURN HOME, PARK THE CAR, LOCK THE DOORS WENT INTO MY APARTMENT. ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER A NEIGHBORHOOD BOY KNOCK ON MY DOOR AND SAID YOUR GOLD CAR IS ON FIRE. I RAN OUTSIDE TO SEE, YES IT WAS MY CAR ON FIRE! FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARRIVE ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIREMAN HAD TO BREAK THE HOOD LATCH TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AREA TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROY MY MOTOR AND HOOD. THANK GOD MYSELF OR MY KIDS WASN'T IN THE CAR! I'M TRULY SADDEN THAT THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY I'M SINGLE PARENT WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. AFTER THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSE OF FIRE IT WAS DETERMINE THAT THE OIL GALLERY PLUG WAS FAULTY. MY INSURANCE COVERAGE WOULDN'T COVERAGE IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142056November 8, 2005
STEERING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS BINDING. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS KEPT AT CORRECT LEVELS. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HILL AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SPEED WAS AROUND 55 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE STEERING OR THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM THE CRASH.*AK UPDATED 1/5/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Stratus