Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10233843July 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2004 DODGE STRATUS THAT I CHANGED THE OIL IN EVERY 3500 - 4000 MILES EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS CHANGES AT 7500 MILE INTERVALS. THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 37000 MILES ON IT BACK IN 2006 WHEN THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGING CAUSING AN OIL FLOW FAILURE. AT THE TIME I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK, BUT NOW AFTER TWO YEARS I READ OF COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF CASES WHERE PERSONS WITH THE SAME 2.7L ENGINE IN THERE DODGE OR CHRYSLER VEHICLES HAD ENGINES SEIZE, AND YET THE COMPANY DOES NOTHING FOR US. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT FRANKLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN IT AS THE PRICE FOR THOSE IS SKY HIGH BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND TO REPLACE THEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS A CONSUMER WE DESERVE RETRIBUTION FOR THESE EXPENSIVE ENGINEERING FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233720July 9, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
MOPAR AGREES RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS PART FAILURE. 02 DODGE STRATUS REAR STRUT MOUNTS. STRUT MOUNTING PLATES ON VEHICLE ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM OR SOME TYPE OF WHITE METAL AND THEY HAVE DISINTEGRATED INTO A POWDER LIKE DUST AND THE STRUT WAS DETACHED. MOPAR CONFIRMED ABOUT 8553 BACKORDERS ON 7/8/08 DEALERS AND 8607 BACKORDERS AS OF 7/9/08 - I REPLACED PART FROM A JUNKYARD CAR, AS THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET A CAR BACK ON THE ROAD UNTIL SUPPLY IS ADEQUATE ON NEW PARTS WITH NEW DESIGN. VEHICLES CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF COMMISSION AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. POSSIBLY FOR MONTHS WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233328July 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL SLUDGE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING ON THE CA-110S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233344July 7, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 DODGE STRATUS REAR STRUT MOUNTS. THE TOP, REAR, STRUT MOUNTING PLATES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM OR SOME TYPE OF POT METAL AND THEY HAVE COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT OF THE STRUTS NOT BEING ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND SHE PROCEEDED HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. UPON INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR STRUT MOUNTING PLATE HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND THE STRUT WAS NOT ATTACHED AT ALL TO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SWERVE. UPON CHECKING WITH DEALERS AND PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED ON THOUSANDS OF CARS. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND WE WERE TOLD BY A DEALER THAT, ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE 1800 REQUESTS PER WEEK FOR THIS PART AND A TOTAL OF ALMOST 8,000 ON BACKORDER THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT AND IT IS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I WOULD THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE AS THEY COULD EASILY CAUSE A WRECK WHEN THEY BREAK FREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233182July 4, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
FAILURE OF MOUNTING BRACKET FOR REAR STRUTS: 2004 DODGE STRATUS, DATE OF MFG 09/2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232676June 30, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, AND IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232478June 27, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
DRIVING DOWN I-71 AT APPROX. 10:00PM AND THE REAR OF MY CAR STARTED TO SWAY ALOMOST CAUSING M,E TO LOSE CONTROL. I PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE HAD FAILED. THE SIDE WALL HAD BROKE DOWN AND CAME APART UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. SPEED WAS 67MPH AND THE TIRE HAD 35PSI IN IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. TREAT ON THE TIRE IS STILL APPROX 50%.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231968June 22, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER STEERING HOSES DEVELOPED HOLES THROUGH THE WHOLE HOSE MASSIVE FLUID LOSS NOW POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FROZE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 67 THOUSAND MILES FOR 97 YEAR 95 % OF MILES HIGHWAY ALSO A/C COMPRESSOR AND A/C DASH SWITCH BOTH NON WORKING WITH FULLY CHARGED COMPRESSOR AND ALL RELAYS AND FUSES REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231665June 19, 2008
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2001 DODGE STRATUS R/T HAS BECOME SEVERLY CRACKED. I FIRST NOTICED A SMALL CRACK LAST YEAR SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. A FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE CRACK HAD BECOME EVEN LARGER AND THAT ANOTHER CRACK WAS FORMING. THEN DURING THE WINTER MONTHS I NOTICED A THIRD CRACK NEAR THE DEFROSTER VENT! I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH ANY SUCH PROBLEM AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME. I NOTICED A 4TH CRACK A FEW WEEKS AGO AND DID SOME SEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE! I HAVE READ WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE DASHBOARD REPLACED/REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE THE CRACKING PROBLEM RECUR. NOW I HAVE NOT TRIED TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD OFF TO REPAIR IT FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD SIMPLY FALL TO PIECES. I BELIEVE THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT AND FIX IT AT THEIR COST! IF I WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED I'M CONCERNED THAT PIECES OF PLASTIC WOULD FLY OFF AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231174June 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,266.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230966June 13, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS ON OUR 2003 DODGE STRATUS ARE MADE OF A "POT TYPE" METAL. THE CAR HAS MID 30K MILES AND THE STRUT MOUNTS ARE CORRODED TO THE POINT THEY FELL APART. THE SHOCK WAS ACTUALLY BOUND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPRING. THIS FORTUNATELY WAS CAUGHT BY MY WIFE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD RESULT IN AN OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION. STRUT COULD DIG INTO TIRE. CAR CAN FALL ON IT'S OWN SUSPENSION. HOW CAN YOU CONTROL A CAR IF IT IS ON AN UNSTABLE PLATFORM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230802June 12, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE WAS JUST NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR 79,500 MILES. THE FAILURE WAS A REAR STRUT MOUNT BREAKING AND LOSING SUSPENSION IN THE REAR. THIS IS A PERMANENT FAILURE AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE IS SHOWING A CRACK AND IS READY TO BREAK AS WELL. AS OF NOW THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERABLE AND IF IT WERE TO HAVE BROKE AT A DIFFERENT TIME IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE SERVICE WILL BE NEEDED BUT THERE IS A MULTIPLE MONTH WAIT FOR PARTS ACCORDING TO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THE OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONCE REPLACEMENT PARTS CAN BE PROVIDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230088June 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE ON 495 LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY THE CAR MADE A LOAD KNOCKING SOUND AND DIED. WHEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC HE SAID IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED IN NOV. 2007(THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST 2002), AND THERE WERE NO FUNDS TO FIX IT WHICH HAS CAUSED TRANSPORTATION/FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN REGARD TO WORK FROM NOV. 2007 UNTIL THE PRESENT,JUNE 2008. THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER REP. SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BRING THE CAR TO THEM FOR OUR OIL CHANGES. I JUST RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A JASPAR ENGINE FOR 4,500 TO 5,000 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230009June 5, 2008
STEERING
1998 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH POWER STEERING LEAKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230035June 5, 2008
STRUCTURE
THE DASH BOARD HAS WARPED AND PIECES ARE FALLING INSIDE THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229849June 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE STOP WORKING AND I REPLACE THE ENGINE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. ITS THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN PEOPLE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229350May 30, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT PAID $349 FOR A FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTERWARDS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DIAL CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO EMPTY ONCE FUEL IS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH CHRYSLER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT PERTAINS TO HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229021May 27, 2008
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO AIR BAGS AND NO HORN IN HER VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FUEL GAUGE WERE NOT WORKING. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE IGNITION (WHERE THE KEY IS INSERTED) WAS SMOKING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY DIAGNOSTIC TEST; THEREFORE, THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228905May 26, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2002 BLACK DODGE STRATUS RT HAS THE CLEAR COAT COMING OFF THE TOP OF IT. THE TOP OF MY CAR IS ALMOST WHITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228832May 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING UNTOUCHED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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