Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10173117November 10, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
BLOWER/RESISTER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING AND INEFFICIENT. IT WAS FIRST REPLACED IN 2004 AND WORKED UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN STOPPED WORKING AT THE LOWER LEVELS AND WAS REPLACED IN (2006) MAY, THEN AUGUST AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN IN OCTOBER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172858November 7, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE SMOKE BEGAN TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT PRESUMED THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THROUGH AUDIX. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 06V001000 REGARDING THE STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173286November 3, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2000 STRATUS SAFETY RECALL. *TS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173275November 3, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
FAX FWD LTR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT , RE 2002 DODGE STRATUS THAT BLEW UP BECAUSE OF STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *TS THE MANFACTURE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE FAULURE. A YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE, 06V001000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172490November 2, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER # 06V001000 REGARDING THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WERE IT WAS LATER EXAMINED BY AN INSPECTOR SENT BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. UPON EXAMINATION THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSE BY A DIRECT RESULT OF A MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE THAT ALLOWED STEERING FLUID 2 BE SPRAYED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/15/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171695October 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUGS NEEDED TO PLUGGED IN OR REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER NHTSA RECALL #96V006000 REGARDING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING :ENGINE:GASOLINE DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171637October 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A LARGE AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNAL PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE HAD LEAKED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE 2 TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES, 4 CLAMPS, AND PART OF THE OIL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF NHTSA RECALL # 01V011002, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE COOLING UNIT AND LINES FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171334October 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ONE OF THE OIL GALLEY PLUGS ON THE 2.4L ENGINE OF OUR DAUGHTER'S 1996 DODGE STRATUS CAME OUT, AND THE CAR SPEWED MOST OF ITS OIL OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CHRYSLER HAD A RECALL (#671) ON THESE BACK IN 1995 AS SEVERAL FIRES OCCURRED. OUR VIN FELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF VINS AFFECTED, BUT WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL ENDED WITH CARS MANUFACTURED OCT. 13, 1995 AND OUR CAR (WE WERE TOLD) WAS MANUFACTURED OCT. 14TH. THE FIX AS OF THAT DATE WAS A CHANGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD MACHINING AND THE PLUG THICKNESS. OBVIOUSLY, EITHER OUR ENGINE IS ONE FROM BEFORE THE CHANGE WAS FULLY IMPLEMENTED, OR THE CHANGE WAS NOT A CURE ALL, AS THE PLUG ON OURS CAME OUT. THEIR SOLUTION FOR AFFECTED ENGINES WAS A BRACKET THAT BOLTS ON TO RETAIN THE PLUGS, BUT NO ONE AT THE 1-800 NUMBER NOR AT THE DEALERSHIP COULD TELL ME IF IT WOULD FIT OR WORK ON OUR ENGINE WITH THE SUPPOSED MACHINING CHANGES. PARTS AND LABOR WILL LIKELY BE ONLY AROUND $100, BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR EVEN WITH THE PROXIMITY OF RECALL DATE TO OUR MANUFACTURE DATE, THE FACT THAT OUR CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS CARS THAT WERE RECALLED, AND THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPE THEY ARE 100% CORRECT THAT OUR CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SEEMS LIKE A RISK ON THEIR PART TO NOT COVER THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171386October 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
IN 2003 MY 2001 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE FAILED. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED FOR OVER 10000 MILES AND AS A RESULT GUMMED UP LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3-4000 MILES AND HAD BEEN CHANGED NOT 3 DAYS BEFORE INCIDENT HAPPENED. ENGINE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY CLEANED OUT AND REPAIRED TO THE TUNE OF $3000.00. ENGINE HAD LESS THAN 60000 MILES AT THE TIME. SINCE THEN CAR AGAIN HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITHOUT FAIL. AGAIN,THE ENGINE FAILED, I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THAT THE DODGE STRATUS MAGNUM ENGINE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE A TOO SMALL OIL LINE TO THE ENGINE AND HAD A TENDENCY TO CLOG WITH A MINUTE AMOUNT OF NORMAL DEBRIS,AND THEREFORE THE LOWER HALF OF ENGINE WAS STARVED OF OIL AND ENGINE BECOMES TOAST. BY THE WAY, THE OIL LIGHT FAILED TO GO ON TO LET ME KNOW I HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL ENGINE WAS TOASTED, THEN IT WENT ON. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE IT IS IN PERFECT CONDITION OTHER THAN THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER $3000.00, NO REPAIRING IT THIS TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS AGAIN. IF THIS IS AN ENGINE DESIGN FLAW...IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE DESIGN,LOUSY QUALITY AND MECHANICAL DESIGN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171028October 17, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FIRST COMPLAINT...ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION ON WET ROADWAYS I WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN FARTHER BEHIND THAN NORMAL FOR MY STOP OR TURN. EVERY SINGLE TIME MY BREAKS LOCKED UP ON ME AND I SLID. A COUPLE OF TIMES ALMOST ENDED IN A COLLISION. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DEALING WITH A TRAIN. WHEN I STOPPED THE TRAIN HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. IT PULLED OFF MY BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR, COOLANT EACH LANDING AT LEAST 75 FEET AWAY. IT ALSO TWISTED MY ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, BENT MY FRAME, AND REAR AXLE. ALL THE WHILE MY BATTERY BLEW UP. OUT OF ALL OF THAT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10171144October 17, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE QUICK COUPLER FAILED CAUSING GREAT AMOUNT OF GAS LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170948October 16, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
STARTED CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BROKE WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS NONE. WANT TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170768October 13, 2006
AIR BAGS
I HAD PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO RETURN TO WORK AND WHEN I TURNED THE CORNER TO LEAVE MY STREET I HEARD A CRACKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK EITHER THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 35,500 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170586October 11, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING LOT, A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. UPON HEARING THIS NOISE, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MORE THAN A FEW FEET, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE PARTIALLY PARKED IN THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE PARKED AND INVESTIGATED, THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED; TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MOVE/DRAG VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ONTO FLATBED TOW TRUCK. LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170261October 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DROVE THE VEHICLE THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE WERE NO SIGNS, WARNINGS OF ANYTHING WRONG. WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE NEXT AFTERNOON AND UPON START UP VEHICLE WAS MAKING A RATTLING, CLICKING NOISE, TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. HAD CAR TOWED, WAS TOLD OIL WAS SLUDGY , ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE, AT A COST OF MINIMUM END OF $5700. MECHANIC STATED HE HAD TWO MORE VEHICLES OF EXACT YEAR, MAKE, MODEL AND 2.7L ENGINE ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. HE STATED FURTHER, HE WAS SORRY, BUT WOULD HAVE TO DECLINE HIS SERVICE TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE ENGINE AS HE WAS ALREADY FED UP WITH DEALING WITH MANUFACTURER WITH THE OTHER TWO VEHICLES. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS CLAIMING OWNER FAULT, OF NOT MAINTAINING 3000 MILE OIL CHANGES, EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THE OWNERS HAD EVERY RECEIPT PROVING OTHERWISE. HERE I SIT WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW, HAVE NO FINANCIAL MEANS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS VEHICLE AS I BECAME DISABLED IN APRIL OF 2005 AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED BUDGET. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY MAJOR EXPENSE OR PROBLEMS AND IT WOULD LAST ME 15-20 YRS, NOT 5. I ALSO DIDN'T EXPECT TO PAY OVER $20,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT WOULD ONLY LAST 70,000 MILES. THIS WASN'T THE ONLY ITEMS I HAD TO HAVE FIXED, IN 2003 I HAD TO HAVE THE FAN FIXED FOR THE AC/HEATING AS IT ONLY WORKED ON ONE SPEED, THANK GOODNESS IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. WHICH I NEVER DID RECEIVE ANY RECALL LETTER OR ANY NOTIFICATION OF THIS PROBLEM. IN 2005 THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE GET WATER IN WHEN IT RAINS, HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO DEALER, THEY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT AND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS THE FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED AND WAS SO PROUD OF IT, TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF IT AND NOW I FEEL AND LOOK LIKE A COMPLETE FOOL, AS THE MANUFACTURER IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, PLUS HAS A VEHICLE THAT RUNS! THEIR OLD SLOGAN DODGE TUFF, THE NEW IS YOUR DODGE DOESN'T RUN, THAT'S TOUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170167October 3, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
2000 STRATUS BEGAN SMOKING UNDER HOOD. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY CATCH ON FIRE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER ELECTED NOT TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIR MADE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170168October 3, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING HIGH PRESSURE STEERING HOSE. *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169737October 2, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE REVVED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE STOPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE IRS TIME THIS HAPPENED THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE WAS VERY BLACK AND THAT THE THROTTLE WAS POSSIBLY STICKING, CAUSING THE IAC MOTOR TO OVERCOMPENSATE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169786October 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2.7 ENGINE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, CHRYSLER MECHANIC SAYS THEY HAVE HAD MANY, AND ARE WAITING ON A RECALL, HAVE NOT DRIVEN CAR IN A FEW YEARS CAN NOT AFFORD REPAIR! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169528September 28, 2006
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING GEAR, WHEEL BEARING, AND RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V225002, REGARDING THE GEAR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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