Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#10010977March 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET LEAK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012250March 21, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012251March 21, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WHEN SHE PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES BLEWOUT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010653March 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 STRATUS, 78000 MILES, LEAKS OIL BADLY. STARTED ABOUT 76000 AND HAS WORSENED. HOPE THIS CAN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011912March 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NAR 03/17/2003 THE HEAD GASKET WERE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED PREMATURELY IN THE 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HE BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 300.00 FROM THE DEALER. *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010310March 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FURTHER THAN NORMAL. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BOLT STUDS THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BROKEN OFF AND MISSING. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE BOOSTER TO ABOUT A 30 DEGEREE ANGLE. THE REMAINING STUD WAS STILL IN PLACE BUT BENT BADLY TO ONE SIDE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A PANIC STOP REQUIRED, I FEEL THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE BOOSTER, WITH THE EFFECT OF HAVING NO BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010219March 10, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010231March 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE IS AN OIL LEAK (FROM THE HEAD GASKET) ON MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT EVERY DODGE STRATUS THAT HE HAS SEEN WITH AN OIL LEAK HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND I HAVE HEARD OTHER STRATUS OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010185March 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AT 78,000 MILE DELEVOPED A BAD OIL LEAK, DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN CATCH ON FIRE. IT SURE SMELLS BAD. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008411March 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS MY '97 DODGE STRATUS ES (2.4L) APPROACHES 58,000 MI, IT APPEARS TO BE SELF-DESTRUCTING, OF COURSE THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL (1 QT/WEEK) AT THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET, COOLING SYSTEM IS FOULED (HEATER QUIT, FLUSH+CLEAN DIDN'T SOLVE) , AND I JUST GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY TO WORK! I HAVE BEEN A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER FOR DECADES, BUT HAVING A CAR THAT RUNS FINE FOR 55K AND THEN DIES BY 60K WILL MAKE ME BUY FOREIGN HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE OIL LEAKS WILL IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? (I HOPE I ADD TO THIS COUNT) MAYBE IF I GET THE NEXT STAGE, AN ENGINE FIRE, AT LEAST THE INSURANCE MIGHT HELP PAY FOR MY TOYOTA...*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008284March 1, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS HAS 37,000 MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2002 I TOOK IT TO SEARS FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ALSO ASKING THEM TO SEE WHERE OIL WAS LEAKING (NOTICED OIL ON CONCRETE IN GARAGE). THEY SAID VALVE COVER GASKET SO I GOT THAT FIXED FOR ABOUT $72.00 ALL ALONG THINKING THAT THERE WERE NOT THAT MANY MILES DRIVEN. AND TO BAD THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. I THINK IT WAS 5 YEARS OR 25,000 MILES. WITHIN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS OIL WAS LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT IN AND END UP PAYING $702.00 BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. THE MECHANIC SHOWED IT TO ME AND JOKINGLY SAID ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THIS CAN BE SO CHEAP THAT IT ALMOST WAS DETERIORATED AND THE WARRANTY 5YRS IS UP. EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT DROVE 25,000 MILES YET. WELL THE FINAL BLOW , ON OCT 10,2002 I KEPT HEARING A CLUNK WHEN I MADE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. TOOK IT TO THE RHODEN DODGE. WE WERE TOLD THAT RIGHT & LEFT TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE & SWAY BAR LINKS WORN & LOOSE(2 TIE RODS,& 2 BALL JOINTS) I ASKED THEM TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH ,TOTALING $779.00 BECAUSE WHAT ELSE WILL BREAK. WELL IN JAN. 2003 THE BRAKES WERE ON MEDAL ANOTHER $190.00. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT IN TO THE GARAGE. THERE IS ONLY 37,000 MILES DRIVEN AND I AM HEARING ANOTHER NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE FIXED THEY TOLD ME THEY TEST DROVE IT AND HEARD NOTHING . SOME HOW IT SEEMS THAT 5 YRS OR 25,000 MILES IS TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE SOLD IT BEFORE THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE COMPANY KNEW THINGS WOULD START HAPPENING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME. PLEASE, THIS CAR IS A LEMON WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009647February 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED.JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008013February 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON MY WIFES 2002 DODGE STRATUS HAD FAILED TWICE, BRAKE PEDAL WAS AT FLOOR AND CAR DID NOT STOP. BOTH TIMES THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. HAD DEALERSHIP INSPECT AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR WITH THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND GAVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ONCE MORE SINCE TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP (THIS IS ALL WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD). FORTUNALTY NO ACCIENT HAS OCCURED. PER SERVICE DEPARTEMENT THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO LEAVE CAR AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DRIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SEE IF BRAKES FAIL AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007894February 20, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IMPRESSED WITH THE SPORTY STYLE OF MY SISTER'S 4-DOOR DODGE STRATUS, I PURCHASED ONE FOR MY WIFE IN 1998 (A 1998 DODGE STRATUS). IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE MY SISTER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER CAR. I BLAMED HER AND TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS TOO ROUGH ON HER CAR (SHE HAS A LEAD FOOT). MY WIFE AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR CARS AND I WAS CONFIDENT WE WOULD NOT RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS. WELL, RECENTLY I NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF A SMALL OIL-PUDDLE WERE MY WIFE KEEPS HER CAR. I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I'VE YET TO HAVE THIS DONE BUT WAS QUOTED AND ESTIMATE OF $700-750. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE STRATUS. SO COMMON THAT HE PREDICTED THE DIAGNOSIS BEFORE EVER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD. MY STRATUS ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. ITS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN WITH CARE. TURNS OUT, MY SISTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE) AT/NEAR 65,000 MILES. IN TYPING THE WORDS "DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKET" IN AN INTERNET SEARCH MANY ARTICLES, COMPLAINTS, AND REVIEWS NOTED THIS ALL-TO COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO LEARNED MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE RECEIVED ZERO TO LITTLE COMPENSATION/COMPASSION FROM THE MANUFACTUER FOR THE OBVIOUS DEFECT. IT APPAERS DODGE HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS RE-DESIGNED THE GASKET MULTIPLE TIMES. TWO SEPERATE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT I CAN HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED BUT I SHOULD EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN SOON AFTER. THIS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. I UNDERSTAND DEFECTS OCCUR BUT FEEL PEOPLE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHEN THEY DO. DODGE NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ADMIT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. THIS DEFECT HAS LED TO MUCH FRUSTRATION.. A RESPONSE OF WHAT I SHOULD/CAN DO WOULD BE APPRECIATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785906February 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE/HEAD GASKET HAD AN OIL LEAK. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005743February 12, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
REAR ENDED A TRUCK WHERE THE FRONT END OF THE STRATUS WENT UNDER THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. POINT OF IMPACT WAS JUST UNDER WHERE THE HOOD LATCHES CAUSING THE HOOD TO BUCKLE UP, DOING DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS, BROKE RADIATOR AND PUSHED IT BACK INTO THE ENGINE, BROKE AIR COMPRESSOR, BOTH HEAD LIGHTS, AND CAUSED 'CRACKING' IN THE WINDSHIELD. NOT SURE OF SPEED AT TIME OF IMPACT BUT SPEED OF CAR BEFORE IMPACT WAS AROUND 45 MPH, DRIVER HIT BRAKES HARD BUT NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE TO STOP - THERE WERE SKID MARKS ABOUT 2 FEET IN LENGTH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10006982February 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005484February 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 58K MILES, CAUSED OIL LEAK,LIKE SO MANY OTHER 1997 DODGE STRATUS WITH FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE, 2.4L.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005487February 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKET CRACKED I HAVE 48 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR OIL LEAKING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM CALLED CHRYSLER THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE STRATUSTHIS IS GOING TO COST ME BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS.I FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD MAKE GOOD OF THIS PROBLEMI ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM. HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.I HONESTLY DON'T FEEL THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT 48 THOUSAND MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006678February 6, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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