Dodge Stratus Complaints

2,721 consumer complaints on file.

#757929February 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DURING THE END OF SUMMER MY CAR ENGINE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS (USUALLY @20 - 40MPH). I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE MY CAR REPEATEDLY SHUTS OFF WHEN I TURN CORNERS OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 30 OR LESS IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND WE HAVE FACED MANY CLOSE ACCIDENTS! ONCE THE CAR'S RPM SHUTS DOWN THE CAR SHUTS OFF NO MATTER WHERE I AM. WHEN I DRIVE 50MPH OR MORE MY CAR JERKS. MY CAR ALSO ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVE 40MPH OR LESS ON ITS OWN IN SEVERAL INSTANCES I ALMOST HIT CARS IN FRONT OF ME DURING RED LIGHTS. MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS ON AND THAT IT WOULD COST $70.00 AN HOUR FOR A COMPUTERIZED CHECKUP WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. ANOTHER TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE SHUTOFF PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND ASSUMED THE THROTTLE BOTTLE WAS THE CAUSE. WESTMINISTER DODGE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BOTTLE AND MY CAR STILL CONTINUES TO SHUTOFF SINCE SUMMER OF 2001. MY AIR BRAKE FAILED ME IN 9/2001, I ENDED UP UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR FROM KNOCKING OFF A WHEEL COVER OF A MITSUBISHI 4 DOOR. MY CAR SHUTOFF WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR TO AVOID HITTING THE MITSUBISHI AND MY FRONT END OF MY CAR (LICENSE PLATE NOSE) TOOK OFF HER WHEELCOVER IN WHICH I OFFERED TO REPLACE FOR $40.00. I AM VERY AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MY NEWEST PROBLEM AS OF 1/14/2002 IS MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMM. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE FULL CONTROL OF MY CAR IT KIND OF RIDES ALL OVER THE RODE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE I GET IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNFIXABLE CAR FAILURE! I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR OR TRADE IN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003545February 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED OIL IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET, THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, OIL IS LEAKING CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JG *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757797February 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757811February 5, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN TWO DODGE STRATUS. ONE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP DAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO THE RADIATOR HAD LOOSENED UP. THE CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. NOW MY OTHER STRATUS HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION LEAK. SAME PROBLEM!! I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTER DEFECT!!*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757717February 4, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 9 TIMES. SEVERAL OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN REPEAT REPAIRS. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS ON 10/18/1999. IT TOOK THEM UNTIL 08/28/2001 TO REPAIR IT. THEN WE HAD TO BRING IT BACK ON 10/22/2001 BECAUSE A SEAL WAS LEAKING ON THE TRANSMISSION. AT THAT TIME I HAD THEM LISTEN TO THE CAR, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE IT STARTED WITH IN 10/1999. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, WHICH IS WHAT THEY TOLD US UP UNTIL 08/28/2001. NOW THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. IN THE 3 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR IT HAS HAD $5201.48 WORHT OF REPAIRS DONE TO IT. IN ADDITION TO THE DEFECTIVE PARTS I HAVE LISTED, IT ALSO HAD AN IGNITION COIL, INJECTORS, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS WE DONE BY MIDDLETOWN DODGE, RT 17M, MIDDLETOWN, NY, EXCEPT THE FIRST REPAIR. THAT WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A GREAT EXTENDED WARANTY. OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS OURSELVES. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR WILL CONTINUE TO BREAKDOWN AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO KEEP IT OR SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003203January 30, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757492January 29, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL, I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL PLACES TO GET ESTIMATES I FOUND THAT EVERY MACHANIC WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFFORD. ALSO, SINCE I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN LEAKING I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757342January 25, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757334January 25, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ON BOTH REAR AND ONE FRONT SEAT BELT THE LOCK THAT HOLDS THE SEAT BELT TIGHT IN CASE OF AN ACCICENT HAD "FALLEN OFF". MAKING PROPER PLACEMENT OF A CAR SEAT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE SINCE HAD THEM REPLACED BUT STILL FEAR THAT OTHERS TO WHOM DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT MAY HAVE A UNKNOWN DANGER. I THINK THAT THE LOCK ITSELF IS POORLY MADE AND SHOULD HAVE SOME WAY TO MAKE IT TAMPER RESISTANT, OR SO THEY DON'T COME OFF AS EASILY AS MINE DID. THEY ARE ALSO NOT CHEAP TO HAVE REPLACED SINCE YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEATBELT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AKJLG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002759January 24, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CONSUMER STATED STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED, AND BRAKES PULSATE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED, DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS, PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FOR A SHORT TIME AND REOCCURRED. *AK WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND GROWL TAKING A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002797January 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL, LEAK IS EXTREMELY BAD. VEHICLE HAS TO BE REFILLED WITH TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002805January 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER HAS TO FILL VEHICLE WITH OIL 3 TIMES A WEEK TO KEEP VEHICLE GOING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757291January 24, 2002
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
WHEEL HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILED AROUND 62,000 MILES ONLY ON ONE SIDE (PASSANGER). I BELIEVE PART WAS FAULTY AS THEIR IS A TSB 02-07-97 ON THIS PART. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE (BOTH THE DEALER AND THE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED). THEY CLAIM "OUT OF WARRANTY". THE WARRANTY CLAUSE SHOULD NOT MATTER IN THIS CASE AS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM - IT SHOULD BE A RECALL!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002679January 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND LOSE OIL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002697January 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757230January 23, 2002
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WASHER/ WIPER SYSTEM FAILURE - VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IN LAST THREE YEARS - DEALER CUT THE WASHER FLUID LINE TO ALLOW COMPRESSED AIR TO BLOW OUT SYSTEM - WORKS FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN PLUGS UP AGAIN - IT BECOMES A SFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU ACTIVEATE THE WINDSHIRLD WASHER SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND NO FLUID IS DISPENSED - BUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE SMEARING WHATEVER IS ON THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757260January 23, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMITTLY 15 MIN I PARKED TO HAVE LUNCH. WHILE INSIDE SOMEONE RAN IN AND SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER INVESTIGATION OF FIRE I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY THING LIKE THIS BEFORE, HE SAID THE GAS LINE LOCATED BEHIND ENGINE HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHICH IN TURN STARTED A FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757095January 20, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON THESE CARS PRE-MATURELY AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE SPRAYING OIL MIST ONTO THE CATALITIC CONVERTER WICH COULD IN TURN START THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE CALLED THE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RECALL LINE AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON MAKING THIS PROBLEM CORRECT FOR THE CONSUMER. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET HAVE RANGED BETWEEN 700 AND 800 DOLLARS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR FREE IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN MATERIAL/WORKMANSHIP THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO CARS NORMALLY AND A FIRE HAZARD FROM THE OIL MIST CONTACTING THE VERY HOT CATALITIC CONVERTER. PLEASE HELP US. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757031January 18, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE POWER STEERING HOSE (PART NUMBER # 4764-347A / 0777C/ 25517 DF 3251 3/8" ID # 03067F1) IS LOCATED BEHIND THE CYLINDER BLOCK AND RUNS ALONG THE TOP OF IT FROM THE PUMP( LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR) TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE DOWN TO THE RACK & PINION. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE HOSE WHEN IT RUPTURS/LEAKS ONTO THE EXHUST PIPE/MANIFOLD AND IGNITES THE POWER STEERING FLUID STARTING A FIRE. THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED SO THAT IT IS PLACED LOWER OR AWAY FROM THE EXHUST PIPE/MAIFOLD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756864January 15, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE OIL LEAK HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND I TOOK IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER AS WELL AS OTHER MECHANICS TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST THE OIL PAN LEAKING AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600.00. THE VEHICLE ISN'T EVEN PAID FOR YET. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR THIS PAST FALL. I ALSO HAD A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHENEVER I TURNED AND AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALL JOINT FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING A NOTICE ABOUT THAT AND SHOULDN'T THE DEALER HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT RECALL NOTICE WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN REPEATEDLY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY COULDN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG? INSTEAD THEY REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND TIEROD ENDS. I AM GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER OVER THIS VEHICLE. AFTER ALL THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS JUST ON THIS WEBSITE AND YOU KNOW THERE ARE MORE OUT THERE, CHRYSLER SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND AT A MINIMUM DO A 50-50 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. YOU CAN BET I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER CHYRSLER PRODUCT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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