1996 Dodge Stratus complaints

FRONT WHEEL HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE CRACKING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED OIL LEAKS. TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

I WAS GOING 60 MPH WHEN I HIT A DEER IT SMASHED THE THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THROUGH LASSEN COUNTY PARK IN CALIFORNIA, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW INTERNALLY AND I LOST ALL POWER, ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED TO GIVE ME ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, MY FIRST NOTICE WAS THE VECHILE ACTUALLY LOSING ALL POWER. DURING THE INITIAL SEIZE UP, A FULL SIZE CHEVY PICK UP WAS BEHIND ME AND QUICKLY CAME UP ON ME AS I QUICKLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CHEVY WAS INCHES FROM HITTING MY LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. (AT THIS MOMENT I WAS TERRIFIED, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE PROBLEM!). AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING INTERALLY IT CAUSED THE RODBEARINGS TO SPIN. I ULTIMATELY HAD TO HAVE THE RODS, RODBEARINGS, HEADGASKET, OIL FILTER, OIL PAN PICKUP, TIMING BELTS, INJECTION SEALS, OIL PAN, AIR FILTER, PCV VALVE, THERMOSTATE, EGR VALVE GASKET, EGR TUBE, CV SHAFT, SPARKPLUGS, FUEL FILTER REPLACED FOR A TOTAL OF $925.38. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MACHINE WORK DONE ON THE BOTTOM END OF MOTOR FOR A TOTAL OF $1,000. A GRAND TOTAL OF ALMOST $2,000! *AK

HAD PROBLEM WITH TIMING BELT WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. NOW HAVING PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE AND STALLING OF VEHICLE IN OPERATION. JUST PAID 790.42 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR ON APRIL 11, 2000 NAD WORK IS STILL NOT SOLVING PROBLEM. IT STALLED ON ME 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC AND STILL LEAKS OIL. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE PLACED OR VEHICLE REPLACED. IM SICK TO MY STOMACH OVER THIS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER OR DODGE AUTOMOBILE AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP FOR OIL LEAK, AND FOUND OUT FROM MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER CONFIRMED THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL 96V006000/ ENGINE DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

WHILE TRYING TO MOVE DRIVER'S SEATBACK FORWARD CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH VERY HARD TO MOVE . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

THIS ENGINE LEAKS 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK AT HEAD GASKET, AND HAS SINCE LAST OCTOBER (1999). *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING WHILE DRIVING, AND MORE FREQUENTLY OF NOT STARTING ON OCCASION REGARDLESS AS TO WHETHER IT SAT OVERNIGHT OR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. THREE VISITS TO EITHER JAY CHEVROLET OR AL SERRA DODGE, HAS RESULTED IN ONLY THE TIMING CHAIN BEING FIXED. HOWEVER THIS SOLVED ONLY THE ORIGINAL STALL, BUT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY, AND NO OTHER SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED. ON SECOND TRIP TO DEALER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHILE ON THE TOW TRUCK, BUT DID START LATER WHEN SERVICE TRIED IT. THEY JUST KEPT SENDING THE CAR BACK WITH NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN DRIVING THIS CAR, AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THEM BEING STRANDED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUTION FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE IN AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. *AK

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FOR A 1996 DODGE STRATUS I HAVE ALREADY HAD A HEAD GASKET ($600.00) AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NEED HELP WITH ANY RECALLS ON THESE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION. *AK

THE VALVE COVER GASKET HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. *AK

THE CAR WAS LEAKING OIL SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS 'PUMPING OIL' AND THE ESTIMATE TO FIX IT WAS $600. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO CHECK WITH CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. I DECIDED TO SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS EXAMPLES FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CAR. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF MASS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AUTOMOBILES. *AK

OWNER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL FOR THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG (96V006000) CAUSING THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE. NLM

HEAD GASKET PROBLEM

OVERHEAD GASKET FAILED AGAIN,I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM AND BEEN FIXED,BUT WHILE CHECKING MY OIL LEVEL NOTICED THAT THE DIP STICK WAS BONE DRY,AND THAT OIL HAD BEEN LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET,THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SO I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED,WELL I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN 44,000 MILES. LEAKED OIL REPRESENTED A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. POTENTIAL FATAL HAZARD IF OIL/WATER IS GONE AND THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 35MPH AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. PULLED OVER, CHECKED OIL, NOTHING SHOWED ON THE DIP STICK, AND IT WAS ONLY ENOUGH FOR THE OIL FILTER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGES. CONSUMER PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. DEALER TOLD HER THERE WAS A KNOCKING IN THE VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS, AND PUT NEW MOTOR IN. MANUFACTURER AGREED TO GO HALF & HALF ON MOTOR. *ML

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH OVER A BRIDGE DRIVER IN THECAR IN FRONT PUT ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE JUMPED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. WHEN SHE APLLIED THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME, VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT INTO THE WATER AND FLIPPED TWICE, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN . CONSUMER BROKE THE WINDOW, AND CRAWLED OUT OF VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED OUT OF SOCKET, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF ALL STEERING CONTROL, THE CAR IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS FAILURE, DEALER INSPECTED CAR TWO MONTHS PRIOR AND SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WEAR ON BOTH TIE ROD JOINTS.*AK

GAS LEAKING FROM THE O-RING GASKET ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, FIRE & SAFETY PROBLEM, DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO INCLUDE THIS PART UNTER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY

RECALL 96V006, ENGINE HEAD GASKET. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THERE WAS A RECALL, AND DEALER DID FIX THE PROBLEM AT MANSSAS CHRYSLER JEEP, 8100 CENTERVILLE ROAD, MANSSAS, VA 703-368-5300, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

SPARK PLUG TREADS AREN'T THERE. DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE LEAKING OIL WHILE TRAVELING. HAS TO REPLACE 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN LAST YEAR AT VAN ANDEL DEALERSHIP IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN FOR RECALL WORK. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS HAD A KNOCK OR CREEK IN IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. I HAD ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING FIXED FOR RECALL WORK. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. YESTERDAY MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WENT TO GO TO THE STORE. THEY STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND PROCEEDED TO GO WHEN THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM UNTIL THIS HAPPENED EXCEPT FOR THE CREEKING. K AND M NORTHFIELD DODOGE OF GRAND RAPIDS CALLED ME TODAY WITH THE ESTIMATE OF THECAR. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR HAS A BROKEN TIE ROD. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 55000 MILES ON IT. HE SAID IT WAS NMOT UNCOMMON DUE TO THE CAB-0FORWARD DESIGN PUTS TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE TIE RODS. I AM CONCERNED SOMEONE COULD DIE IN AN ACCIDENT. SHOULD THERE BE STRONGER TIE RODS PUT IN THESE CARS. THANK YOU PLEASE E-MAIL OR CALL WITH ANY QUESTIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY AND OTHERS DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WHEN THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE BALL JOINT.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE SHE SAW SMOKE. THEN WHEN OPENED THE HOOD, ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. *AK

AFTER SEEING OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEAKAGE WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETFAILURE. ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE LEAKING OIL. HAD TO REPLACE OIL 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FRUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE IS AN OIL LEAK AT THE CYLINDER HEAD AND OIL GALLEY PLUG, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, THERE IS RECALL 96V006000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 671. BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, PARTS HAS YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS, CAR DIES IN MIDDLE OF BUSY ROAD DUE TO THIS DEFECT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SHIFTER CABLES STRETCHED, ADVISED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL. HEADGASKET IS ALSO A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE BUT STILL NO RECALL/WITH A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD

MAJOR OIL LEAK ON THE DRIVER SIDE NEAR THE FIREWALL. DEALER DIAGNOSED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE, ALLOWING OIL TO PUMP OUT OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. RECOMMENDED FIXING TO AVOID FIRE, BUT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY HELP. REVIEWED UP TO CUSTOMER REL. MGR. AT ZONE OFFICE, SAID DUE TO MILEAGE, NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THIS SEEMS TOO LOW A MILEAGE FOR THE ENGINE TO BE SELF DESTRUCTING WHEN OTHER BRANDS RUN 200K AND MORE MILES WITH NO TROUBLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER BLACKED OUT, HIT A TELPHONE POLE, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 40,000 MILES, CAUSING LOSS OF OIL.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH CAR STARTED JERKING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC SAID CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

PREMATURE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING RESULTED IN BEING STRANDED ON CAPITOL BELTWAY. REPLACEMENT PERIOD IS 100,000 MILES. ACTUAL FAILURE AT 45000. FAILURE CAUSE REPORTED MECHANICAL WITH TENSIONER BEARINGS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE SIDES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

NOTICED A POOL OF OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY. LEAKING 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY TWO DAYS COMING FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE MOTOR. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PLUG. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD A MINOR OIL LEAK WHEN SHE PURCHASED VEHICLE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER SEARCHED FOR A PLACE TO TO FIND AN ENGINE. SHE FOUND AN ENGINE, AND IT HAD THE SAME DEFECT, AN OIL LEAK. *AK

THE SMALL PIN THAT HOLDS THE LARGER PIN FOR THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED ALLOWING THE LARGER PIN TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSING AND PUT A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING.

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AFTER IMMEDIATELY FINDING OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I AM FINANCING THIS CAR AND HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY STATED THAT IT IS COVERED, BUT THAT THEY WON'T FIX IT DO TO ME NOT KEEPING OIL IN THE CAR. I HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE/OIL CHANGES ON THIS CAR AND THIS IS A CROCK OF S---. I HAVE BEEN ON THE WEB AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH DODGE NEONS AND STRATUSES. MY MECHANIC HAS EVEN OFFERED TO VOUCH FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR DAMAGES INCURRED BY FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAR BY THE CHRYSLER COMPANY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A *COVERED* PART. I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A DODGE CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS TWICE AND SEEM TO CONTINUOUSLY NEED "BELTS AND TUNE UPS". I AM THOROUGHLY UPSET THAT MY FIRST CAR PURCHASE TURNED OUT TO BE A PIECE OF CRAP AND NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. IF THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS "COVERED" REPAIR, THEY WILL SEE ME IN COURT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHCLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 96V00600, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, AND THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE LEAKED APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART PER 1,000 MILES FROM DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE 2.0 AND 2.4L ENGINES, BUT CHRYLSER CORPORATION HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ISSUE RECALL. *AK

MAJOR OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

OIL LEAK FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA AND REAR CAMSHAFT SENSOR SEAL WAS DETECTED. I AM LODGING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE UPON SEARCHING COMPLAINTS SITE OF NTSA, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST A FEW COMPLAINTS. I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP OTHER THAN A DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET IS "COMMON" AMONG THE STRATUS. MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED THE STATEMENT. I JUST PAID OVER $1000 IN REPAIR BILLS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF 1996 STRATUSES DUE TO A SIMILAR PROBLEM BEFORE MY CAR WAS MADE. WAS THE PROBLEM REALLY SOLVED WITH THE EARLIER MANUFACTURED DATES? MY FEAR IS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL COME UP AGAIN IN AN "UNSAFE SITUATION" AND THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF WILL BE JEOPARDIZED. THIS COMPLAINT MAY BE TAKEN LIGHTLY BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET TROUBLES ME A LOT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE THEY ARE NOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER DISASTER SIMILAR TO "FORD AND THE PINTO" BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK