1996 Dodge Stratus complaints

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DROPING OIL, UP TO A QUATER EVERY OTHER DAY. A MECHANIC HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT AN OIL LEAK CAME FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GALLERY PLUG BECAUSE IT WA S NOT SEALED PROPERLY. *AK

BOTH FAILURES SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ON A VEHICLE 3 YEARS OLD WITH 45-50,000 MILES

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

TRAVELING AT 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT WHERE NEITHER AIRBAG, DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S, DEPLOYED. TWO SHOULDER INJURIES OCCURRED TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EFFECTIVE CURRENT. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE ENGINE WAS ON, FOOT OFF THE BRAKES, CHILD WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT MOVED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITHOUT DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

REAR RATTLE DUE TO BAFFLE IN GAS TANK BEING LOOSE AND MAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL.

I HAVE HAD OVER 8 DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN THE LAST 2YRS, HAVE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE, TIRES REPLACED TWICE, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FIXED AND STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS, MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, AND I HAVE WRITTEN TO CHRYLSER TO NO AVAIL. HAVE TRIED TO GET RID OF CAR BUT NOONE WANTS IT. OWE MORE THAN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM THE FRONT SEAL OF THE TRANNY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DODGE DEALERSHIP'S GARAGE IN ENGLAND (WHERE I LIVE WORKING FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT SEAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS (THE SEAL) AND LABOR. THEN WHEN THE CAR WAS READY TO PICK UP THEY INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WAS PAYING FOR PARTS, INCUDING A NEW PUMP THAT THAEY FELT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED OUT AND I WOULD PAY FOR THE LABOR. I PAID 195.00 POUNDS WICH IS EQUIVELANT TO AROUND 350.00 DOLLARS. WHEN I TOK THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY RUDLEY TOOK MY CAR AND WENT AROUND THE BLOCK TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER. WHEN HE CAME BACK THE CAR WAS FIXED. SO I DROVE IT HOME AND ON THE WAY THIER THE TRANNY WAS SLIPPING AND ALMOST BURNT OUT. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND THERE WAS NONE IN THERE. I CALLED THE GARAGE AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. SO I FILLED IT BACK UP AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THEM. THEY THEN PREECEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANNY NEEDE TO BE REPLACED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BENT. I WAS QUITE UPSET BECAUSE I WOULD OF NEVER HAD TO PAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IF THEY HAS ROAD TESTED THE VEHICAL IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I LEFT THEM THE CAR AGIAN. THIS HAPPENED ON THE VERY NEXT DAY. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I RECIEVED THE CAR BACK. TWO DAYS AFTER RECIEVING THE CAR THE TRANNY GOT STUCK IN LOW GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANN

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THEN THREW A ROD. UPON VEHICLE INSPECTION FOUND A HOLE IN ENGINE BLOCK THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL.

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

IN BOTH REPORTED PROBLEMS (HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL) NEARLY ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL IN THE VEHICLE LEAKED ONTO OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE/ROAD OR THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAM SEAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHILE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET DID NOT. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET CHRYSLER TO HELP OUT WITH REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NO SUMMARY FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

AT 42000 MILES RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILED DEALER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRENTY . AT 66500 MILES LEFT WHEEL BEARING GOING WILL HAVE TO COVER ALL COST AGAIN. MUST BE A PROBLEM FOR MANUFACTURER. DOEST SEEM AS I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *AK

OIL LEAK CAUSE BY DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. NOT ENOUGH MILE ON THE CAR FOR IT TO BECOME DISABLED. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT AND WHEN APPLYING THE GAS TO PULL OFF AGAIN, THE VEHICLE JERKS VERY HARD LIKE SOME ONE HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE BACK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

OIL LEAK, DEALER CONFIRMED HEAD GASKET, SAID CHRYSLER KNOWS OF PROBLEM AND OFFERING TO COVER WITH A $100 DEDUCTIBLE, PLUS I HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR A RENTAL CAR. THEN THE CAM SENSOR GOES OUT, ANOTHER $185.00 TO DEALER. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND OIL LEAK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAM SENSOR TO GO OUT. 3 WEEKS PRIOR THEY HAD PERFORMED A RECAL ON THE PCM MODULE, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE CAM SENSOR. THEY ARE SAYING TOTALLY UNRELATED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF A SOURCE OF IGNITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS, BUT CONSUMER FEELS THEY SHOULD COVER ALL OF IT. DEALER SAID NEW GASKET WAS BEING DESIGNED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. DISCOVERED AT 33K MILES ON CAR. LEAK ISOLATED DOWN TO HEAD GASKET. HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT NO CHARGE( UNDER WARRANTY). NOTED OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE SAME PRODUCT LINE. DEALER MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE IS A KNOW DEFICIENCY IN THE HEAD GASKETS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. RECOMMEND CHRYSLER INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE NEED FOR RECALL. NOT SURE WHETHER THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR NOT , BUT LEAKING OIL IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

INCREASING ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE EVIDENT FROM BETWEEN THE ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION JUNCTION BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO ORIGINATE FROM THE HEAD ASSEMBLY (I.E. VALVE COVER), POSSIBLY THE MAIN BEARING OR ?OIL GALLEY PLUG?

SEVERE OIL LEAK ON BACKSIDE OF ENGINE NEAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE RECALLED OIL GALLEY PLUG IN THE HEAD BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. HAD TO HAVE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, CAM SEALS, CAM SENSOR AND VARIOUS OTHER GASKETS. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THESE ENGINES DUMP OIL, BUT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. ONE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED 7 IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, A GOODYEAR SHOP TOLD US THAT THEY SAW 5 IN ONE WEEK THAT HAD COME IN FOR OTHER REASONS AND THEY HAD TO SEND THEM TO THE DEALER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS. WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. HEAD GASKETS DO NOT JUST GO BAD ON NEW CARS. TO PUT THE FINAL NAIL IN OUR COFFIN. THE DEALER (JACK CARUSO REGENCY DODGE IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA) THAT REPLACED THIS GASKET, PUT OUR ENGINE BACK TOGETHER WRONG. WE WERE DRIVING AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND WE SMELLED FUEL. THE FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE WAS LOOSE AND SPRAYING OIL EVERYWHERE, THE GROUNDSTRAP WAS ARCHING WITH THE SPARK PLUG WIRE AT THE DISTRIBUTOR. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DODGE DEALER AS WE WERE ON VACATION. THE DEALER SAID WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO LOSING OUR LIVES, ANOTHER FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. THEY SAID "WHOEVER PUT THIS ENGINE BACK TOGETHER DID A ?!@#$% JOB AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING" THE FUEL LINE WAS BENT AND THE SEAL CRACKED, THE VACUUM LINES WERE NOT ROUTED CORRECTLY, BRACKETS WERE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. GASKET IS ON BACKORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. *AK

OIL LEAKS FROM LEFT REAR ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED LEAKING CAMSHAFT.

ON GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR; REASON UNKNOWN. CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK *ML

OIL LIGHT CAME ON DURING RIGHT TURNS. FOUND OIL TANK TO BE DRY. NOTICED OIL BEING SPRAYED OUT OF ENGINE BLOCK. PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND NO KNOWN CAUSE. DEALER FOUND FAULTY HEADGASKET. REPLACED HEADGASKET 12/23/98. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AS OF 1/4/99. PLEASE EXPLAIN. BULLETIN NOTICED FOR 2.4 ENGINE. NOT 2.0. OWNER EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED!

BRAKES WOULD SCREAM WHEN APPLIED. REPAIR WORK DONE IN 4/98. PROBLEM REOCCURRED IN 11/98. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND STATED NORMAL MECHANICALLY. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND PULLEY FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO TOTALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL COULD CAUSE CONSUMER TO BLOW THE ENGINE. *AK

FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY IN THE DASHBOARD...

FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T READ CORRECTLY..FULL TANK OF GAS READS EMPTY (E)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/R70/14 )

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. *AK

INFORMED OF HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL WHILE IT WAS IN FOR ONE OF THE MANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR. AT THE TIME THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT NOTICEABLE UNDER THE CAR, BUT SINCE THEN HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE ON MY CAR AS WELL AS ANY OF THE NUMEROUS OTHER CARS I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT. IF THIS PROBLEM IS AS WIDE SPREAD AS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS INDICATE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ME.

I WENT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN OIL LEAK. I THAN WENT TO MY LOCAL GARAGE TO MAKE AN APPOINTTMENT. I THAN DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CALLED PETER KOTCH (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) AND WAS INFORMED THAT I DID NOT PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. I THAN CALLED THE CHRYSLER CORP 800 NUMBER. I TALKED WITH A REPRESENATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP. BUT, HE DID INFORM ME OF SEVERAL SAFTY RECALLS FOR THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE WENT SEARCHING INTO THE WEB SIGHTS FOR RECALLS. THERE WAS A RECALL 1/97 FOR A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS I HAVE NOW. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS ONE WAS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A CAR OF ONLY 2 YEARS AND 66093 MILES SHOULD NEED THIS TYPE OF EXPENSE. ALL THE WORK THAT IS NEEDED IS COSTING ME 937.00 ESTIMATE.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT 46,000 MILES OF WEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE OIL. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED . *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FAULTY BEARINGS IN THE PULLEY, CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO MELT THROUGH THE TIMING COVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON KNIGHTS ROAD IN BENSALEM, A CAR (2 CARS AHEAD OF ME)SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE MINI-VAN THAT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME ALSO STOPPED SUDDENLY. AS I APPROACHED, I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP. THE MINI-VAN STARTED TO PROCEED AROUND THE VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO ALSO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE MINI-VAN STOPPED SUDDENLY AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. MY CAR ROLLED INTO THE MINI-VAN. MY INSURANCE PAID OUT APPROXIMATLY $1500.00 IN DAMAGE TO FIX THEIR BUMPER. I AM NOW HOWEVER GOING THROUGH A LAWSUIT FOR BODILY DAMAGE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED I CONTACTED CHRYSLER. THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR OUT TO CHECK MY BRAKES AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE RESULT WAS THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND THAT I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A CAR WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THIS INFURIATED ME FOR IT IS NOT THE FIRST CAR I HAVE HAD WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE WITH ANY OTHER CAR. THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE BRAKES FAILED ON THIS CAR. SEVERAL INCIDENTS OCCURRED PREVIOUS WHERE I WOULD TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT AND SUDDENLY LOOSE MY BRAKES FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE INSPECTION, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. I WAS NEVER INFORMED WHETHER ANY ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR IF IT IS JUST A COINCEDANCE. SINCE I'VE H

BRAKE PADS WEAR EXCESSIVELY, IN ONE INSTANCE THE BRAKE PADS WERE BROKEN.

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLOW OUT, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE MOTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE, THE OIL KEPT GOING DOWN DUE TO A LEAK. WHEN DRIVING THE OIL WILL LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE. *AK

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH OIL PAN LEAKING OIL, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OIL IN HIS VEHICLE LEAKS DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PLUGS. *AK

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS.

ENGINE CONTINUALLY LEAKING OIL, REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET DID NOT REMEDY LEAKS.

DEFECTIVE OIL GALLEY PLUG WHICH IS LOCATED AROUND CYLINDER HEAD IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND HAD THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT IT SPEEDS UP WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN DEALER , DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE, THERE IS LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE USES ALOT OF OIL. THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD'NT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN CAR WAS CHECKED FOR OIL, OIL WAS LEAKING, OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. OIL WAS CHANGED IN JUNE, DEALER CONTACTED, AND MANUFACTURER WILL ASSIST IN REPAIR WORK FUNDS, ASSUMED THE HEAD GASKETS WER E LEAKING. *AK

FRONT DISC 15" ROTOR WAS REPLACED IN 1997 WITH A 14" ROTOR BECAUSE THE THEY HAVE THE SAME PART NUMBER. #4616935. AFTER THE 14" ROTOR WAS INSTALLED, THE BRAKES WORE OUT QUICKLY.