1997 Dodge Stratus complaints

I HAD TO FILL MY OIL EVERY WEEK, MY OIL STICK WASNT EVEN READING THE OIL, THATS HOW BAD MY LEAK WAS I THEN TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN AND TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GUY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" ON HEAD GASKETS. MY TIMING BELT BROKE GOING 70MPH ON I-40 IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AT DUSK IN THE TENNESSEE/NC BORDER. AND B4 I LEFT FOR THE TRIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. HAD TO PAY 300$ TOWING BILL CAUSE IT WAS "OK" TO DRIVE! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN...I UNDERSTAND THERE CAN BE PROBLEMS WITH ANY CAR...BUT WHEN THEY CHARGE US THE CONSUMER TO FIX THERE MISTAKES MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.*AK

HEADGASKET HAS OIL LEAKAGE. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE MUST USE FOUR QUARTS OF OIL TO FUNCTION. ALSO, VEHICLE SMOKES, AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED. *YH

HEADGASKET IS LEAKING. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE NOTED THAT GASKET HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.*AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHCILE WAS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT CAR WAS ASSEMBLED WITH A PAPER THIN GASKET.*AK *YH

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE STRATUS THAT I TOOK IN FOR OVERHEATING THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR, AND REPLACED A BELT. THEN THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS STILL OVERHEATING SO I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL LEAKING AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS WAS NOT CHEAP TO FIX ALL OF THIS AND PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING I HAD TO PAY $650 TO GET BRAKES IN FRONT AND BACK, ROTERS, AND REPLACE THE HYDRAULICS IN THE REAR BRAKES. BOTH TIE RODS HAVE BROKE ALSO IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. SO OVERALL I HAVE HAD TO STICK A LOT OF MONEY IN TO A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE. I DON'T EXPECT TO REPLACE THIS MUCH STUFF ON VEHICLE UNLESS IT IS 10 YEARS OR OLDER. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE ANY HELP. I SEE BY THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED THAT THE HEAD GASKET SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

IF I AM DOING MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOESN'T STOP COMPLETELY WITHOUT SLIDING. *AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND HEADGASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING OIL

GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE CRUISE SONTROL IMMEDIATELY. MY CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKE HARDER, REALIZED THERE WAS NO STOPPING, PULLED OVER TO BREAK DOWN LANE. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, ENDED UP WITH JUST SQEALING TIRES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HORRIBLY. LET ME JUST NOTE THAT AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THANK GOD A STATE POLICE PULLED UP BEHIND ME, AT WHICH TIME I HAD THE CAR AT 10MPH BUT WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY 10 YEAR OLD CHILD HAD TO JUMP FROM MY CAR TO LET THE OFFICER KNOW WHY I COULDN'T STOP. HE ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL IN FRONT OF ME AND SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT NOTHING TO FINALLY STOP MY CAR AT WHICH POINT HE GOT OUT , CAME TO MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IN THIS FORM I COULD NOT FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE VIN, ETC. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS TOWED AND I AM WITH A FRIEND IN MASS. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DODGE COMPANY ON MONDAY. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY FOR MY CHILD. MAINE STATE POLICE WAS OBVIOUSLY INVOLVED. HIS NAME WAS ROGER. *AK

AFTER FUELING VEHICLE, CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PARKED VEHICLE, AND SAW FUEL GUSHING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER , FUEL FILTER HAD EXPLODED, LEAKING FUEL ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM.*AK *SLC

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION, HOWEVER UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE MANAGER THAT PART WAS UNDER RECALL(#750) THE SERVICE MANAGE ADVISED CONSUMER TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM CHRYSLER, CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS KNOW TO BE DEFECTIVE AND TO SEND IN ALL DOCUMENTATION, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT HE HAD NOT MET THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER STATES HE COMPLIED THE WITH CONTROL ARMS INSPECTION PER RECALL ON DEC 15, 1998 BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.*JB

I HAVE AN EVENFLO MEDALLION V CONVERTABLE CAR SEAT, MODEL# 254191P2, MANUFACTURED 1/25/00. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A PLASTIC HARNESS TIE THAT GOES ACROSS THE CHEST THAT THE SHOULDAR STRAPS SLIDE INTO. MY SON CAN VERY EASILY SLIDE IT OFF AND GET OUT OF THE STRAPS. I HAVE CALLED EVENFLO 9/11/01 AND SPOKE TO JENNY REQUESTING THEY SEND ME SOMETHING THAT SNAPS TOGETHER TO REPLACE IT. SHE TOLD ME THEY DO NOT MAKE ONE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR TOP OF THE LINE MODEL, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE)BUT SHE CAN SEND ME A NEW PLASTIC CLIP SO IT WILL TAKE HIM LONGER TO GET IT OFF. I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY MAKE THEM FOR SOME MODELS, BUT NOT ALL. I PAID OVER $100.00 FOR THIS SEAT AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT WILL NOT PROTECT MY SON IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THIS COMPANY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ALL OF THEIR CONSUMERS, ONLY THOSE THAT BUY PARTICULAR MODELS. I AM ASKING YOU TO FIND OUT WHY!!! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL, WRITE OR E-MAIL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY RECALL #750. THE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER AND PAID FOR BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $633.00 COST AND THE $49.95 PLUS 8% SALES TAX WITH NO LUCK. REQUEST WAS DENIED FOR THE REASON THAT "ALTHOUGH THE RECALLED PARTS FAILED THEY DIDN'T FAIL FOR THE RECALL REASON." CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOT GIVEN THE OLD PARTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. *AK DAIMLER CHRYSLER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT STATING THAT THIS CASE FELL INTO GENERAL MAINTENANCE. *SLC

ENGINE DEVELOPED SERIOUS OIL LEAK. REFERRED TO DEALER. ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THAT CAMSHAFT OIL SEAL FAILED. ADVISED THAT ENGINE IS MAKING SOUND INDICITIVE OF INTERNAL COMPONENT FAILURE. DEALER INSISTS HEAD GASKET AND CAM SHAFT OIL SEAL AND OTHER DAMAGE UNRELATED. CURRENTLY AWAITING ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, POSSIBLE COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL.*AK

VEHICLE DEVELOPED OIL LEAK. DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET LEAK. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR. THERE SEEMS TO BE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE YET THE MANUFACTURER APPEARS TO BE IGNORING THE PROB LEM (APPARENT DESIGN/MANUFACTURER FLAW). WHY IS CHRYSLER CORP. NOT BEING FORCED TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? IF THEIR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF WE DONT CARE,WHICH IS WHAT I HEAR BY READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEAD GAS KETS AND THEIR FAILURE TO COVER THE REPAIR, MAYBE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BOYCOTT TH EIR PRODUCTS. I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS. QUAL ITY SEEMS TO BE A THING OF THE PAST WITH THEM. I JUST HOPE THAT ONE DAY MANAGEME NTS FAMILY MEMBERS GET STUCK SOMEWHERE IN ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS LIKE THE I DID. MAYBE THEYLL START CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AND KEEP TH EM IN BUSINESS. I CAN ONLY HOPE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH VEHICLE STALLED OUT. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. WAS RESTARTED AT GARAGE AND TEST DRIVEN. NOTHING HAPPENED. HOWEVER, MUCH LATER PROBLEM REAPPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*AK *SLC

THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 1997, IT HAD AROUND 50,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH WHILE IN DRIVE AND WILL STALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. WE HAD THE MAP & THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED AT THAT TIME. WE HAVE HAD RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS SINCE THEN, UNTIL THIS PAST MAY WHEN WE REPLACED THEM FOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE STILL STALLED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WE FOUND THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. WE ONCE AGAIN PROCEEDED WITH THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REFLECTS THERE IS A PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DIAGNOSTIC CONTINUALLY NOTES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SENSORS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE STRATUS, YET DODGE IS RELUCTANT TO RECALL THE PART(S) INVOLVED. FOR EXAMPLE, THREE OTHER DODGE STRATUS/PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES WERE BROUGHT IN TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP DURING THE SAME WEEK OUR STRATUS WAS BEING REPAIRED. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING AT THE MOST IN OPPORTUNE TIMES ( IN THE MIDDLE OF LEFT HAND TURNS IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS, ETC...*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. BALL JOINT REPLACED./ REAR OIL SEAL REPLACED.*AK

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE AT THE DEALER. THE NEXT TIME I NOTICED THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING, WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF A RECURRING HEAD GASKET FAILURE, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THANK YOU FOR LETTING OUR VOICE BE HEARD!*AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT, LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND CRACKING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER IS INSPECTING AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE REAR SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LEAK, TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WERE $1600 DEALER STATED COLD WEATHER PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN DAMAGE. *TT

THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP. TIE ROD: INNER WAS CRACKED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER INFORMED BY INDEPENDENT SERVICE AGENT THAT VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND THAT THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON THREE OCCASSIONS, AND WERE REPLACED BY DEALER.*JB

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON THREE OCCASSIONS, AND WERE REPLACED BY DEALER.*JB

I HAVE HAD TWO HEAD GASKETS REPLACED IN A 6000 MILE SPAN I AM MAD. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE STARTED SMELLING LIKE BURNT RUBBER, ALSO STARTED SMOKING, HEARING ELECTRICAL POPPING NOISE AND THEN ENGINE STARTED BURNING WITH THE GLOW OF FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER AND OUT OF THE ENGINE HOOD COMPARTMENT. MY CHILDREN AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR CRYING AND VERY EXCITED, TRUAMATIZED BY THE SOLE FACT OF MAYBE GETTING BURNED UP IN THE CAR OR BLOWN UP. I THEN , WITHOUT HASTE, WENT TO MY APT. AND DIALED THE POLICE AT "911" AND WAS DISPATCHED OVER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER, APPROXIMATELY 10 MINS., THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGHISED THE FIRE AND MADE THEIR REPORT AND SPEAKING WITH ME ABOUT THE TURN OF EVENTS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.*AK

POWER STEERING WENT OUT (65 MPH ON CURVE HOSE CAME OFF, HEAD GASKET REPLACED, STEERING GEAR REPLACED, NEW RACK WAS INSTALLED, REPLACED UP-STREM OXGEN SENSOR, POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER COULD NOT FIND LEAK.

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK

MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST WITH APPARENT KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY HALF FOR APPARENT KNOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. WHEN WILL THERE BE RECALLS FOR THESE TWO KNOWN PROBLEMS. *AK

$800 HEAD GASKET REPAIR PLUS $300 TO REPLACE PARTS IT DAMAGED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL WAS ON GROUND THAT CAME UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 22000 MILES BEFORE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. POSSIBLE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKES OR ENGINE LEAK MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE.

THIS IS THE 2D SAME VEHICLE IN TOTAL LOSS CRASHES IN 2 WEEKS WHERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE. NLM

CONSUMER STARTED TO NOTICE OIL ON GROUND, AND OIL GAUGE WENT DOWN TO GAUGES.*AK

HEADGASKET FAILED, DODGE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK FOR SAME PROBLEM TWICE. GASKETS WAS CONSISTENTLY LEAKING. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER $500.00 FOR REPAIR.*AK

THERE IS A CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

A HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL BLOWING OUT OF THE MANIFOLD DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE INSERTING FUELING NOZZLE INTO TANK FILL - PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND TANK FILL JUST INSIDE FILL DOOR COLLAPSED INTO BODY OF VEHICLE WITH NOZZLE AND DRIVERS HAND WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO (2) HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LEAKS IN THREE YEARS. FIRST ONE COST A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 AND THE SECOND ONE WILL COST ME $250, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT DODGE HAS ISSUED TECH BULLETINS TO ADDRESS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS. DODGE DID THE GOOD WILL BIT IN BOTH CASES BY SUPPOSEDLY SPLITTING THE COST 50/50. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT CONSUMERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH HEFTY FEES FOR INFERIOR/FAULTY DESIGNS. BRAKES - APPARENTLY THE DESIGN OF THE CALIPERS INCLUDES A CYLINDER MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF NORMAL BRAKING OPERATIONS AND WILL NOT CONTRACT PROPERLY WHEN COOLED DOWN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CALIPER STICKS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHICH CASUSES THE DISC PAD TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR, THUS WEARING DOWN THE PAD PREMATURELY AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS. THIS COST ME $559 THE FIRST TIME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE SIMPLY BEEN CHANGING THE PADS EARLIER THAN NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE IT COULD (OR HAS TO OTHERS?) CAUSE AN ACCIDENT/FATALITY ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MY REPAIR BILL TOTALS $1400 AND CHRYSLER IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF IT WERE STILL UNDER 50,000 MILES THEN THEY WOULD HAVE PROVIDED 'SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE'. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND SURELY THERE ARE ENOUGH INCIDENTS TO SUPPORT A MANDATORY RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR TIMING GEAR BELT PULLEY SYSTEM. CAR ENGINE WINDED REALLY LOUD. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL, FOAMY WHIT RESIDUE FORMED AROUND INSIDE OF OIL CAP. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACE ALMOST 4 TIMES. *AK

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE UNDER HOOD, CONSUMER AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY FIRST HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED 03/26/1998. HERE IT IS THREE YEARS LATER AND IT GOES AGAIN? A CALL WAS PLACED TO CHRYSLER ON 02/28/2001, AND THEY EVEN STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND A NEW ONE SHOULD DO THE TRICK. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A SECOND HEAD GASKET, WHEN THE VERY FIRST ONE SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. TODAY, I AM SENDING A REGISTERED LETTER TO CHRYSLER AS WELL.*AK

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE