1997 Dodge Stratus complaints

THE HEADGASKET BLEW OUT AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT ALOT OF THE STRATUS' BLOWING THE HEADGASKET AS I AM LOOKING ON YOUR WEBSITE I SEE THAT HE IS CORRECT THERE ARE ALOT OF CASES OF BLOWING THE HEADGASKET. WAS THERE A RECALL IS THE DEALER GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

WHILE TRAVELING HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL ON TO EXHUST RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK INDEPENDENT MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL ON TO THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF ENGINE. BUT THE DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE THE STATEMENT. *YH

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GO WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I AM JUST GLAD NOTHING MAJOR HAPPENED WHILE MYTWO-YR OLD WAS PRESENT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD I HAD A CRACK IN THE HEAD CYLINDER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A CAR I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE SHOULD BUY ! *AK

TURN LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND CAUSED CONTROL PANEL TO BE INOPERABLE, SIGNAL LIGHTS INOPERABLE, AND HVAC INOPERABLE. *SLC

CHRYSLER ADMITTED TO PROBLEM BY OFFERING TO PAY PARTS BUT NO LABOR. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I PUT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3,000 MILES. TODAY, WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE VEHICLES. MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN OCTOBER, BUT I AM HEARING THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE WARNOCK TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

INS. ADJUSTED UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE OF FIRE WHICH BURNED MY CAR TO THE GROUND. TOTAL LOSS!! TOOK FIRE DEPT 35 MINUTES TO ARRIVE. NOTHING LEFT BUT THE SHELL! CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF! *AK

COOLANT WAS GETTING INTO OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 2.4L ENGINE HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER CHECKED OIL AND NOTICED OIL WAS LOW. TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER'S BROTHER STARTED VEHICLE UP TO DRIVE VEHICLE OVER TO CONSUMER'S HOUSE. IN PROCESS OF DRIVING, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER SMELLED THE SMOKE. BACKSEAT STARTED TO EVAPORATE. EVERYTHING THAT WAS INSIDE OFF VEHICLE WAS DEMOLISHED. *AK THE CLOGGED EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE - SEVERE OIL LEAK. *AK

DEALERSHIP FOUND A LEAK DURING MY INSPECTION. NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS STRATUS. I FOUND MANY PROBLEMS LISTED BY OTHERS, WHICH LED TO THIS REPORT BEING FILED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON THESE VEHECLES. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

'HEAD GASKET' - WE BOUGHT A NEW 1997 DODGE STRATUS IN MARCH OF 1997. AT 20,718 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED BADLY. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET IT FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY) WHILE THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FINE UNTIL 72,000 MILES - AT THAT POINT IT FAILED AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. 'HEADRESTS' - ON OUR 1997 DODGE STRATUS THE ADJUSTABLE HEADRESTS HAVE BROKEN - THE PADDED HEADREST BREAKS FREE FROM THE METAL POSTS HOLDING IT TO THE CHAIR. WE HAD THE PASSENGER HEADREST REPLACED - IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY BREAK FROM THE PRESSURE OF ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME - THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY.

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*AK

TRUNK LEAKS. *MJS

APPARANTLY ALL DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I GUESS DODGE WILL SELL YOU A CHEAP CAR AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BY CHARGING YOU A FORTUNE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE ON DRIVEWAY . CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A FAN BELT WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A BAD LEAK COMING FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. *AK

LEAKY HEAD GASKET-CHYLR "FEELS NO RESPONSIBILTY" TO ASSUME LIABILITY W/OBVIOUS DEFECT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

ATTENTION REALLY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT A RE-CALL OF SOME SORT SHOULD BE INITIATED FOR THE HEAD GASKETS ON THESE VEHICLES. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT SOME SORT OF "SECRET WARRANTY" THAT COVERS UP TO 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES EXISTS. IT IS THE DUTY AND OBLIGATION OF THE NHSTA TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST SECRETIVE WARRANTIES THAT ONLY APPEAR WHEN THE ISSUES ARE PRESSED. PLEASE HELP!!!!!. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND REAR SEAT RELEASED FROM THE SEAT TRACKS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING A LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND FILLED COOLING SYSTEM WITH COOLANT/WATER. TOOK TO NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIR; WAITING FOR ESTIMATE OF COST AS OF 10/5/00. IDLER PULLY FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF DRIVABILITY AT 43,000 MILES. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE SHOP FOR $350.00. SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONANTS TO BE FAILING. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BRAKE FAILURES, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES. *SLC

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BLOWN OUT ON 5 OCCASIONS. DEALER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

AT LEAST 14 OCCURENCES OF HEADLIGHT BLOWING OUT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING, 2 AT HIGH SPEEDS , TEH MOST RECENT ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, HASD BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES PREVIOUS FOR SAME, DEALER NOR CHRYSLER CORP CAN SEEM TO FIX PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS FALT WITH THE POTENTIAL TO END LIKE FIRESTONES DILEMNA = FATALITIES. REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION IN THE FORM OF A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE AUTO LINE THANK YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. YOUR DATA BASE HAS ERRED ON ALL OF THE INFO, TEH VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NO FIRES AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, NO FATALITIES AS HAS APPEARED ON MY SCREEN

TACHOMETER STOPS WORKING AND RETURNS TO 0 RPM AT SAME TIME ODOMETER LIGHT GOES OUT. STAYS THAT WAY FOR PERIODS OF ONE MINUTE TO 30 MINUTES. THEN BOTH START WORKING AGAIN, WITH NO LOSS OF MILES BEING RECORDED. CHECKED FUSES AND GROUND WIRES, SEEM TO BE OK. DEALER WANTS $400+ TO CHECK PROBLEM. NOT SAFETY PROBLEM, JUST INCONVENIENT.

I TOOK MY STRATUS TO A FRIEND MECHANIC FOR WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A SIMPLE OIL LEAK, HE ADVISED IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEONS AND STRATUS. SHOULD CHRYSLER PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IF IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? I DO THINK SO.

SOMEONE I WORKED WITH HAS THE SAME CAR (YEAR/MODEL) AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL BE INVESTIGATING THIS ON MY OUW AS WELL AND CONTACTING DODGE DIRECTLY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

LEAKING HEAD GASKET AND MAP SENSOR. *AK

NO SUMMARY

REPLACED ONCE DUE TO RECALL. MAKING SAME NOISE WHEN ORIGINAL FAILURE OCCURRED. WORRIED FAILURE WILL OCCUR AGAIN DUE TO NOISE. *AK

HEADGASKET FAILURE AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT COMMIT TO REPAIR AND WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK OF $100

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS BROKEN. PART OF THE SEAT WHERE CONSUMER'S HIP GOES UP A METAL PIECE STICKS OUT. CONSUMER FEELS FRAME MAY BREAK COMPLETELY, AND FAMILY MAY BE INJURED. *AK LEFT FRONT SEAT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. LEFT DOOR HINGE BROKE TOO. FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND ROTORS FAILED. *YH

I NOTICED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR ON JULY 4TH WHICH WAS A REALLY HOT DAY I CONTACTED QUICK LUBE ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS MY COMPRESSOR THEY SAID THAT IT WAS WAY PREMATURE TO LOSE A COMPRESSOR AT 47,000 MILES AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID THEY PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME THAT THAT WAS JUST THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES AND $ 800.00 LATER I WAS A VERY DISGRUNTELED VEHICLE OWNER I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE SPEND GOOD MONEY ON A CAR AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE REPAID FOR GOOD MAINTINENCE ON OUR CAR . I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN !!!! S. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR MOMENTARILY, AND RETURN AFTER PUMPING THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING PROFUSELY AT 31,000 MILES. MY WARRENTY IS OVER AND WANT INFORMATION ON HOW TO GAIN A REPLACEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART IN THE STRATUS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE? *AK

WHEN I USED THE BACK BUTTON TO CORRECT AN ITEM, THE ORIGINAL COMMENTS WERE WIPED OUT. YOU HAVE TO FIX THAT. WE HAVE HAD FOUR BRAKE FAILURES ON OUR DODGE. EACH HAS BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON IT. BOSCO DODGE INSPECTED THEY BRAKES THEN AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. THEY DID REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER WITH A FACTORY REPLACEMENT. THIS SPRING, THEY FAILED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. AGAIN, THE DODGE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HE DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME. TODAY THE BRAKES FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. HOW DO THEY FAIL? EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS MOVED THAT DAY. THREE TIMES THE BRAKES FAILED LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM THE DRIVEWAY. MY WIFE WAS STOPPING THE CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. THE FOURTH TIME WAS THREE BLOCKS AWAY. IN EACH INSTANCE THE CAR LOST ALL BRAKING POWER TO ALL WHEELS AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BAKES AND CAR OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER EACH INSTANCE. IN MY MIND, IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ANTI-LOCKS HUNG UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. *AK

EINGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. GASKET IS BEING REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD - UPON DEALER REPLACING DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO TAKING TO DEALER ANOTHER GARAGE HAD DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR OVERHEATING TO BE FROM A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER FEELS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALER UPON REMOVAL OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OR DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED BY OVERHEATING FROM THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLITY AND REFUSED TO CONTACT DODGE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. THEY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO RE-INSTALL THE CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. STEERING RACK - THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WE THEREFORE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. WE FEEL THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

OUR TRANSMISSION HAD AT LEAST 1500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE FROM THE FACTORY. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER 'S SERVICE DEPT SEES AT LEAST ONE PER WEEK. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS NOT BEING USED AT THE TIME AND WHICH WAS NOT OPERABLE [HAD NOT BEEN WORKING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT] SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE FLOORBOARDED. DRIVER AVOIDED OTHER TRAFFIC BUT ENDED UP IN A FIELD. CAR WAS TOTALED. INSPECTION OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO UNIT WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. *AK

THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED FOR A SEC THEN IT WENT OFF RIPPING MY HAND OFF THE STERING WHEEL I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR . IT WAS LOUD AND MY ARM HAD PLASTIC IN IT . *AK

AT 61,000 MILES OIL STARTED LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO USE MORE FUEL/ STALL, AND ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK