1997 Dodge Stratus complaints

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND SPILLED OIL. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE . THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WILL ADD MOR INFORMATION.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN OIL LEAKAGE, THE OIL INDICATOR NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *MJS

HEAD GASKET FAILED 3 TIMES, CONSUME BELIEVES THIS IS EXCESSIVE AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

MY HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITH 84,000 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND 2 DODGE DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 6 WEEKS THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AFTER THE HEADGASKET WAS REPLACED. BASICALLY THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TIMING BELT. AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT. PLUS I HAD TO PAY FOR A COMPUTER,WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE MONEY WAS NON REFUNDABLE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DODGE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM SAYING IT WAS ELECTRICAL. I HAD TO PAY OVER 450 DOLLARS FOR THAT. THE TOTAL I PAID WAS OVER 1200 DOLLARS. I THINK ITS PRETTY BAD THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULND NOT EVEN FIX IT! IT SEEMS TO RUN ALL RIGHT NOW. IVE READ HOW A LOT OF THESES DODGE MODELS I.E. 2.4 LITER ENGINES HAVE A MAJOR CORROSION PROBLEM THAT THE DODGE COMPANY FAILS TO TELL ANYBODY ABOUT OR EVEN TRY TO FIX IT. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *AK

BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR PART OF THE HEAD

THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AROUND THE GASKET. APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN SET AT THE DEALER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO LEAKAGE FROM THE RADIATOR. WILL HAVE AN INSPECTIONS PERFORMED AT ENGINE APPOINTMENT. *AK

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. I HAVE BRAKE LINE TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG CRYL/DODGE SAID BECAUSE I HAD CAR TOWED TO MY REPAIR PLACE THERE WAS NOTHING THAY COULD OR WOULD DO FOR ME.AND THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I HAVE MY 5 SPEED TRANS. REBUILT AND HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING IN THEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AT RATE OF 1 QUART PER 3,000 MILES. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CONTACTED BUT KEPT DETAILS REGARDING SCOPE OF FAILURES A SECRET. THEY OFFERED TO SPLIT REPAIR COSTS 50-50 WITH ME (MY PORTION TO EXCEED $300). CONTACTED A NUMBER OF DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES, ALL OF WHICH CONFIRMED LARGE NUMBERS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL AND ENGINE LINES. AFTER SEEING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME SUBJECT ON THIS SITE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN EITHER GASKET DESIGN OR MATERIAL AND WARRANTS A RECALL TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. VEHICLE COSTS TOO MUCH ($20,000) TO ALLOW THIS TYPE OF A FAILURE TO CONTINUE. I CURRENTLY OWN 2 CHRYSLER BUILT VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DAIMLERCHRYSLER PRODUCT, EVER. *AK

ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS REALIZED, I HEARD A VERY LOUD WHIRRING SOUND. I HAD TAKEN IT TO FEENEY DODGE IN PALATINE TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES DONE. THEY DID THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT NOTICE THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR IN MT. PROSPECT FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY NOTICED IT RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD AN AMOCO STATION I KNOW WELL DO THE REPAIR. WHY DID A CAR THAT IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD NEED A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED? I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY WASN'T THIS UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY? I CONTACTED FEENEY AND ANOTHER DEALER IN THE AREA AND GOT TOLD THAT NO, THAT IS NOT UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER NOT ME. THE PART HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. *AK

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT 5 MILES PER HOUR COLLISION. NO DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR BUT OUR CAR HAD A BLOWN OUT WINDSHIELD, SIDE WINDOW, BLOWN APART DASH AND STEERING COLUM. ONLY DAMAGE TO CAR WAS IN THE INTERIOR. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALLOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART. CHRYSLER GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ON THE PHONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE NEW HEAD GASKET IS A NEW DESIGN MEANING THAT THE ORIGINAL IS DEFECTIVE. I REALIZE THAT I HAVE ALLOT OF MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE WITHOUT ANY HELP. THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO WAS VERY INSENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEM I CALLED IN ABOUT. I KNOW OF 2 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND GOT IT FIXED, EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT. I HAD NO OPTION BUT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND FIXED. THE CAR IS ONLY 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFO. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. IF HEAD GASKET WERE TO FAIL COMPLETELY, OIL COULD GET ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND START A FIRE. *AK *ML

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 30,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT GOING OUT OF WARRANTY SOON AND NOTICED PEOPLE WITH SIMULAR PROBLEMS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM IT HAPPENING WHEN THE WARRENTY IS UP. *AK

WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK A FIRE COMMENCED FROM FUEL FILLER NECK. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. CAUSE OF FIRE BELIEVED TO BE STATIC ELECTRICITY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ONGOING BODY IDLE VIBRATION

WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A BUSY STREET AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD BEEN PUT IN NEUTRAL. I LIMPED IT OVER TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE AND THEY PUT A MACHINE ON IT. THE THIRD GEAR IS OUT SO WE HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT. THE COST TO DO THIS IS $1650.00. IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 9,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. WE PREVIOUSLY HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE WE WERE STRANDED AT NIGHT WITH 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO THE TIMING BELT BEING SHREDDED AT 23,000 MILES. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND RENT A VEHICLE TO GET HOME (70 MILES AWAY). AFTER THAT, WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE MANIFOLD. WE HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD AND I HAD TO REPEATEDLY GO BACK AND ARGUE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. I FINALLY GOT IT REPLACED AFTER 3 VISITS AND A WEEK LONG STAY, IT WAS FIXED. NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE TROUBLES, WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK

TIMING BEL/ PULLEY BEARING FAILED, CAUSING PULLEY TO BREAK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF FIRST REPLACEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK *ML

TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR--CAR "KICKS AND BOLTS" AS THOUGH THE DRIVER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. ALSO, CAR NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET AT 50,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICES REGULARLY AND WELL MAINTAINED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AT 51,000 MILES. SPOKE TO MECHANIC THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE GASKET. I HAVE THE GASKET IF THE NHTSA WISHES TO INSPECT. SPOKE TO DODGE THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STRATUS BUT IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY.*AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED CAR USED AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 44,000 MILES. NOW AT 61,000 MILES IT HAS BLOWN OUT AGAIN. DEALER ISN'T GOING TO REPLACE IT, BUT MANUFACTURER WANTS THE CONSUMER TO GET THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT IT. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AT 43000 MILES. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT. *AK

ON ACCELERATION VEHICLE DOES NOT GEAR IN. TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE, AND LEFT VEHICLE STRANDED TO BE HIT IN TRAFFIC. ALSO SLIPS AFTER ACCELERATION OR DOES A HARD KICK INTO GEAR. *AK

DURING DRIVING ON SNOW THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED A FEEDBACK TO THE SYSTEM THAT RESULTED IN LOCKING UP,AND A PEDAL THAT REBOUNDED OUT WHEN BRAKING ON SNOW. *AK

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAKS PREMATURELY... WILL CONTACT CHRYSLER. *AK

HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT THE ENGINE, AND BOTH SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID OUR WARRANTY IS UP AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY DID OFFER US TRADE IN. HOW IRONIC? UPON LOOKING AT YOUR COMPLAINTS DATABASE I CAN SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. WHY CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS, I'LL NEVER, NEVER BUY ANOTHER [XXX] DODGE AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I FOUND OUT YESTERDAY MY HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING AFTER DOING ALOT OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF STRATUS VEHICLES, AND NEON'S AND HOPE DODGE WILL BE FORCED TO BACK THERE PROBLEMS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING SEVERE OIL LEAK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE DUE TO A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

OIL IS LEAKING AROUND THE SEAL, AND HEAD GASKETS. I CALLED AROUND TO GET ESTIMATES ON GETTING THE CAR FIXED, AND WAS TOLD THAT HUNDREDS OF DODGE STRATUS HAS HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. AND IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $900.00, TO $1000.00 TO BE FIXED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BAD OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. $600 QUOTED PRICE. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO BE REPLACED ($5200), AS PER DEALER SERVICE CENTER IN REDLANDS, CA. *AK

THIS VEHICLE RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING FROM THE SPEED OF 70 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK DUE TO A GASKET FAILURE. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE A "SILENT RECALL" FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $1,000! WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE DATABASE OF REPORTED FAILURES I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *AK

VALVE COVER GASKET FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. YH

TIMING BELT AND CASING BROKE. YH

BRAKES MAKE NOISE BECAUSE OF PAD FAILURE .YH

THE HEATER WILL ONLY BLOW OUT ON HIGH SPEED AND THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AS IT SHOWS ON THE DIAL. *AK

GEAR SHIFT MOVES WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. THIS ITEM WAS RECALLED, AND CAR WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED. BUT HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 TIMES, AND STILL WASN'T FIXED. RECALL 98V183000. *AK

DEC/99 I NOW HAVE ANOTHER OIL LEAK. THE REPLACEMENT WORK HAS ALSO FAILED. THE FIRST REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY THE WAS $2578.65. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 3000 MILES SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR. I ONLY HAVE APPROX. 6 MONTHS LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. I'M WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN & I'LL HAVE TO PAY MYSELF.

CARPETED FLOOR MAT GOT CAUGHT IN COTTER PIN IN BOTTOM OF STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING IN A PARKING LOT. *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SPONGY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. AFTER THIS HAPPENS I TRY TO DUPLICATE THE DEFECT BUT IT WON,T HAPPEN AGAIN.

UPON BEING STRUCK IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, NEAR THE BATTERY, MY CAR BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 200 FEET DESIPITE VARIOUS METHODS OF APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I THEN DEPLOYED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THE POWER CUT OFF AND THE FINALLY DIED.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN MY DODGE STRATUS, WONT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR,IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT THE FIRST 2 TIMES BUT IT WAS NOT FIXED PROPERLY. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO 3 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR CHRYSLER VEHICLES HOWEVER, CHRYSLER CORP MAIN OFFICE DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION...NOT THAT I THOUGHT THEY WOULD SAY SO. BUT SOMEONE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER ADMITS THAT CHRSYLER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT GO PUBLIC.

VEHICLE LEAKS OIL AND REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T DAMAGE ENGINE.