1997 Dodge Stratus complaints

STEERING WHEEL HAS PROBLEMS WITH AIMING. WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKES WERE HARD, AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

VEHICLE LOSING OVER A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. I NOTICED OIL LOSS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR , BUT ATTRIBUTED IT TO NORMAL BREAK IN. NOW IT LEAKS DOWN ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MAY POSE A FIRE HAZARD. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN. THEY WARP IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

WHEN REPLACING THE BATTERY THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE TIRE AS IT IS AN ANTI-THEFT. THE PROBLEM IS THE LUGS: NUTS BREAK OFF VERY EASILY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR COMPLIANTS? I'M FACING A LARGE BILL AND DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNERT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS. WE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM CHRYSLER OR THE DEALER.

IT WOULD STICK WHEN I WOULD PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND THE ENGINE STARTED SOUNDING LOUDER THAN IT SHOULD WHEN I ACCELERATED. THEN ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 1999 AS I WAS INCREASING SPEED FROM 35 TO 45MPH THE RPM GAGE STARTED SPINNING. THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS THE SPEED DID NOT INCREASE AND IT FELT LIKE MY WHEELS LOCKED UP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I AM MISSING THIRD GEAR.

COMPLAINED OF BRAKES MAKING RATTLING NOISE...DEALER SAID THAT IT WASN'T UNSAFE BUT JUST ANNOYING

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE VIBRATES. VIBRATION GET WORSE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BEING USED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM 6 TIMES. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON. *AK

WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, APPRX 30 MIN'S WHEN SOMEONE NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND A TECH FROM THE PLACE I WAS AT WENT OUT WITH A FIRE EXT. AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN A DOOR PANEL SWITH (PWR DOOR LOCK OR PWR MIRROR SWITCH) CAR WAS TOWED TO SCULLY MOTOR AND I CALLE D CHRYSLER, THEY DID A THOUGH INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THE FAULT TO BE IN THE PWR MIRROR SWITCH. THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AND HAVE ASSUMMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TOTALING MY CAR AND DOING A COMPLETE BUY BACK WHICH IS IN THE PROCESS. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFTY OF OTHERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE GOOD FOTUNE I HAD OF NOT BEING IN THE CAR SINCE IT BURNT UP AT A FAST PACE. HOPE THIS HELPS OTHERS, THANKS KAREN.

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WHEN TURNING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A BAD GRINDING IN THE FRONT END THE BRAKES GO SOFT AND STOP WORKING THE CAR CONTINUES ROLLING AS IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AT ALL. IT GOES IN FOR SERVICE ON TUESDAY. I HAVE HAD IT AT 2 OTHER DEALERS FOR OTHER BRAKE PROBLEMS.

ENGINE PULLEY THAT HOLDS THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF DRIVING. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

THIS IS THE SECOND MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE

IDLE BEARING FAILED WEARING OUT TIMING BELT WITHIN 42,000 MILES. COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH, DRIVER CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 20-25 FEET IN FRONT EVEN WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

REAR SEAT BELT. ENGINE--CYLINDER HEAD GASKET.

THE CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED CAUSING FIRE. *ET

RIDING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY "ENGINE CHECK LIGHT" CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY GAS CAP. I CHANGED MY GAS CAP AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. EACH TIME I HAVE TAKEN TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND A DAY LATER THE "ENGINE CHECK LIGHT" COMES BACK ON. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE "ENGINE CHECK LIGHT" IS STILL ON TILL THIS DAY AND IT HAS GONE OFF YET. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE DRIVE PROPERLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE (VERY INTERMITENT) OR FIX PROBLEM. FRONT BRAKES NOISY/GROAN ON APPLICATION (TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL BY DEALERSHIP) FRONT BREAKS ALSO SQUEEK (SIMULAR TO WEAR INDICATOR) AFTER REPLACEMENT.

CHRYSLER SAYS IT'S NORMAL FOR BRAKES TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES.

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME ON 08-11-99 I REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS BEEN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE ALSO, BUT DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL DECIDE AGAINST THEIR OWN PRODUCT. WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SLID ABOUT 130 FEET AS IF ON WET GROUND. VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. CONSUMER NOW WAITING FOR DODGE TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE REPAIR. *AK.ET.

VEHICLE IS MAKING LOUD HUMMING OR ROTATIONAL NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER THE FASTER THE CAR IS GOING AND IT ALSO GETS VERY LOUD AND CHANGES TONE WHEN YOU ARE GOING AROUND A CURVE.

DODGE CHRYSLER DID NOT INFORM OWNERS OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. THERE WAS NO RECALL NOTICE; INSTEAD THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" -- THAT IS, OWNERS ARE UNAWARE UNTIL THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FUIRTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED OIL BURNING WHICH WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET, AND GETTING INTO ENGINE MANIFOLD. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ENGINE HEAD GASKET FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED,BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER BACKING UP AND THEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE, VEHICLE WONT GO FORWARD. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES SOFT, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

LOST TURN SIGNAL, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER FUNCTIONALITY SIMULTANEOUSLY. FUNCTIONALITY RETURNED AFTER IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FAILED PART, BUT THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A GLITCH IN THE BODY CONTROLLER. CHRYSLER REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALER SAYING THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS THE PART WERE SHOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO SHARE WHAT SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED BY THE BODY CONTROLLER AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES COULD BE IF IT FAILS. *AK

WHEN AIR GETS INTO THE GAS TANK IT SETS THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON/OFF DUE TO THE CAP BEING LOOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO PULSATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO WIGGLE. DEALER SAID ITWAS OWNERS FAULT BECAUSE OF DIRT GETTING INTO THE ROTORS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. ALSO, LOUD KNOCKING IN FRONT LEFT SIDE OF WHEEL DUE TO RACK PINON FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

IE99034, BOOT DOES NOT FIT ON THE JOINTS. IF ON THE FLOOR MAT, IT WILL CAUSE JOINTS TO STICK, AND THERE WILL BE NO STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

OIL IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS PREMATURELY BLOWN, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INTERMITTENT DELAYED ENGAGEMENT AT VEHICLE START UP. ACCELERATION SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER EMCC OPERATION AT 28-42MPH DUE TO LEAK IN TRANSMISSION FRONT PUMP. THIS IS CHRYLSER'S A604 TRANSMISSION THAT WAS RENAMED TO 41TE TRANSMISSION IN 1992. IF I HAD KNOWN CHRYLSER KNEW THEY WERE PUTTING A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR NEW STRATUS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT ONE.

I HAVE REPLACED MORE PARTS ON THIS CAR THAN I SHOULD HAVE HAD TO ON A MUCH OLDER CAR. THIS IS A PEICE OF JUNK AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK WITH ME EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A HUGE HOLE IN THE SIDE OF IT AND MECHANICS TELL ME THAT IS BECAUSE THE STEEL WAS TOO THIN IN ONE PLACE. THEY WANT ABOUT $800.00 TO FIX IT. THIS IS CRAZY. *AK

CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNED OUT RESULTING IN THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND LOCKING UP.

THE MOVING STEERING SHAFT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS EXPOSED. A CLAMP ON THE STEERING SHAFT CAUGHT THE FLOOR MAT AND MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ALL STRATUS ARE MADE THIS WAY. THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS A SHIELD. IF CHRYSLER DOESN'T FIX THIS, I MAY SELL THE CAR. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING TIMING BELTS/IGINITION KEY/ HEAD RESTS/BODY, ELECTRIC MIRRORS,ETC.. THIS MAY BE THE LAST STRAW. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE WORKED ON CARS SINCE GRADE SCHOOL. A DESIGN FLAW LIKE THIS BORDERS ON CRIMINAL!!! IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN, I WOULD BE GLAD TO TESTIFY. IT WOULD BE AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE IF POSSIBLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL, CHRYSLER WILL NOT PROVIDE RELIEF. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILED. *YC

FUEL GAUGE FAILED. YH

DESIGN OF TOP REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAVE A SHARP CORNER WHICH IS CAUSING MINOR INJURIES WHEN GETTING IN / OUT OF VEHICLE. *YC

WHEN DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE DIES OUT,AND THERE IS AN OIL LEAK. *AK

VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE TURNING OFF FREEWAY. HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGES IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A MAJOR INTERSECTION I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS AND PUSHED ON THE BRAKE, INSTEAD OF THE CAR SLOWING THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS SO I COMPLETLY REMOVED MY FOOT, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED UP AT A VERY FAST RATE. JUST AS THE CAR WAS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION I SLAMMED BACK ON THE BRAKES, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR. IT CONTINUED TOWARD THE INTERSECTION. ONCE IN THE INTERSECTION, THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED MYSELF AND MY WIFE FROM BEING KILLED WAS THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND US. AFTER APPROX 20 TO 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE WENT BACK TO NORMAL I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TOOK THE CAR RIGHT TO THE DEALER AND CHYLSLER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MY WIFE REFUSES TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY, THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND I MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY NEXT TIME. I EXPECT CHRYSLER TO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND , PLEASE HELP. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE NEON AND STRATUS CARS HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP WITH HEAD GASKET FAILURES WHICH ARE NOT AN INEXPENSIVE REPAIR. BETWEEN THE OIL LEAKS, OVERHEATING AND WORRIES, I AM WONDERING WHO TO CONTACT TO SEE IF CHRYSLER FAILED TO BUILD THE MOTOR WITH THE CONSUMER IN MIND.