2002 Dodge Stratus complaints

OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING UNTOUCHED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A WET SURFACE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. HE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. THE BODY SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REASON WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WAS BECAUSE THE SENSORS WERE MOUNTED SO LOW IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/30/08

OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING MOST WHEN I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING MAYBE 3 WEEKS AFTER. I KNEW I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I HAD ONE DONE YESTERDAY THAT DIDN'T STOP THE KNOCKING. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE SO LAST NIGHT AS IM DRIVING THE KNOCKING GOT REAL LOUD AND YOU COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING MORE. BEFORE I KNEW IT THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. *TR

ALWAYS CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,00 MILES. AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT KNOCKED FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE WITH THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED AND ANYONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE AMOUNT TO FIX THE PROBLEM THROUGH DODGE. *TR

WE HAD TAKEN OUR CAR IN TO THE DODGE DEALER HERE IN OKEECHOBEE. IT WAS HAVING A REGULAR TUNE-UP AND MISC OTHER THINGS DONE. THE DEALER HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS. TWO DAYS AFTER I WAS TAKEN MY 70 YEAR OLD FATHER TO HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY CLASS WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL COMPLETELY TO THE BACK SEAT IN A LAYING DOWN POSITION. I WAS JUST PROCEEDING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. THANK GOD AS IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I HAD NOT TOUCHED NOTHING ON THE SEAT MECHANICS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS AS OF YET. I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE SOMEPLACE THAT WOULD HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THAT SAME CAR DEALER SHIP ROUNDED OFF THE OIL CAP ON THE PAN AND THEY DID FIX THAT. THE SEAT IS STILL BROKEN. I AM NOT A LARGE PERSON NOR IS ANYBODY THAT DRIVES THE VEHICLE SO WE STILL THINK IT WAS EITHER THE MECHANIC AT THE CAR DEALER SHIP OR A FAULTY SEAT MECHANISM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS INCIDENT HAD I NOT ACTED FAST. *TR

MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND OIL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO 3-INCH CRACKS, AND TWO 5-INCH CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,740.

ONE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE STRATUS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CAR DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS BUT CAR STARTED FOR HIM. 2 DAYS LATER CAR DIED AGAIN SO WE TOWED IT TO A DODGE DEALER. HE HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND INFORMED US THE ENGINE WAS SHOT DUE TO OIL SLUDGE AND A TIMING ISSUE. IT WOULD NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $6100. WE DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 20 MILES, DIDN'T MAKE OUR FIRST PAYMENT ON A 3 YEAR LOAN AND HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE. I STILL HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD DODGE CARAVAN, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE 2.7L ENGINE DODGE KNOWING SOLD TO CONSUMERS. NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE. *TR

I DRIVE A 2002 DODGE STRATUS,AT 40,000 MILES TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED COSTING ME 1300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE,AT 62,000 THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED ME AGAIN,ANOTHER 1300 DOLLARS,NOW AT 90,000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS DOWN SHIFTING ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE,3,000 MILES AGO I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE, WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF COSTING ME 700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR,WAS JUST INFORMED THE PASSENGER SIDE IS GOING OUT NOW. *TR

DEALER DRAGGING FEET ON REPAIR, EVEN WITH US HAVING PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.*CN

2002 DODGE STRATUS BEGAN TO HESITATE AND ACT LIKE IT WAS STALLING DRIVING A 10 MILE COMMUTE. WIFE PULL OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, BUT SAW NOTHING WRONG. BEING ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM HOME SHE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT. SHE CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HIS BUSINESS. HE TOLD US THAT AFTER MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. BOTH THE WATER AND OIL WERE WELL WITHIN THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT HAS BEEN WELL CARED FAR AND DRIVEN BY MY OVERLY CAUTIOUS WIFE. AS I HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS ENGINE I HAVE FOUND PLENTY OF EVIDENCE ONLINE THAT THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST EXAMPLES OF FAULTY ENGINEERING IN MEMORY. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THIS. THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS FRAUD UPON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT ALSO MAKES ME THINK THAT NHTSA IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE COULD EXPLODE IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DODGE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE HAD THE CONTROL ARM REPLACED ON THIS CAR TWICE ON THE SAME SIDE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IT JERKS WHEN IT GETS UP TO 50 MPH. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2006. I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, LITTLE THINGS KEPT GOING WRONG. I HAVE KEPT UP ON MAINTENANCE. 3 WEEKS AGO MY WATER PUMP WENT OUT. I PICKED UP MY CAR AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE OIL LIGHT WAS STILL ON. APPARENTLY WHEN THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED, IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND SUCH INTO THE ENGINE. NOT TO MENTION THE SLUDGE. OF COURSE 2 DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, THE ENGINE FAILED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. I AM HAVING TO HAVE A BRAND NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. *TR

I HAD MY DODGE STRATUS 2002 SINCE SUMMER OF 2005. WHILE GOING TO WORK ONE MORNING, I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT THE STARTER WAS GOING. I CALLED AND HAD THE MANUFACTURER'S LOCAL INSPECTION SHOP LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN OUT. IF I RECALL THE ENGINE SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO DIE IN A CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE THE ENGINE SHOULD STILL BE GOING. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ANOTHER CAR DEALER AND NOT THE MANUFACTURER. THIS MATTER SHOULD BE INSPECTED. *JB

REAR SHOCK UPPER MOUNT ATTACKED BY CORROSION, VEHICLE ONLY 4.5 YEARS OLD AND 60,500 MILES. UN-PAINTED POT METAL LIKE MATERIAL BROKE UP INTO MULTIPLE PIECES WITHOUT WARNING. ONE MINUTE VEHICLE DROVE FINE, HIT A TYPICAL PAVEMENT EXPANSION JOINT CAUSING A LIGHT CLUNK TO DEVELOP. WITHIN TWO MILES I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT BECAUSE THE HAMMERING IN THE SUSPENSION GOT SO BAD. FOUND THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NO LONGER RETAINED AT THE UPPER END. VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN HOME GENTLY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING RETAINING THE COIL SPRING TO THE BODY OTHER THAN GRAVITY. BOTH UPPER MOUNTS WERE REPLACED WITH PAINTED REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM THE DEALER. THE LEFT REAR MOUNT HAD NOT FAILED YET, BUT CORROSION WAS RAPIDLY TURNING IT INTO POWDER FROM THE TOP DOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

NORMAL DRIVING THEN THE ENGINE STARTED CLANKING AND QUIT. SERVICE STATION SAID THE 2.7 V6 IS A TERRIBLE ENGINE AND NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. IT COST ABOUT $4000 TO FIX. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. CAN'T AFFORD THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON WWW.DONTBUYONE.ORG WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.*AK

I BOUGHT MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS STILL THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON IT BUT FAILED TO TELL ME IT EXPIRED IN ONE WEEK. IT WAS AT THIS ONE WEEK MARK I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A TICKING NOISE TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES, TWO OF THEM DODGE DEALERS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. AS THE NOISE GOT WORSE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MY TIMING CHAIN WAS GOING OUT AND COULD RUIN MY WHOLE ENGINE AT ANY TIME. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $800. I HAD TO FIGHT WITH CHRYSLER THAT A CAR THIS NEW SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY AGREED TO PAY HALF. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO RECENTLY REPLACE MY STARTER OCTOBER 2006 AFTER THE FUSE BLOWING THREE TIMES OF WHICH I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN ADDITION TO PAYING FOR REPAIRS. I HATE THIS CAR!!!!!! *JB

FAX FWD LTR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT , RE 2002 DODGE STRATUS THAT BLEW UP BECAUSE OF STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *TS THE MANFACTURE DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE FAULURE. A YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE, 06V001000. *NM

FIRST COMPLAINT...ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION ON WET ROADWAYS I WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN FARTHER BEHIND THAN NORMAL FOR MY STOP OR TURN. EVERY SINGLE TIME MY BREAKS LOCKED UP ON ME AND I SLID. A COUPLE OF TIMES ALMOST ENDED IN A COLLISION. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DEALING WITH A TRAIN. WHEN I STOPPED THE TRAIN HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. IT PULLED OFF MY BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR, COOLANT EACH LANDING AT LEAST 75 FEET AWAY. IT ALSO TWISTED MY ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, BENT MY FRAME, AND REAR AXLE. ALL THE WHILE MY BATTERY BLEW UP. OUT OF ALL OF THAT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

STARTED CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BROKE WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS NONE. WANT TO FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE REVVED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE STOPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE IRS TIME THIS HAPPENED THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE INTAKE WAS VERY BLACK AND THAT THE THROTTLE WAS POSSIBLY STICKING, CAUSING THE IAC MOTOR TO OVERCOMPENSATE. *NM

REAR STRUT MOUNT PLATES DISINTEGRATED TURNED TO POWDER CREATING UNSAFE CONDITION WITH REAR SUSPENSION. REPLACED STRUT AND PLATES. HAVE PIECES WHAT IS LEFT OF IT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL SLUDGING PROBLEM, INTERNAL OIL LEAKING AND AN INCREASE OF ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION BY THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP DID NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT HONOR ANY WARRANTY CLAIMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS TOO EXTENSIVE TO FIX. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE SINCE THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 25 MPH. SHE HIT A SLIGHT POT HOLE AND HEAR A LOUD BANG IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING WAS ROLLING AROUND (BANGING) IN THE TRUNK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REAR STRUT PLATE MOUNT DISINTEGRATED AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT. I WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER DODGE STRATUS OF SAME TYPE AND YEAR WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM SO I FELT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU AS DID THE OTHER PARTY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED OIL HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.

THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 53000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, ALL OF WHICH WERE NORMAL DRIVING MILES. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PART SHOULD FAIL AFTER SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND DROVE OVER A SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN THE PAVEMENT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE PASSENGER RIGHT REAR. THE LOUD BANGING SOUND CONTINUED AS LONG AS THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. I NOTICED A COMPROMISE IN THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REGISTERED REPAIR SHOP WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE REAR STRUT PLATE TOP MOUNT HAD DISINTEGRATED DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. THE DRIVER REAR STRUT MOUNT WAS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING APART ALSO. IT APPEARS THAT ROAD SALT PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION. THE REPLACEMENT MOUNTS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR/PARTS WAS PERFORMED: REAR SHOCK & OR STRUT ASSEMBLY (2), UPPER SHOCK MOUNT (2). *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A ROD AND CRANK BEARINGS FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.

I DRIVE A 2002 DODGE STRATUS 4 DOOR R/T AND NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF CAR. I PULLED OVER COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AND DROVE AGAIN. IT STILL MADE A LOUD THUMP SOUND FROM THE REAR OF CAR. INSPECTED CAR AT HOME WITH PROPER TOOLS, I FOUND THE REAR STRUT MOUNT ON THE LEFT OF CAR WAS BROKE IN TO 6 PIECES. IN SIGHT OF THIS I TOOK THE RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT OFF AND FOUND IT TO BE BROKE INTO 2 PIECE WITH A 2 INCH CRACK GOING ACROSS PART OF IT. ORDERED TWO NEW REAR STRUT MOUNTS TO FIND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR PART CHANGE. THE OLD PARTS ARE ALUMINUM AND NOT PAINTED AND THE REVISED PARTS ARE STEEL AND ARE PAINTED BLACK. I CALLED DODGE'S COMPLIANT LINE AND WAS HUNG UP ON. PLEASE NOTE THAT 4 DOOR R/T SUSPENSIONS ARE NOT THE SAME AS ALL OTHER 4 DOOR STRATUS CARS. TIRES WORE ON THE INNER EDGES AND THE SHOCKS WERE FREE TO JUMP UP AND DOWN SINCE NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR. *JB

I DROVE TO KNOXVILLE, TN. I WENT TO A BASKET BALL GAME. ON THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING REAL TERRIBLY. I CALLED MY MOM AND SHE SAID TO CHECK THE OIL IN THE MORNING. I DID IT WAS AT A PERFECT LEVEL.(I HAD GOT THE OIL CHANGED ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THIS TRIP.) I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAINTENANCE SHOP. THEY SAID THE OIL HOLES ARE TO SMALL TO LET SUFFICIENT OIL THROUGH TO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE OIL WAS LIKE GUMMY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE(HOW WOULD ANY ONE KNOW THAT) AND IT RUINS YOUR ENGINE. I HAD ANOTHER MAINTENANCE SHOP CHECK MY CAR AT HOME IN WI. THEY SAID THE SAME THING THE MECHANIC SAID IN TN. THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR IS IN MY DRIVE WAY BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR. MY MOM WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO TN AND RENT A UHAUL WITH A TRAILER AND BRING MY CAR BACK. I DON'T ONLY NEED AT LEAST $3000 FOR ENGINE I ALSO OWE MY MOM $700 FOR THE TOWING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ON A WINDING ROAD, CURVING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE VEHICLE TURNED LEFT. THE BRAKES SEEMED STIFF WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HIT A FENCE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE WORN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS MADE AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE AGENCY DID DETERMINE THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A STEERING OR BRAKE PROBLEM.

MY CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. IT HAS ~42000 MILES. THE MECHANICS ONE FROM KNOXVILLE,TN WHERE THE ENGINE DIED AND THE ONE IN KENOSHA,WI WHERE I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR BROUGHT HOME, SAID THE OIL HOLES ARE TO SMALL TO LET SUFFICIENT OIL THRU THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS STILL SITTING AT THE MECHANICS SHOP BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE $3000.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *NM

LEFT FRONT AXLE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. THE PREVIOUS MONTH THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOWER CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED. *NM

DODGE STRATUS 2002 2.7 MOTOR FAILURE AT 80,000 DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSED BY WATER LEAKING INTO MOTOR, POOR ENGINE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD OF ADVISED THAT THIS CAR NEEDED AGGRESSIVE OIL CHANGES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL NOT FOSSIL FUEL BASED OIL. STRANDED WIFE ON HIGHWAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SAID THAT I DID NOT DO ENOUGH OIL CHANGES. CAR WAS MAINTAIN TO COMPANY SPECS. *NM

02/2005 - DURING NORMAL COMMUTE HOURS, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DURING ACCELERATION. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP (63,067 ODOMETER), THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE LEAKING AND BOTH HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.( I PARK MY CAR IN THE SAME SPOT AT WORK AND AT HOME, AND HADN'T NOTICED ANY LEAKAGE) I WAS ASSURED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO SPOTS, THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH A FLUSH, CLEAN, AND CONDITIONER. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE PARTS WEREN'T COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.($406.62 IN REPAIRS) NOTHING WAS LISTED OR MENTIONED ABOUT ANY OTHER PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 11/2005 - ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AGAIN AND WENT OUT ON ME. THIS TIME I'M BEING TOLD I NEED A FRONT PUMP, VALVE BODY, AND TORQUE CONVERTER ($2,900 IN REPAIRS). WITH 81,000+ MILES ON THE CAR, AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I'M BEING TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *NM

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59,000 MILES ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2005, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND AND STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AND/OR DELAY SHIFT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HARD PART TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $2100.00 AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF WARRANTY AT 50,000 MILES. *JB

WATER OUTLET ERUPTED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. ALSO, THE ERUPTION KNOCKED A SLIGHT DENT IN THE HOOD. THE PART WAS ORDERED FROM THE MFR AND REPLACED THE NEXT DAY. *NM

DT: 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN UPPER REAR RIGHT BALL JOINT. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH HEARD A NOISE , AND THE BACK END OF THE CAR SETTLED DOWN, UPON INSPECTION THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. IT HAS BEEN FIXED AT THE COST OF $200. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO ACCIDENTS. *AK *JB

WHILE USING THE AIR CONDITIONING, THE BLOWER MOTOR WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH. HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN CLARKSTON, MI AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RESISTER ON THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2004. ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN IN JULY OF 2005. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE RESISTOR IN JULY OF 2005. IS THIS A HIGH FAILURE UNIT ON THE 2002 DODGE STRATUS? *NM

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I BEGAN NOTICING THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING DOWN IN A SMOOTH MANNER. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS I WAS EXPERIENCING AND ASKED FOR ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WITH THE COMPUTER OPERATED TRANSMISSION, THAT THE COMPUTER IS A LITTLE SLOW AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. RECENTLY HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN INCREASING IN BOTH FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY. TO THE POINT WHEN I AM COMMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS I COME TO A STOP AND IT SHIFTS TO THE LOWEST GEAR. IF THE TREND CONTINUES I CAN SEE THIS EITHER DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AS THE SURGE PUSHES THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND CONTENDS THAT IT IS JUST A SLOW COMPUTER AND WILL NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.

IN OR AROUND OCTOBER 2004 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 30,000 CHECKUP. I HAVE A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. I TOLD THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT I HAD A "THUD" IN THE FRONT IN OF MY CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY "FRONT SUSPENSSION". IT WAS FIXED, BUT WAS NOT NOTED ON MY INVOICE. A WHILE LATER I FELT THE SAME "THUD" EVERYTIME I TURNED THE CORNER OR TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. SOMETIME IN JANUARY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WELL, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY 2002 VEHICLE. NOW, MIND YOU, I PAID MY CAR OFF 10 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT FROM DODGE. ANYWAY, NOT ONLY DID I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THE "RACK & PENION" AND MY "EVAP SYSTEM" TO GO OUT. THEY TALKED ME INTO BUYING ANOTHER CAR THIS PAST WEEKEND,APRIL 9, 2005 BUT DECIDED TO RETURN THE CAR ON APRIL 11, 2005. THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO COMPENSATE ME FOR MY CAR BEING A "LEMON" AS THE SALESPERSON DEEMED MY CAR TO BE EXCEPT FOR TRADE MY CAR FOR $6,000.00 AND HAVE PAYMENTS, AGAIN, OF $275.74 FOR 71 MONTHS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. FOR ONE, MY CAR IS PAID OFF AND TWO MY CAR IS TOO NEW FOR IT TO HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS ON THE 2002 DODGE STRATUS'. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE (SEPARATION) ON RIGHT FRONT OF 2002 DODGE STRATUS, PULLING IN TO DRIVEWAY, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK

WHILE DRIVINGIN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD POP UP AND STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE DRIVER DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND LOOKED OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND SAW NOTHING. I PAUSED APPROX. 5 SECONDS BEFORE DECIDING TO PULL FORWARD AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND AS THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SHATTERING MY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE ASTHMA AND HAVE BEEN HAVING SIGNIFICANT BREATHING PROBLEMS SINCE THE OCCURRENCE.*AK

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID LEAKING ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION HOSE LINES. SOLONOID WAS COVERED IN WARRANTY. HOSE LINES AND CLAMPS WERE NOT. CAR HAD ONLY 60K. BOOK SPECIFIES TRANSMISSION SERVICE AT 100K. I CONTEND THAT THE CLAMPS USED ON THE LINES ARE NOT ABLE TO ADJUST TO THE AGING HOSE AND CANNOT LAST THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE TIME. ADJUSTABLE CLAMPS WERE EMPLOYED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.*AK

I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP BEFORE WARRANTY ENDED FOR TRANSMISSION WORK. THE SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT 17,000 MILES LATER TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO GET FIXED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK A BOLT BROKE ON MY UPPER CONTROL ARM. MY TIRE WAS ON A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. VERY DANGEROUS. TOOK TO PLACE I BOUGHT CAR TO GET UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. WARRANTY PLACE REFUSED TO FIX I AM FIGHTING IT. I PAID OUT OF MY POCKET.*AK