2003 Dodge Stratus complaints

I HAVE HAD TWO {2} RECENT EVENTS, WHERE THE CAR KEEPS TRYING TO GO FORWARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE AUTO. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE AUTO. LAST NIGHT 10/13/05 IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAKING NOISE AND CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT I COMES FROM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT WHEN REACHING 35 MPH, A NOISE IS HEARD FROM IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. THE DEALERSHIPS TRANSMISSION PERSON HAD THE VEHICLE BROUGHT IN AND CHECKED IT OUT AND VERIFIED WHAT THE SERVICE MANAGER THOUGHT IT WAS. THEY CALLED CHRYSLER STAR ONLINE. THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL TRANSAXLE OPERATION AND NOISE. THEY WOULD NOT LET THE SERVICE PEOPLE FIX THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF CHRYSLER. THE CAR INCREASED IN NOISE AFTER 35 MPH. THE OWNER HAS TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED, BUT CHRYSLER WON'T LET THEM FIX IT. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO CHRYSLER TWICE, AND HAS A REFERENCE NUMBER #13735214. *AK THERE WAS A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DISCS WERE COVERED WITH BRAKE DUST. *SC

DT: CAR INADVERTENTLY BEGINS TO SPEED UP. GENERALLY IT OCCURS 20 MPH AND SLOWER, EVEN WHEN STOPPING. CAR IS VERY HARD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. NO WARNING. CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED, AND RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE. DEALER REPORTS THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.*AK THERE WERE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE CAUSE WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. *TT

REPORTED NOISE IN FRONT END OF 2002 DODGE STRATUS, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND VEHICLE LOST STERRING ABILTY AND POWER ABILITY. WHEN WHEEL CAME LOOSE IT DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT FENDER AND THE HALF SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES. PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED AND THE OLD PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION

RELIABLE MECHANICS REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS ONLY 47,200 MILES ON IT.MECHANICS STATE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND IT IS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE, RANGING FROM $3,000 AND UP, SOON. AS I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING, I HAVE SEEN THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH OUR OIL CHANGES, AND FEEL THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THESE ENGINES JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. DODGE WILL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR CARELESSNESS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE OR SOME FAMILY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK

I TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 3,500 RPM. THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN. *JB

CONSUMER JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE IT STARTED UP, AND THEN STALLED. A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY CAR HAS 41,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE PAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/KNOCKING. THAT'S PROBLEM 1. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE AT WORK, AND I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL. I HEARD THIS POP AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON . ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I DO HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP. THE TECHNICAN WORKING ON THE CAR SAYS THE AIR BAG IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THE DODGE CORP. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR CHARGES!*AK

I BOUGHT MY DODGE STRATUS IN FEB. OF 2004, IT IS A 2003. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW GOING OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING OUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, THE CD PLAYER IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURE (AIR BAG SYSTEM) IS FAILING AS WELL. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS IN THE PAST WITH HIGHER MILES THAN THIS VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS ONE. I AM UPSET WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT BUYING A NEWER CAR WITH LOW MILES SHOULD LEAVE THE BUYER FEELING HAPPY AND SAFE WITH THEIR DECISION. HOWEVER, I AM NEITHER HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING NOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS FIXED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS SO FAR (THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM LOOKED FOR A FEW DAYS...SO MUCH FOR SAFETY MATTERS!). I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WITH THE CHRYSLER (DODGE) COMPANY.*JB

WHILE TURNING LEFT VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER STATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE STRATUS AND SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 5 TIMES THERE IS A POPPING AND CREAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED TIE RODS,SWAY BARS,RIVETS ON THE STRUT PLATES, AND STRUTS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER MAKES A CAR THAT IS NOT REPAIRABLE I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY LOGGED THE COMPLAINT BUT WOULD DO NOTHING MORE AND OF COURSE I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT THEY CANNOT REPAIR . *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES WITHIN THE SEAT TRACK. THE SEAT IS SO LOOSE THAT IT WILL NOT LOCK WITHIN THE TRACK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WILL NOT REPAIR IT. *AK

2003 STRATUS SXT. NUMEROUS WATER LEAKS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2003. BY APRIL IT HAD A REALLY STRONG MILDEW SMELL. IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A WATER LEAK IN THE TRUNK(AFTER THEY TORE APART THE FRONT OF MY CAR LOOKING FOR THE LEAK). THEY WANTED TO SHAMPOO THE CARPET, I MADE THEM REPLACE THE CARPET. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO IN THE SHOP 3 OTHER TIMES AND THEY HAVE FOUND 7 OTHER WATER LEAKS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR HELP!!!!!! I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO THE MANAGER AT HENDRICK DODGE WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT HE WAS A COMPLETE JERK. I'VE TRIED CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY SAY THAT SINCE THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I CAN UNDERSTAND MAYBE 1 LEAK BUT 8? GIVE ME A BREAK, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE? I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME DODGE PERSON, BUT I THINK AFTER THIS THEY WILL NOT GET ANYMORE OF MY BUSINESS. THANKS, MDA IN NC. *LA

THE CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT AND WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. IT HAS FRONT END DAMAGE. IT IS IN THE SHOP NOW. AND I AM LEFT WITHOUT A VEHICLE.

STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND IS IN-OPERATIVE ACCORDING TO DODGE DEALER. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO IN-OPERATIVE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIVE AIRBAG THEY REPLIED "IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED WITH SAFETY, THEN PARK THE CAR AND DON'T DRIVE IT." NOTICE ON WEBSITES THERE ARE RE-CALLS ISSUED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME DEFECT BUT NONE ON STRATUS AT THIS TIME. DEALER WAS VERY RUDE WHEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND CHARGED $60 TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, WHEN I INFORMED THEM WHAT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE STRATUSNI JUST BROUGHT THE CAR NOT EVEN A YEAR AGO AND I AM HAVING A POPPING NOISE WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL. THE NOISE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER THAT I GOT THE CAR FROM AND THEY CAN NOT SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO MY BRAKES ARE MAKING A NOISE AS WELL. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR YET. I HAVE TALKED WITH DAIMER AND THEY JUST TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT I NEED SOME ACTION NO SEEMS TO CARE.*AK

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERING WHEEL SHOOK IMMENSELY WHILE GOING DOWN HILLS TRYING TO STOP. HAD TO REPLACE ROTERS BEFORE 20,000 MILES WAS ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS SO NEW THAT THE ROTERS COULDN'T BE FOUND ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP (OF COURSE AT A VERY NICE PRICE).

THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE 2003 DODGE STATUS WITH THE 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER COMING BACK FROM A TRIP, MOST OF WHICH WAS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED SUDDENLY JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 2000 RPMS. THE CAR LUCHED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AT THE NEXT 2 STOPS THE ENGINE SPEED JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 1400 RPMS. FOR THE NEXT WEEK THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN DURING NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I AGAIN HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THIS TIME STITTING AT STOP SIGNS THE ENGINE IDLE WOULD SOMETIMES DROP TO THE POINT OF ALMOST STALLING THEN RECOVER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME A MECHANIC WENT WITH ME AND WITNESSED THE IDLE SPEED DROPPING. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SWANTY'S CHRYSLER CONTACTED THE FACTORY AND HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT PER THE FACTORY THIS IS COMMON TO CHRYSLER 4 CYLINDER ENGINES IN HOT WEATHER. THE DAYS THE ENGINE ACTED UP THE MOST WERE VERY HOT. THE TEMPERATURES WERE 128 AND 124 DEGREES. THE ENGINE IDLE SLOWING PROBLEM IS ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT THE ENGINE SPEEDING UP IS A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE DEARLER AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING IN PARK AND I DID SEE THE IDLE SPEED JUMP UP ONCE TO 1400 RPMS. MYSELF AND MY WIFE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND THE DEALER IS STUMPED. THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWING, BUT I FEEL THIS

VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP AND SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MECHANISM WAS ACTIVATED. IT HELD PASSENGER TOO TIGHT, UNABLE TO BREATH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED WHICH WAS EITHER CAUSED BY THE CALIPERS OR THE BRAKE HOSE COLLAPSING PER THE MECHANIC. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED, HOWEVER IT DID NOT REMEDY THE GRINDING NOISE, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A SMELL OF METAL RUBBING WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST. *TT *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB. THE ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED BEFORE 4000 MILES. PH *JB

BOUGHT A CAR FROM DODGE IN LUBBOCK TX HAVE NOT RECEIVED MT PLATES OR STICKER FOR THE CAR CALLED DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME SOMEONE ELSE HAS MY PLATES AND STICKERS AND THERE FINANCE COMP HAS OUR TITLE. I DARE NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND I AM PAYING FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE I HAVE CALLED DODGE AND I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. ALSO THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE MY VIN NUMBER ON THERE CAR. *NLM

I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS SXT SEDAN 2.4L. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THERE WAS RUSTING ON THE AXLES & BRAKES TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE SECOND DAY I HAD THE CAR IT COMPLETELY SHUT ITSELF DOWN AND WOULDN'T START, IMMEDIATELY MY CAR DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE BATTERY "DIED". I DID NOT TAKE NOTE OF THE RUSTING BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP SAID "ALL DODGE CARS ARE RUSTED...*ALL*"A MONTH LATER MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISES TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SLIGHTLY, THEN IT WAS PROGRESSING TOWARDS JANUARY WITH VIBRATION OF THE CAR PAST 50 MPH, I DECIDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT BECAME OUT OF HAND AND THEY WERE CLOSED, THEN THE MONDAY THE CAR SHUT ITSELF DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO PLACE WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND IT HIT PROBABLY A 5 INCH HIGH CURB..OF COURSE THE "RUSTED" RIGHT FRONT END "AXLE", CONTROL BAR & GEAR CONTROLS BROKE OFF. FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR BECAUSE THIS DEALERSHIP SAYS IN OTHER WORDS THAT WE'RE LYING AND IT ISN'T THEIR FAULT NOR WAS IT A MECHANICAL DEFECT. ALSO I HAVE NOTED THAT MY DOORS DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY & MY WINDOWS SLIP OUT OF PLACE. AFTER THE INCIDENT OF MY CAR LOCKING UP AND MY AXLE BEING BROKEN I HAD TO TAKE OUT OF POCKET ONCE AGAIN $1,800 AND THEY FIXED IT..BUT THERE WAS STILL PROBLEMS..THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE AND NOW THERE WAS A KNOCKING/CRACKING SOUND TO THE FRONT & REAR ENDS OF THE CAR, AND I MEAN IT WAS LOUD..TOOK THE CA