1998 Dodge Stratus

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I STARTED THE CAR, PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE POOL OF FLUID ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. MASTER CYLINDER WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES (6?) WERE LEAKING AT THE ABS PUMP. THIS IS THE CAR MY WIFE DRIVES. MY WIFE! I AM ANAL WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLES CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE. TO HAVE A FAILURE LIKE THIS ON A WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A "QUALITY AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE" IS ABSURD AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! MY BROTHERS 1999 HONDA, MY STEP SON'S 1991 NISSAN STANZA (RECENTLY SOLD) A 1993 GEO PRIZM (I.E. TOYOTA COROLLA!!!) RECENTLY SOLD HAD ZERO RUST ON ANY BRAKE FITTING, BRAKE LINE OR FUEL LINE. I HAD NO BRAKE ISSUES PREVIOUSLY. *KB

• 12/31/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 55 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION ,HITTING A BARRIER IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE LEAKING A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. *AK

• 12/28/1999· SEAT BELTS

  THE CLIP WHICH SLIDES ALONG THE SEAT BELT AND CLIPS INTO THE ANCHOR HAS A PLASTIC PORTION ON THE REAR THAT PROVIDES THE TENSIONING. IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS THIS PLASTIC PART CAME APART WHILE INSTALLING CHILDS SEATS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDES OF THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DEALERSHIP, AND ON MY LAST VISIT ONE OF BELTS WAS REPLACED, BUT NOT THE ONE THAT I HAD ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE AN INVESTIGATION DONE ON THE SAFETY OF THESE SEATBELTS. IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT ONE OF THESE COULD FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT THEREBY RELEASING ANY TENSION ON THE BELT AND CAUSE INJURIES TO THE PERSON USING THE SEATBELT. *AK

• 12/26/2000· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/24/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PRESSURE SENSORS IN TURBOR BOOST FAILED. *TT

• 12/23/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT SNAPPED OFF FOUR TIMES FROM 1999 -2002, REPLACED 3 TIMES AT DESERT DODGE IN LAS VEGAS ONCE WITH ALL PULLEYS REPLACED AND ONE TIME AT SPITZER DODGE IN MAYFIELD HTS, OHIO 2 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NEITHER DODGE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

• 12/22/2004· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD FELL OFF. *TC

• 12/20/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  2ND ACCIDENT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR DID NOT SLOWDOWN, DIRECT FRONAL IMPACT 45MPH, DRIVER'S & PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/20/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  30MPH FRONTAL CRASH, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, BUT CAR DIDN'T RESPOND. *AK

• 12/19/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED OIL STAINS ON DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER HE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *AK

• 12/19/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT LAST MORE THAN 20,000 MILES DUE TO ENGINEERING DEFECT. MANUFACTURER HAS INCREASED SIZE OF ROTORS AND PADS ON NEWER MODELS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/15/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE HAVE BEEN 5 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED IN REGARD TO THE HEAD GASKET ON THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN AWARE OF SINCE MANUFACTURING IT, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS PART. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 36 MONTHS YET BUT MY MILEAGE WAS OVER THE 36,000 LIMIT, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE $412.71 I WAS CHARGED AS THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/11/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 86,000+ MILES THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND THE ASSOCIATED TSB(09-05-98). WHEN I NOTICED THE LEAK, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN TOWN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF THE REPAIR. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, BUT GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR $800. NEXT, I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IN DETROIT, MI.(1-800-992-1997). I WAS TOLD POLITELY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME BUT THAT MY CAR WAS TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED WHY SOME PEOPLE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE OTHERS DID NOT, AND WAS TOLD THAT "THIS OFFICE WOULD NOT HAVE AUTHORIZED THOSE PAYMENTS". I ASKED FOR A NUMBER OR ADDRESS TO MAKE AN APPEAL TO THIS DECISION AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD ALREADY MADE THE FINAL DECISION, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE TO APPEAL TO, AND THE DECISION WOULD NOT BE OVERTURNED.

• 12/11/2002· AIR BAGS

  IN APRIL ON 2002 MY AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A CLOCKSPRING FOR IT, I DECLINED TO HAVE IT REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT A COVERED ITEM. IN JUNE 2002 MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AFTER BRINGING IT IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN I WAS TOLD IN WAS THE CLOCKSPRING, AGAIN I DECLINED REPAIR AS IT WASN'T COVERED. IN SEPT2002 MY HORN WENT AGAIN I WAS TIOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING. STILL NOT COVERED BUT NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. THE PART WAS BACK ODERED DURING THIS TIME A SAFTEY RECALL WAS ISSUSED AND CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS. ON 12-10-2002 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CLOCKSPRING WELL NOW MY HORN AND CRUISE WORK BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEED A NEW AIR BAG AGAIN NOT COVERED ITEMED, I DECLINED REPAIR. I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THE AIR BAG AND THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE ARE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY.

• 12/11/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. ALSO STATED THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR WEB SITE WHERE THERE IS MORE THEN 40 COMPLAINTS.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS PHONE CALL. MR

• 12/10/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER IS VERY CLOUDED FROM A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC THE WRONG TYPE OF PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT THAT DEALS WITH THE ELEMENTS AND THE DOES THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS INTERNS REDUCES THE LIGHTING FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS SO BAD THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT AND IM 23 AND HAVE 20\20 VISION. I CAN DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON AND THE LIGHT IS STILL WEAKER THAN MOST OF THE CARS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER 1998 DODGE STRATUS CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM UNLESS NOT DRIVEN MUCH AND GARAGED. SPEAKING TO A QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AT GRIMM BROTHERS PLASTICS IN WAPELLO IOWA HE TOLD ME THAT THE WRONG PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT. I HAVE RECENTLY ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND NOW DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. AND ITS MY ONLY CAR. *NM

• 12/09/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD MAKE LOUD SQUEALING NOISES. THEY WOULD LET GO WHILE BEING PRESSED. REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AT 60 MPH. AT TIME OF IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/07/2007· STEERINGFire

  CAR WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID SO WE KEPT ON ADDING MORE UNTIL WE COULD SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED(AROUND $350.00, NO SMALL FEE FOR A WORKING FAMILY!)THEN, THE SMOKING GOT WORSE UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE! I COULDN'T PUT IT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT IT OUT AND NOW THE CAR IS TOTALED! CAN WE STILL GET A RECALL? *TR

• 12/07/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES TO THE FLOOR, INCREASING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKES RESPOND LATE. ALSO, BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/06/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED, AND FLAMES WERE NOTICED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE HAD OPERATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE TYPE OF FIRE AND EXACT COMPONENT INVOLVED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN, BUT THERE WERE PICTURES AVAILABLE.*AK

• 12/06/2004· POWER TRAIN

  I BOUGHT A STRATUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND BUYER BEWARE. JUST RESENTLY I HAD THE TENSIONER BAR BOLT BREAK OFF AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, WHICH COULD OF CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE BUT I GOT LUCKY. PLUS, I TAKE THE FREEWAY TO WORK EACH DAY, WHAT IF THAT WOULD HAVE SNAP OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC? MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, IMMEDIATELY. LUCKLY, I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND HAD TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I TOOK IT TO THE PLACE THAT REPLACED MY HEAD GASKET (ANOTHER COMPLAINT) AND THEY FIXED IT BUT ALSO TOLD ME THAT DODGE HAD MADE A COMPLETE NEW PIECE FOR IT AND HAD TO GET THE FULL KIT. WHICH THAT COSTED ME SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOR THAT. I DO HAVE THE OLD TENSIONER PARTS BUT I DONT HAVE THE OLD HEAD GASKET PARTS.*AK

• 12/06/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I RECENTLY BOUGHT A STRATUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND I KNOW BUYER BEWARE. ANY HOW, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY GOT IT FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT IT FROM SAID THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND IT WASN'T A HEAD GASKET, BUT AN OIL PAN LEAK. ANYHOW, I BOUGHT IT(HOOK-LINE AND SINKER). WENT TO GET AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OTHERS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THAT. SO, I TOLD THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND GOT 300.00 BACK . THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP(GLADSTONE DODGE) HERE IN TOWN. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK, BUT ALSO SAID IT WAS MANY OTHER THING TO THE TUNE OF 2000.00, I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT JUST FOUND A HEAD GASKET LEAK AND A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS AND FIXED IT ALL FOR A 1000.00. WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET IS WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED? UNFORTUNATES, I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS TO THIS BUT WISH I DID. *AK

• 12/06/2001· STEERING

  WE WERE TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATES THAT TIE RODS WERE PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT AND BACK, LEFT AND ROD TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *AK

• 12/05/2005· POWER TRAIN

  WE WERE JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT (A COUPLE OF JERKS AND THEN NO ACCELERATION ABILITY). WE WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI WHO ALMOST RAN INTO US WHEN WE SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY SLOWED AND HADN'T BRAKED AND HE COULDN'T MOVE TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUCKS IN THAT LANE. OUR 98 GRAND CARAVAN HAS ONLY 79K MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, (THOUGH I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED RATHER THAN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1000 AND JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS PAST THE YEAR WARRANTY). NOW WE FIND THAT IT WILL BE $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE DODGE DEALER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED TWICE (ONCE WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY BATTERY). ALL WORK HAS BEEN OR IS BEING DONE BY THE DODGE DEALER. NOW I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. WHY ISN'T DODGE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF GOUGING THE PUBLIC (NOT TO MENTION PUTTING US IN DANGER)?*JB

• 12/04/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED. *MJS

• 12/02/1999· SEAT BELTS

  REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. CSS WAS LOCKED IN SEAT BELT & IT BECAME UNLATCHED. LOCKING MECHANISM WAS BROKEN. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK COMPLETELY WHEN A LITTLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO BRAKES. WOULD HAVE TO JERK TO RELEASE BELT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC ORDERING PARTS. *AK

• 11/30/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL..THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO LAST OIL CHANGE .TOOK CAR BACK TO PLACE WHERE OIL WAS CHANGED AND WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET WAS GONE AND WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL ENGINE.CAR WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER WITHOUT COST TO ME. *AK

• 11/29/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHEN CHECKING THE OIL, CONSUMER STATES THE OIL READING KEPT DECREASING RAPIDLY. CONSUMER TOOK TO DODGE, DODGE SAYS THE GASKET IS TOO THIN AND IS CAUSING A LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

• 11/29/2001· POWER TRAIN

  TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE

• 11/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NOTICED OIL LEAK THAT WOULD COME AND GO. RECENTLY NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS VERRY COMMON ON THESE CARS. IS THERE ANY HELP OFFERED BY DODGE? *AK

• 11/27/2002· SEATS

  I'VE LOST A SEAT PART TO MY CAR AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT FROM ANYONE. I'VE CONTACTED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HAD THE PART ON ORDER AND THEN THEY CANCELLED IT WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME OR TELL ME WHY. THE PART # IS RD161AZAA AND IS A PILLOW THAT CONNECTS TO AN INTERGRATED CHILD SEAT IN THE BACK. I'M NOW UNABLE TO USE THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT FOR FEAR THAT ONE OF MY CHILDREN WILL GET HURT. CAN YOU HELP? DT

• 11/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DRIVERS FRONTBRAKE LINE BROKE DUE TO LARGE AREA WERE LINE WAS WORN. *AK

• 11/21/2005· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DAUGHTER TURNED A CORNER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE PULLED OVER AS THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *JB

• 11/18/2001· SUSPENSION

  FRONT STABILIZER JOINTS AND BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED, RIGHT FRONT BROKE. FIXED AT DEALERSHIP 11/16/2001. *AK

• 11/18/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER'S WINDOW, WHERE THERE IS AIR COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE COSNUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/16/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  3 TIMES WITHIN 6 MONTHS ,TWICE WHILE AT A STOP AND ONCE WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES WILL START TO FADE AND VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SURGE/ACCELERATE , CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK

• 11/14/2006· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS ES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL PLACE ITSELF IN NEUTRAL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE AT A STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE TRANSMISSION WORKING AGAIN IS TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR HAS THE POWER-STICK TRANSMISSION. *NM

• 11/14/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS

  I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED, PLUS THERE IS MUCH MORE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE PROBLEMS I HAVE LISTED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A HEATER CORE FAILURE, BRAKES REPLACED ALREADY TWICE ON THE VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE HAD A DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT (PASSENGER), THE TIMING CHAIN IS A MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR THAT I JUST HAD DOWN. NOW I AM STILL DEALING WITH THE RESIDULE PRODBLEM WITH MY HEATING/DEFROST SINCE K & M REPLACED MY WATER PUMP ON 10/17/01. OVERALL I CONSIDER THIS CAR TO BE A REAL PIECE OF CRAP AND I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER STRATUS AND IN FACT, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE EVER. I FEEL I HAVE STUNG WITH A LEMON AND BASICALLY I NO LEGAL RECOURSE WHICH IS VERY UNFAIR TO ME, THE CONSUMER. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS PIECE OF CRAP. IF NOTHING ELSE, I HOPE TO WARN ANYBODY ELSE, PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK AHEAD OF TIME AND DON'T BUY A DODGE STRATUS. ANY ASSISTANCE NHTSA MIGHT OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I CAN PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION AND DETAIL THAT YOU REQUIRE. THANK YOU.

• 11/14/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER REPLACING THE HEADGASKET TWICE, THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THAT THE OIL LEAK IS DUE TO A POSSIBLY WARPED CYLINDER HEAD. SO FAR THE BEST CHRYSLER HAS DONE IS PAY FOR HALF OF THE COST.*AK

• 11/13/1998· AIR BAGS

  VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO EXPLODE RATHER THAT DEFLATE.

• 11/12/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  CAR CRACH

• 11/12/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT. DT

• 11/10/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. *AK

• 11/10/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DODGE "APPARENTLY" HAS A SERVICE BULLITEN OUT ON EXTENDING THE WARRANTY, BUT IT'S HARD TO GET DEALERS TO LOOK INTO IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

• 11/10/1999· SEAT BELTS

  WHEN CONSUMER IS USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS THEY WON'T RETRACT OR WON'T WORK PROPERLY. *AK

• 11/09/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON CHRYSLER 2.4 LITER ENGINES LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REDISIGNED SEE SERVICE BULLETIN # 090598 MY OIL WAS LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET AND BLOWING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD POSING A FIRE RISK DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKET HOWEVER DIDNT COVER THE ENTIRE CHARGES. *AK

• 11/08/2005· STEERING,AIR BAGSCrash

  DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS BINDING. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS KEPT AT CORRECT LEVELS. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HILL AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SPEED WAS AROUND 55 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE STEERING OR THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM THE CRASH.*AK UPDATED 1/5/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. *NM

• 11/08/2004· SUSPENSION

  I BEGAIN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED AND THEN, MY HALF-SHAFT FELL OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY HALF SHAFT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THAT STUFF IS NOT CHEAP. *AK

• 11/08/2001· WHEELS

  THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL (RIM) HAS SMALL HOLES IN IT AND THE METAL SEEMS WEAK AND THE DEALER SAYS TOUGH LUCK. I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THEIR ATTENTION ABOUT TWO TO THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE AND NO ONE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND THEY SAY IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. ARE THERE ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH DODGE STRATUS RIMS 15INCH, 5 LUG, 5 SPOKE?*AK