2000 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 2 HEADED EAST AND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER AND GET SOME GAS. I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS MAKING THE SOUND THAT IT MAKES WHEN YOU MIGHT BE LOW ON FLUID. I PULLED INTO AN ARMOR STATION THAT WAS SELF SERVE PAY AT THE PUMP ONLY. THE FIRST ONE DID NOT WORK SO I STARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND PULLED UP TO THE SECOND PUMP. I NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I GOT OUT AND IT STARTED TO SHOOT OUT FLAMES. I PANICKED AS I WAS TRYING TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD SON OUT OF THE CAR. THE DOORS AUTO LOCK WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AND HIT 10 MPH. TWO GENTLEMEN CAME WHIPPING IN THE STATION AND HELPED ME. HIS SON CALLED 911 AND HE GOT IN MY CAR TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. HE COULD ONLY MOVE IT 5 FEET BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT IN THE CAR FROM THE FLAMES. THE SHERIFF SHOWED UP AND SLAMMED INTO THE BACK END OF MY CAR AND MOVED IT AWAY FROM THE PUMPS MAYBE 20 FEET NOW. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AT LEAST 5 MINUTES HAVE PAST AND MY CAR IS IN MAJOR FLAMES IN THE FRONT END. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FLAMES OUT BUT MY CAR COULD NOT BE SAVED. THE WHOLE FRONT END IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING. BECAUSE OF THIS FIRE MY SON AND I WERE STRANDED IN FLOODWOOD, MN ABOUT 1.5 HOURS FROM HOME. LUCKILY MY BROTHER- IN- LAW LIVED IN THAT TOWN AND WE STAYED THERE UNTIL SOMEONE COULD COME AND GET US. IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC DAY, TRYING TO GET MY SON OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN WATCHING AS MY CAR BURNED UP AND I COULD NOT SAVE IT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POWER STEERING MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *JB

2000 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FLUID LEAKAGE ON THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. *KB ***NAR*** THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

2000 STRATUS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *TS THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE DEVELOPED A LEAK. *NM

2000 DODGE STRATUS RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIRS. *KB THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD ONLY REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF THE PART. *JB

WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE, LIGHTS FAIL AND BLOWS THE FUSE. AM USING APPROPRIATE FUSE CALLED FOR IN OWNERS MANUAL. ALSO, NOTICED TRUNK LIGHT BULB WAS BURNT AND MELTED, WHEN I PURCHASED IT. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE CAR, SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *NM

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD THE CAR CHECK FOR PROBLEM THE COMPUTERS AT SHOP STATED IT WAS THE 02 SENSOR. *NM

2000 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE FAILURE LOSS OF OIL TO LIFTERS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LOOSING OIL FROM MACHINING "FLASH" FROM MANUFACTURER OF ENGINE. *JB

APPROXIMATE DATE SHOWN BELOW. RUST ALONG FRONT EDGE OF HOOD. CLEAR FINISH PEELING OFF OF SPOILER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR,NOTICED WHITE SMOKE I PULL OVER TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BEHIND WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS ARE JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE POWER STEERING CAP(WHILE LOOKING AT ENGINE WITH THE HOOD UP). SMOKE SUBSIDED CONTINUED TO DRIVE NOTICED SMOKE 2 OTHER OCASSIONS THE SAME DAY SAME AREA OF ENGINE, PULLED CAR INTO DRIVEWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES PASSED MY 2000 DODGE STRATUS WAS IN FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *NM

MY CAR WAS A DODGE STRATUS SE 2000, 2.4 CYLINDER. ON FEB.13TH WHEN PULLING OUT FROM MY GARAGE I NOTICE LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND FROM THE CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICE OIL ON TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL HYDRAULIC BOX. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING I DECIDED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WHEN DRIVING TOWARDS THE BODY SHOP PLACE THE CAR STARTED WITH FUMES UNDER THE HOOD. 10 MINUTES LATER CAR WAS CAUGHT UP ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION BEING THAT 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I DROPPED OFF MY KIDS AT SCHOOL. THE CAR WAS BURNED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE BUT BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY WHO BUILT THIS CAR SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD CONSIDER HOW DANGEROUS THIS SITUATION IS. THE CAR HAS GIVEN ME NO PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. I LOST MY CAR WHICH I PAID ALMOST $22,000. INSURANCE WILL RECOGNIZE VALUE FROM BLUE BOOK. CONSIDERING THAT I PAID UP THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO I HAVE LOST $13,000. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM