1997 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

CONSUMER STARTED TO NOTICE OIL ON GROUND, AND OIL GAUGE WENT DOWN TO GAUGES.*AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK FOR SAME PROBLEM TWICE. GASKETS WAS CONSISTENTLY LEAKING. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER $500.00 FOR REPAIR.*AK

A HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL BLOWING OUT OF THE MANIFOLD DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE INSERTING FUELING NOZZLE INTO TANK FILL - PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND TANK FILL JUST INSIDE FILL DOOR COLLAPSED INTO BODY OF VEHICLE WITH NOZZLE AND DRIVERS HAND WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE. *AK

HEAD GASKET - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO (2) HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LEAKS IN THREE YEARS. FIRST ONE COST A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 AND THE SECOND ONE WILL COST ME $250, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT DODGE HAS ISSUED TECH BULLETINS TO ADDRESS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS. DODGE DID THE GOOD WILL BIT IN BOTH CASES BY SUPPOSEDLY SPLITTING THE COST 50/50. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT CONSUMERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH HEFTY FEES FOR INFERIOR/FAULTY DESIGNS. BRAKES - APPARENTLY THE DESIGN OF THE CALIPERS INCLUDES A CYLINDER MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF NORMAL BRAKING OPERATIONS AND WILL NOT CONTRACT PROPERLY WHEN COOLED DOWN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CALIPER STICKS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHICH CASUSES THE DISC PAD TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR, THUS WEARING DOWN THE PAD PREMATURELY AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS. THIS COST ME $559 THE FIRST TIME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE SIMPLY BEEN CHANGING THE PADS EARLIER THAN NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE IT COULD (OR HAS TO OTHERS?) CAUSE AN ACCIDENT/FATALITY ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MY REPAIR BILL TOTALS $1400 AND CHRYSLER IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF IT WERE STILL UNDER 50,000 MILES THEN THEY WOULD HAVE PROVIDED 'SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE'. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND SURELY THERE ARE ENOUGH INCIDENTS TO SUPPORT A MANDATORY RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES.

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR TIMING GEAR BELT PULLEY SYSTEM. CAR ENGINE WINDED REALLY LOUD. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL, FOAMY WHIT RESIDUE FORMED AROUND INSIDE OF OIL CAP. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACE ALMOST 4 TIMES. *AK

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE UNDER HOOD, CONSUMER AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY FIRST HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED 03/26/1998. HERE IT IS THREE YEARS LATER AND IT GOES AGAIN? A CALL WAS PLACED TO CHRYSLER ON 02/28/2001, AND THEY EVEN STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND A NEW ONE SHOULD DO THE TRICK. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A SECOND HEAD GASKET, WHEN THE VERY FIRST ONE SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. TODAY, I AM SENDING A REGISTERED LETTER TO CHRYSLER AS WELL.*AK

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET.*AK