1998 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMITTLY 15 MIN I PARKED TO HAVE LUNCH. WHILE INSIDE SOMEONE RAN IN AND SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER INVESTIGATION OF FIRE I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY THING LIKE THIS BEFORE, HE SAID THE GAS LINE LOCATED BEHIND ENGINE HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHICH IN TURN STARTED A FIRE.*AK

THE HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON THESE CARS PRE-MATURELY AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE SPRAYING OIL MIST ONTO THE CATALITIC CONVERTER WICH COULD IN TURN START THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE CALLED THE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RECALL LINE AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON MAKING THIS PROBLEM CORRECT FOR THE CONSUMER. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET HAVE RANGED BETWEEN 700 AND 800 DOLLARS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR FREE IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN MATERIAL/WORKMANSHIP THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO CARS NORMALLY AND A FIRE HAZARD FROM THE OIL MIST CONTACTING THE VERY HOT CATALITIC CONVERTER. PLEASE HELP US. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP ON THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE BUMPS, AND IT LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE TURNING POWER STEERING MAKES NOISE, AND IS HARD TO TURN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

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

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

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

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.

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

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