1997 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

DEALERSHIP FOUND A LEAK DURING MY INSPECTION. NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. DECIDED TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM SINCE MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS STRATUS. I FOUND MANY PROBLEMS LISTED BY OTHERS, WHICH LED TO THIS REPORT BEING FILED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON THESE VEHECLES. *AK

'HEAD GASKET' - WE BOUGHT A NEW 1997 DODGE STRATUS IN MARCH OF 1997. AT 20,718 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED BADLY. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET IT FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY) WHILE THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FINE UNTIL 72,000 MILES - AT THAT POINT IT FAILED AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. 'HEADRESTS' - ON OUR 1997 DODGE STRATUS THE ADJUSTABLE HEADRESTS HAVE BROKEN - THE PADDED HEADREST BREAKS FREE FROM THE METAL POSTS HOLDING IT TO THE CHAIR. WE HAD THE PASSENGER HEADREST REPLACED - IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY BREAK FROM THE PRESSURE OF ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME - THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY.

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*AK

APPARANTLY ALL DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I GUESS DODGE WILL SELL YOU A CHEAP CAR AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BY CHARGING YOU A FORTUNE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE ON DRIVEWAY . CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

A FAN BELT WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A BAD LEAK COMING FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. *AK

LEAKY HEAD GASKET-CHYLR "FEELS NO RESPONSIBILTY" TO ASSUME LIABILITY W/OBVIOUS DEFECT. *AK

ATTENTION REALLY NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT A RE-CALL OF SOME SORT SHOULD BE INITIATED FOR THE HEAD GASKETS ON THESE VEHICLES. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT SOME SORT OF "SECRET WARRANTY" THAT COVERS UP TO 5 YEARS/100,000 MILES EXISTS. IT IS THE DUTY AND OBLIGATION OF THE NHSTA TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT CONSUMERS ARE PROTECTED AGAINST SECRETIVE WARRANTIES THAT ONLY APPEAR WHEN THE ISSUES ARE PRESSED. PLEASE HELP!!!!!. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND REAR SEAT RELEASED FROM THE SEAT TRACKS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING A LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND FILLED COOLING SYSTEM WITH COOLANT/WATER. TOOK TO NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIR; WAITING FOR ESTIMATE OF COST AS OF 10/5/00. IDLER PULLY FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF DRIVABILITY AT 43,000 MILES. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE SHOP FOR $350.00. SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONANTS TO BE FAILING. *AK