1997 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

AFTER THE RECALL REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED, IT THEN FAILED. RECALL # 97 V 201 000. *JB

AS MY '97 DODGE STRATUS ES (2.4L) APPROACHES 58,000 MI, IT APPEARS TO BE SELF-DESTRUCTING, OF COURSE THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL (1 QT/WEEK) AT THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET, COOLING SYSTEM IS FOULED (HEATER QUIT, FLUSH+CLEAN DIDN'T SOLVE) , AND I JUST GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY TO WORK! I HAVE BEEN A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER FOR DECADES, BUT HAVING A CAR THAT RUNS FINE FOR 55K AND THEN DIES BY 60K WILL MAKE ME BUY FOREIGN HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE OIL LEAKS WILL IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? (I HOPE I ADD TO THIS COUNT) MAYBE IF I GET THE NEXT STAGE, AN ENGINE FIRE, AT LEAST THE INSURANCE MIGHT HELP PAY FOR MY TOYOTA...*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 58K MILES, CAUSED OIL LEAK,LIKE SO MANY OTHER 1997 DODGE STRATUS WITH FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE, 2.4L.

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT CONTINUE TO STAY ON. DEALER STATES THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET HAS MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE INJURIES. *JG

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 69,900 MILES. LEAKED OIL, NEVER OVERHEATED. POSSIBLE CRACKED HEAD.

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WHICH WAS RARELY USED, HAD DETACHED FROM SEAT. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT IT LOOKED AS IF IT WERE CUT. NLM SCC

THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE CAR HAVE GONE OUT TWICE, ONCE AT 37,000 MILES AND NOW AT 65,000 MILES. NOW THE DODGE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE TIMING BELT PULLEY HAS LOCKED UP AND HAS SHREDDED THE BELT AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PULLEYS NEVER GO OUT AT THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. HOWEVER, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER 1997 STRATUS OWNERS. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO WENT OUT ON THE CAR, I WONDER IF THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING ON IT FROM THE BLOWN HEADS. THIS PART IS STILL UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BUT WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER 80,000 MILES? I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? MAYBE THEY ARE WAITING ON A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE TIMING BELT FAILURE, OR FROM FIRES CAUSED BY THE OIL DRIPPING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS EVERY 30,000 MILES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE THE CAR BECAUSE I OWE WHAT THE CAR RETAILS FOR. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL HELP THOSE OF US WHO WERE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUY THIS LEMON BEFORE LOTS OF DEATHS OCCUR. IF DODGE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US. I THINK A CLASS ACTON LAW SUIT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT LEAVING SKID MARKS. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THE CONSUMER WAS IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH, IN WHICH HER VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SCC