1998 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE, SLID FORWARD AND BECAME TANGLED IN THE STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE HARD TO TURN. *JB

THE VEHICLE LOST OIL, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE TUBE AND CLAMP. *JB

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 MECHANICS THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET LEAK. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 37,250 MILES. THE REPAIR COST IS 7-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS. I AM RETIRED, ON A FIXED INCOME AND FEEL CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD REPAIR THIS DEFECT.*JB

1998 STRATUS, 78000 MILES, LEAKS OIL BADLY. STARTED ABOUT 76000 AND HAS WORSENED. HOPE THIS CAN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *JB

NAR 03/17/2003 THE HEAD GASKET WERE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED PREMATURELY IN THE 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HE BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 300.00 FROM THE DEALER. *CB *JB

AT 78,000 MILE DELEVOPED A BAD OIL LEAK, DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN CATCH ON FIRE. IT SURE SMELLS BAD. *NLM

IMPRESSED WITH THE SPORTY STYLE OF MY SISTER'S 4-DOOR DODGE STRATUS, I PURCHASED ONE FOR MY WIFE IN 1998 (A 1998 DODGE STRATUS). IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE MY SISTER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER CAR. I BLAMED HER AND TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS TOO ROUGH ON HER CAR (SHE HAS A LEAD FOOT). MY WIFE AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR CARS AND I WAS CONFIDENT WE WOULD NOT RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEMS. WELL, RECENTLY I NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF A SMALL OIL-PUDDLE WERE MY WIFE KEEPS HER CAR. I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. I'VE YET TO HAVE THIS DONE BUT WAS QUOTED AND ESTIMATE OF $700-750. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE STRATUS. SO COMMON THAT HE PREDICTED THE DIAGNOSIS BEFORE EVER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD. MY STRATUS ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. ITS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN WITH CARE. TURNS OUT, MY SISTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (HEAD GASKET FAILURE) AT/NEAR 65,000 MILES. IN TYPING THE WORDS "DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKET" IN AN INTERNET SEARCH MANY ARTICLES, COMPLAINTS, AND REVIEWS NOTED THIS ALL-TO COMMON PROBLEM. I ALSO LEARNED MANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE RECEIVED ZERO TO LITTLE COMPENSATION/COMPASSION FROM THE MANUFACTUER FOR THE OBVIOUS DEFECT. IT APPAERS DODGE HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS RE-DESIGNED THE GASKET MULTIPLE TIMES. TWO SEPERATE MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT I CAN HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED BUT I SHOULD EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN SOON AFTER. THIS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. I UNDERSTAND DEFECTS OCCUR BUT FEEL PEOPLE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHEN THEY DO. DODGE NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND ADMIT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. THIS DEFECT HAS LED TO MUCH FRUSTRATION.. A RESPONSE OF WHAT I SHOULD/CAN DO WOULD BE APPRECIATED

1998 DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKET CRACKED I HAVE 48 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR OIL LEAKING INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM CALLED CHRYSLER THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE STRATUSTHIS IS GOING TO COST ME BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS.I FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD MAKE GOOD OF THIS PROBLEMI ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM. HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.I HONESTLY DON'T FEEL THIS TYPE OF REPAIR SHOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT 48 THOUSAND MILES

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING OIL TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. OIL IN THE COOLANT. ALL HOSES AND RADIATOR CAP HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 62000