2000 DODGE STRATUS Complaints

TL* - THE CONTACT IS CALLING TO MAKE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING SAFETY RECALL NUMBER YN105052. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, IN HIS 2000 DODGE STRATUS INTO HIS DRIVEWAY ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 5TH, 2006, HIS CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS DAY THE CAR WAS MAKING A VERY VERY LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. THE DEALER HAS TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE CAUSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT HE HAS HAD NO REPAIRS AND HAS ONLY PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR THE CAR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKING FLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SENT A REPRESENTATIVE, WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FUEL LINE.

BLOWER/RESISTER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING AND INEFFICIENT. IT WAS FIRST REPLACED IN 2004 AND WORKED UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN STOPPED WORKING AT THE LOWER LEVELS AND WAS REPLACED IN (2006) MAY, THEN AUGUST AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN IN OCTOBER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE SMOKE BEGAN TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT PRESUMED THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THROUGH AUDIX. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 06V001000 REGARDING THE STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS.

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2000 STRATUS SAFETY RECALL. *TS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STILL CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING LOT, A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. UPON HEARING THIS NOISE, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MORE THAN A FEW FEET, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE PARTIALLY PARKED IN THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE PARKED AND INVESTIGATED, THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED; TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MOVE/DRAG VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET ONTO FLATBED TOW TRUCK. LEFT OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED. *NM

2000 STRATUS BEGAN SMOKING UNDER HOOD. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY CATCH ON FIRE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER ELECTED NOT TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIR MADE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

2000 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. RECEIVED RECALL HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. *KB *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WENT TO SCHOOL AND RETURNED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE A COUPLE HOURS LATER. THE RADIO DID NOT TURN ON AND WHITE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE POWER MIRROR CONTROLS. A 6 INCH FLAME ERUPTED 2-3 MINS LATER. THE CONTACT POURED WATER ON THE FLAME NEAR THE POWER MIRROR CONTROLS, WHICH EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, AND REFUSED TO TAKE A SAFETY COMPLAINT.

HAVE HAD THIS 2000 DODGE STRATUS WHICH DAUGHTER HAS DRIVEN FOR 5 YEARS NOW IT IS ON IT'S FOURTH TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASING AND NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS, ALL SOFT PLUGS REPLACED, ORIGINALS WERE MADE FROM POT METAL, REPLACED WITH BRASS. NUMEROUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. BUT JUST LAST MONTH DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A SEVERE SCRAPPING NOISE ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BRAKES WEARING OUT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. LOWER BALL JOINT HAD GIVEN AWAY AND THE ENTIRE CONTROL ARM WAS NOW RESTING INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. 2000 & 2001 DODGE STRATUS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. *NM