1995 Dodge Stratus Owner Complaints

I HAVE 1995 DODGE STRATUS SHIFTING DOWN GOING DOWN THE ROAD!!!! AFTER REBUILD ON THE TRANNY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE CHANGE ALL THE SWITCHES I FIGURED IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325938

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

FUEL PUMP ,GASOLINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278065

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE SPEED TO DECREASE. THERE WERE SEVERAL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE SENSORS AND RELAYS WERE REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 MILES AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10222791

Incident

May 19, 2007

Mileage

63,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, MY CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. WHEN I PULLED OVER, THE COOLANT WAS POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT FAILED THE "BLOCK TEST" MEANING THAT IT NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SECOND GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS PRODUCED. THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO COVER THE PARTS AND LABOR OF THIS REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL DEALER, DAYTON ANDREWS DODGE, THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EARLIER RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216618

Incident

Jan 21, 2008

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO LIMP MODE CAUSING A HIGHLY PROBABLE DANGER SITUATION THAT MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES ESPECIALLY IF TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TCM AT $166.00FROM A DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER SUCKED APPROX.300.00 KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO WAY OF FIXING THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. WHY ARE YOU STILL ALLOWING THE DEALERS TO REPLACE PARTS THAT THEY FULLY KNOW WON'T FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM? WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS? ON THE COMPLAINT SIDE OF YOUR WEB PAGE THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS! THE DEALER WANTS US TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND I AM SURE THEY WILL RECOMMEND ANOTHER PROBLEM SOLVING IDEA TO MAKE US SPEND MORE MONEY KNOWING IT WILL NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209287

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

1 mi

DODGE HAS RECALLED 1999-2000 STRATUS BECAUSE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING ON BACK OF ENGINE IN 2.4 LITER CARS. FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE A 1995 SAME MOTOR SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HASN'T BEEN RECALLED ITS NOT DODGE'S PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206682

Incident

Oct 11, 2007

I HAD THE REAR BRAKES FOR THE 1995 DODGE STRATUS REPLACED ON 3/01/2007 BECOUSE BRAKES WERE WORN OUT, AND HAVE SINCE THEN HAD THEM REPLACE 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. MECHANIC SHOP COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY. THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING AND BACK BRAKES WERE STILL LOCKING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED TO DO MY MAIL ROUTE ON 8/03/2006 FROM A USED CAR DEALER, AND DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALLS. ALSO, THE CAR SWERVED WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES. REPLACED BRAKE LINES, BRAKE SHOES, CYLENDERS, DRUMS AND SPRINGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196632

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH CLEAN CARFAX RECORD IN FEB 06 WITH 75K MILES. AT 81K MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING INTO LIMP MODE(SLAMS INTO SECOND GEAR REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED). TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THEY STATED THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS WERE FAILING ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER. I REPLACED THEM. A WEEK LATER THE TRANSMISSION FULLY FAILED. TOWED TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION CHAIN STORE. THEY FULLY REBUILT THE MECHANICALS OF TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE SPEED SENSORS AGAIN. AS I DROVE HOME THE TRANSMISSION RETURNED TO LIMP MODE. RETURNED TO SHOP. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SECOND GEAR CLUTCHES BURNED UP. THEY REBUILT IT AGAIN AND ALSO REPLACED VALVE BODY AND SOLENOID PACK. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A MONTH BEFORE IT AGAIN STARTED LIMPING. TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEY BLAMED THE SHOP AND STATED THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BUT UPGRADE THE FLASH IN THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS COULD NOT REVEAL WHY THE COMPUTER WAS PUTTING THE CAR IN LIMP. RETURNED CAR TO PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR YET ANOTHER REBUILD. DROVE CAR 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT AGAIN STARTED LIMPING. RETURNED CAR TO TRANS SHOP, THEY REBUILT IT AGAIN. STILL COULDN'T FIND CONCRETE CAUSE, REPLACED VALVE BODY AGAIN, HAD ME BUY REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COMPUTER FROM DODGE, THIS FIXED IT FOR ANOTHER 2 MONTHS. YESTERDAY IT AGAIN STARTED GOING INTO LIMP. THERE IS 200 MILES REMAINING IN THE 12,000 MILE REBUILD WARRANTY FROM THE FIRST REBUILD SO IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP FOR THE 5TH TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177406

Incident

Dec 29, 2006

TOOK MY CAR TO GET THE POWER STEERING FIXED AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR'S ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE. I RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPAIR ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS, HOSES, HOOD, AND PAINT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176089

Incident

May 8, 2005

Mileage

113,642 mi

FUEL LINE QUICK COUPLER FAILED CAUSING GREAT AMOUNT OF GAS LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171144

Incident

Oct 17, 2006

Mileage

170,000 mi

AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THROWING DRIVER TOWARDS WINDSHIELD. PROBLEM BEGAN 2003. HAVE MANY, MANY SERVICE VISITS. LUBE SHOP FLUSHED SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED TPS SWITCH, DEALER REPLACED TCM, TRANS SHOP REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND NEW INPUT AND OUTPUT SWITCHES (WORKED ONE YEAR) THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. TRANS SHOP FLUSHED SYSTEM, TRANS SHOP REPLACED TPS (AGAIN), TRANS SHP RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE TCM (AGAIN), BUT, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. ANOTHER DEALER SAYS TPS BAD. WHEN I SAID IT WAS REPLACED 100 MILES EARLIER, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS EITHER WIRING SHORT, OR MAIN COMPUTER FAILURE, HAS NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT PROBLEM IS. ALSO SAID THAT IF I FIX THE "WIRING" I WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION (AGAIN), AWEN I SAID IT WAS REBUILT LAST YEAR, DEALER CHANGED HIS STORY AND SAID I DID NOT HAVE TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. DEALER RECOMMENDS JUNKING THE CAR. MANUFACTURER IS NOT HELPING AT ALL. NOT LOOKING FOR FREE WORK, I ALREADY SPENT $3000. I JUST WANT THE PROBLEM FIXED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR DODGE, BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT, AND THEY WON'T ADMIT TO A PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THIS 4 SPEED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168058

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

125,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER HOOD AREA. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V001000, REGARDING THE STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10165781

Incident

Jul 30, 2006

Mileage

125,000 mi

PLASTIC FUEL FILLER NECK THAT ATTACHES TO THE METAL FLANGE THAT ATTACHES TO BODY OF CAR THAT HAS THE GAS CAP ON. THE METAL PART THAT ATTACHES TO PLASTIC NECK IS RUSTED OUT AND VENTING GAS VAPOR ALL THE TIME. CALLED THE DEALER TO BUY A REPLACEMENT PART AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART IS PACIFIC TO ONLY 95 AND 96 MODEL YEARS AND PART IS OUT OF PRODUCTION. DEALER ALSO SAID THERE IS NONE IN STOCK NO WHERE, AND WAS UNABLE TO GIVE ME ANY SOLUTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM THIS IS BOTH A SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151658

Incident

Nov 19, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

1995 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148650

Incident

Jul 3, 2005

DT: SINCE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR OR NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF A SOLENOID PACK. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION COMPUTER HAD TO BE FLASHED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE GEAR STILL MOVED WHILE IN DRIVE. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10134769

Incident

Apr 2, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, THEY TOLD HER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE MADE AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10133914

Incident

Aug 13, 2005

NUMEROUS FAILURES-SINCE I BOUGHT THIS "95 DODGE STRATUS WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES. 1) ENGINE MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE-I TOOK CAR TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP-BUCHANAN & YOUNG IN BURNSVILLE, NC AND HAD A NEW HEAD GASKET PUT ON. 2) I REPLACED THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLES, SO THE CAR WOULD START, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE STARTER TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO START. I STILL OFTEN HAVE TO GET OUT AND PECK ON THE STARTER WITH A SCREWDRIVER TO GET IT TO START---EVEN AFTER I HAD A NEW STARTER PUT ON. DATE: 8-10-05 3) WHEEL BROKE OFF/CAR NOT DRIVABLE-PARTS TO FIX PROBLEM & MECHANIC'S BILL 4) HAD TO REPLACE FLYWHEEL 5) HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COMPONENTS I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2,000 TO GET THIS CAR WITH VERY LOW MILES ON IT TO START. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132764

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

31,000 mi

CAR HAS HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT THREE TIMES. FIRST TIME IT WAS REBUILT BY DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 85000 MILES BECAUSE OF "ROUGH" SHIFTING. SECOND TIME AT 150000 MILES AT TRANSMISSION RE-BUILDER BECAUSE OF IT CONSISTENTLY GOING IN TO "LIMP" MODE. AFTER SEVERAL RETURN VISITS, THEY STILL COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I DROVE THE CAR FOR 10000 MILES BEING CAREFUL OF CONDITIONS THAT I WAS IN CASE IT SLIPPED IN TO "LIMP" MODE. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT SHOP TO HAVE IT RECHECKED. AFTER HAVING ALL MECHANICAL PARTS REPLACED, ALL SENSORS, AND TCM MODULE THE CAR STILL GOES IN TO "LIMP" MODE ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132316

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

Mileage

148,000 mi

I HAVE A 1995 DODGE STRATUS WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL THE VEHICLE JERKS AND SLOWS DOWN IN SPEED I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTART IT, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, I TOOK IT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID PACK I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130637

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD START TO BOUNCE DOWN TO FIRST GEAR AND NOW WILL NOT COME OUT OF FIRST GEAR.I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE IT WORKED ON BUT THE TRANSMITION SHOP COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10112783

Incident

Feb 7, 2005

Mileage

10 mi

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH RESPECT TO A 1995 DODGE STRATUS. THE DODGE STRATUS IS EQUIPPED WITH A DEVICE WHICH I ASSUME IS TIED IN WITH THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS OR COMPUTER. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPECIFIC DEVICE IS TO MONITOR THE OPERATION OF THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SO THAT WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION IS UNDER STRESS OR IS NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED OR INTENDED (OR AT LEAST THE THE COMPUTER SURMISES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY OR UP TO STANDARD), THE COMPUTER WHENEVER THAT OCCURS AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS THE DODGE STRATUS TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING OR NOTICE WHATSOEVER TO THE DRIVER AND THE DODGE REMAINS IN 2ND GEAR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE DODGE IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. IF YOU THEN ALLOW THE DODGE ENGINE TO REMAIN OFF FOR 3 OR 4 MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON AGAIN, THE CAR WILL PERFORM NORMALLY AGAIN AND WITHOUT INCIDENT AT SPEEDS UP TO 40 OR 50 OR 60 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE COMPUTER, ONCE AGAIN, SUCCUMBS TO THE URGE TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. AT THAT POINT, THE DRIVER FINDS HIMSELF IN 2ND GEAR AND WITH NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE BUT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN. TO COMPREHEND WHAT THAT PREDICAMENT IS LIKE FROM THE DRIVER?S POINT OF VIEW, ONE HAS ONLY TO ENVISION YOURSELF ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE OR THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 18 WHEELER TRUCKS ALL GOING 55AND 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN, OUT OF THE BLUE, THE COMPUTER ON THE DODGE STRATUS DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT TO 20 MILES AN HOUR AND THE NEAREST 18 WHEELER TRUCK IS ONLY 10 FEET BEHIND YOU AND DOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. IN THAT SCENARIO, THE POSSIBILITIES FOR A HORRIBLE AND CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT COSTING DOZENS OF LIVES IS APPARENT---ALL BECAUSE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ON THE DODGE STRATUS DECIDED ON ITS OWN TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112615

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILED, 145,000 MILES WITH NO INDICATION OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUNNING FINE THEN FAILED AND LEAKED A QUART AND A HALF OF FLUID FROM THE RIP IN THE PAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105903

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

Mileage

145,500 mi

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, WENT INTO THE HOUSE, AND A FRIEND CAME TO NOTIFY CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PERMANENT REGISTRATION ON THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090134

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

97,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. CALLED A DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. AFTER WAITING SHE WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS. CONSUMER MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, AFTER ARRIVING AND WAITING FOR TWO HOURS THE PART WAS NOT IN, AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE ONE MONTH. THE RECALL WAS ON SHIFT INTERLOCK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10087448

Incident

Jul 21, 2004

Mileage

64,295 mi

REQUEST FOR REFUND FOR ALL REPAIRS MADE TO TRANSMISSION THAT WAS IN THE RECALL .*MR THE CONSUMER'S TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE MOUNT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083763

Incident

May 21, 2003

Mileage

181,075 mi