1995 Dodge Stratus Engine Problems

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

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

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

VEHICLE DYING OUT AND WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH NO RESULT. *LA THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIME WHILE DRIVING UNDER NO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE SHOP FOR SEVEN WEEKS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10051716

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

WE HAVE HAD OUR 1995 DODGE STRATUS AT SERRAMONTE AUTO PLAZA'S DODGE SERVICE FOR OVER 7 WEEKS NOW. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR DYING OUT. IT DIES AT ANY TIME AND UNDER NO SPECIFIC CONDITION. WHEN IT DIES, AS IF ALL POWER FAILS, WHICH IT DOES EVENTUALLY, AND IS OUT OF GAS. THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 2 SERVICE PROVIDES AND NOW A THIRD TO FIGURE THIS PROBLEM OUT. MY REAL ISSUE IS WITH THE CERTIFIED EXPERT DEALER SERVICE WHO 1) REPLACED AN ERG VALVE - IT DID NOT FIX THE DYING OUT PROBLEM, THEN AFTER MORE THAN 15 SERVICE HOURS LATER THEY SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER $750 MORE AND THAT DID NOT FIX NOR WAS THE PROBLEM. PRIOR TO GOING TO THE DODGE DEALER, I HAD THE CAR AT VISITATION AUTO SERVICE IN SF WHO INFORMED US THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT $1000 TO REPLACE INCLUDING PARTS (NEVER SAW THE OLD UNIT- WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD TO GO TO THE MANUFACTURER), NOR ARE WE SURE THAT ANY OF THESE REPAIRS AND PARTS WERE JUSTIFIED - NEEDED, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL, THE CAR STILL DIES WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT, AND IT DIES ON THE FREEWAY, DRIVE WAY, CITY STREET, AND WILL ONLY START AGAIN AFTER A REST PERIOD OF SAY 15 MINUTES. AND THEN YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL KILL AGAIN. BEING THAT THE STRATUS HAS POWER WINDOWS, CASSETTE, 51,000 MILES, AND IS VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH NO ACCIDENTS AND EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD THE CAR'S VALUE IS $3500-$4000 BUT BECAUSE THE DEALER KNOWS OF THE ISSUE OF DYING OUT AND THEIR OWN REPAIR SHOP CAN NOT FIX IT, INFORMED US OF IT BEING WORTH $1000 - $1500, THIS IS LESS THAN THE AMOUNT WE INVESTED TO REPAIR IT, AND THEY WILL NOT OFFER US ANOTHER THATS EQUAL IN MILEAGE, CONDITION AND VALUE. SO ARE WE AT A MAJOR LOSS BECAUSE DODGE CAN NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE? *LA

NHTSA ID

10043276

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND SMOKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025038

Incident

Jun 26, 2003

HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10023997

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB PRIOR TO FIRE, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND USED A LOT GAS. DIRTY FUEL RAIL WAS REPLACED AND 4 INJECTORS THAT WERE PLUGGED. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF RECALL 96V00600 RELATING TO THIS CONDITION. *TT

NHTSA ID

10015839

Incident

Apr 14, 2003

THE CAR LEAKS OIL BADLY, I SEE ITS HAD BEEN A OIL RECALL UNDER/ THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLERY PLUG/ IT SMOKES THE HOOD, LEAKS WATER OUT OF TAIL PIPE: 1995 DODGE STRATUS RECALL#96V00600/ THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THERE ISN'T ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. IF THIS PROBLEM PERSIST ITS GOING TO START A FIRE,,,,,,,,,,,ITS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY EYE AND MANY OTHER AUTO REPAIR SHOPS,,,,

NHTSA ID

10003021

Incident

Dec 25, 2002

Mileage

137,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND HEAD GASKET FAILURE SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR. DT

NHTSA ID

769999

Incident

Dec 29, 1997

2ND HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER 1ST FAILURE WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

761233

Incident

Apr 3, 2002

NEEDS NEW ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE - ESTIMATED TOTAL $4,500.00. THIS CAR IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A NEW ENGINE!. *AK

NHTSA ID

760983

Incident

Apr 17, 2002

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

8006083

Incident

Dec 4, 1997

CONSUMER STATED OIL IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET, THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, OIL IS LEAKING CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID

8003545

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

OIL IS LEAKING FROM GASKET CYLINDER HEAD. HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED ONCE, BUT SAME PROBLEM RETURNED. CONTACT CHRYSLER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH GASKETS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8001379

Incident

Dec 26, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

753258

Incident

Oct 15, 2001

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN TOWN AT APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN I STARTED LOSING POWER AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST. I KNEW FROM AN EXPERIENCE MY FATHER HAD WITH HIS CAR, THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. KEEP IN MIND THAT AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS RUNNING WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE SMOKE.UPON HEARING FROM THE DEALER, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. I COULDNT POSSIBLY AFFORD THE $3000 OR $4000 ESTIMATE THEY GAVE ME, SO I TOLD THEM TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND WOULD HAVE IT TOWED OUT OF THEIR LOT. WHEN I MET THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH THE TOW TRUCK ON THEIR LOT, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR LOT.WHEN I TOLD THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ABOUT WHAT IT WAS DOING WHEN I GAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR TO THE DEALER, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN. THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY OUT OF ME. HE THEN TOLD ME TO START THE CAR AND LET HIM SEE WHAT IT WAS DOING. WHEN IT STARTED IT WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. NOISE IT WAS NOT MAKING WHEN I SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. WE COULD ONLY COME TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER SEEING WERE THE CAR WAS PARKED THAT THE DEALER MECHANICS HAD DRIVEN IT AGAINST MY INSTRUCTIONS AND CAUSED THE MOTOR TO BLOW. SO INSTEAD OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REPLACED HEAD GASKET, TURNED INTO A MOTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTER CONTACTING CRYSTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY REFUSED TO MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGES I HAD INCURRED. EVEN AFTER ADMITTING WHAT I HAD HEARD FROM MANY MECHANICS, THAT THE 95 2.0L MOTOR HAD THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

753152

Incident

Mar 13, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

750176

Incident

Jul 20, 2001

THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET AND OIL LEAKAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID#96V006000 AND IF SO, WAS THE WORK EVER COMPLETED? WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET (JAN. OF 1999) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN!*AK

NHTSA ID

750067

THIS CAR HAS HAD 2 REPLACED COMPUTERS AND 2 OXYGEN SENSORSTHAT I KNOW OF, ALSO I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL SHOPS INCLUDING THE DOGE DEALER SHIPS TO SEE WHY THE CHECK INGINE LIGHT IS ON AND ACCORDING TO THEIR MACHINES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. BUT THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR, AFTER DRIVING IF ON A HOT DAY ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE CAR AND LET IT SET , WHEN YOU GO TO START IT AGIAN IT WILL NOT START IT ACTS LIKE IT HAS NO GAS, IT STARTS POPPING AND DIEING OUT, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT IS VAPOR LOCKING. I WAS TOLD THESE CAR DO NOT VAPOOR LOCK , BUT THIS ONE SURE ACT LIKE IT . I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY HAVE WORKED AND WORKED ON THIS CAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ! I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ANY INFORMATION ON THIS CAR THAT I CAN , MAYBE THERE WAS A RECALL BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE ORGINAL OWNER NEVER TOOK THE CAR IN .

NHTSA ID

750029

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

THERE IS AN EXTREME OIL LEAK, AND A BURNING SMELL. CONSUMER THINKS IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE. A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ENGINE OIL GALLEY PLUG. *AK

NHTSA ID

888603

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

CONSUMER CHECKED RADIATOR FLUID AND NOTICED THAT OIL WAS PRESENT IN RADIATOR AND OVERFILL COMPARTMENT. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CURRENTLY REPLACING HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

887305

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE JERKS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSES DOORS TO LOCK AND CRUISE CONTROL GOES OFF, ENGINE REVS HIGHER THAN NORMAL WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WHILE DRIVING FORCING CONSUMER TO KEEP HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP FROM GOING TO FAST. *JB

NHTSA ID

886914

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

1. A/C PAST 3 TEARS HAS FAILED. CONTROL MODE FAILURE. A/C REPAIRED 2X IN WARRENTY. 2. ABS SENSOR FAILED AT 42000. 3.DISTRIBUTOR FAILED AT 90000 3. TRANSMISSION-FRONT PUMP SEAL STARTED LEAKING AT 90000. 4. SPARK PLUG RING SEALS(6) FAILED AT 90000.

NHTSA ID

744170

Incident

Jun 15, 1997

HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO LEAK OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR. REPAIR COSTS $1100. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO LEAK PROFUSELY AT 60,000 MILES. THE COST FOR THAT REPAIR WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET IS ESTIMATED AT $2500. *AK

NHTSA ID

744022

Incident

Aug 1, 1999