1996 Dodge Stratus Brakes Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR WAS NOT MOUNTED DOWN AND WAS MISSING TWO SCREWS. THE MOTOR JERKS BACK AND FORTH SO SEVERELY THAT IT SEEMS AS IF THE ENGINE WILL FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING CHAIN, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION COIL, SERPENTINE BELT, AND MUFFLER ARE FAILING. NEW BRAKES AND STRUTS ARE ALSO NEEDED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCOVER THESE ISSUES UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10267700

Incident

Apr 16, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

BRAKES FAILED ON MY SONS '96 DODGE STRATUS. HE WENT OVER APPROXIMATELY A 20 FOOT EMBANKMENT AND LANDED IN A CREEK. LUCKILY HE ONLY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND YOUR SITE ON RECALLS AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE BRAKES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, HOWEVER, HIS VIN # WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT COST ABOUT $600.00 TO REPLACE THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138168

Incident

Jul 9, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10052043

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK, TIE RODS BAD, TIRES REPLACED, BRAKES GOING BAD, ENGINE LIGHT ON. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045334

Incident

Jun 3, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

LTR FM JOVAN MATHEWS (TX) RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 1996 DODGE STRATUS AND ASKING DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO INITIATE A RECALL. *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRIC CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET, AND POOR DRIVE ABILITY. THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, A/C COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, AND A HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATED,WARM UP SAG, HESITATION, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR MALFUNCTION, INSIDE LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, LATE/HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR, AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040045

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MY NAME IS [XXX], AND I AM A TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD FATHER OF THREE WHO IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TODAY BECAUSE I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN# [XXX]). THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING CONSISTS OF AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS THAT MALFUNCTION, TRANSMISSION TROUBLES, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION PRIDES ITSELF AS REPRESENTING VALUE, QUALITY, DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY, BUT I CANT SEEM TO SEE THAT AS A TRUE STATEMENT WITH ALL OF MY CURRENT PROBLEMS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ONE GIVEN TIME SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH MY DIFFICULTIES ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. I FEEL THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REPAIRS DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSED BY SHODDY PARTS AND QUALITY. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, AC COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. I AM IN DYER NEED OF A EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, HEAD GASKET. ALSO, I AM EXPERIENCING STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE & BOTTOMING OUT ON POTHOLE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATS IN TRAFFIC &/OR A/C BECOMES INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION & DRIVEWAY DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, INSIDE LIGHTS WORK IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC, LATE OR HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS , FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM FRONT BETWEEN 50 & 70 MPH , MUSTY ODOR AND DEFROSTER FAILS TO CLEAR GLASS. AS IT APPEARS I NEED A LOT OF WORK AND BEING LOW INCOME I NEED HELP.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10033411

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATES BRAKES DO NOT GRAB, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033578

Incident

Aug 7, 2003

MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS HAS 37,000 MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2002 I TOOK IT TO SEARS FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ALSO ASKING THEM TO SEE WHERE OIL WAS LEAKING (NOTICED OIL ON CONCRETE IN GARAGE). THEY SAID VALVE COVER GASKET SO I GOT THAT FIXED FOR ABOUT $72.00 ALL ALONG THINKING THAT THERE WERE NOT THAT MANY MILES DRIVEN. AND TO BAD THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. I THINK IT WAS 5 YEARS OR 25,000 MILES. WITHIN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS OIL WAS LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT IN AND END UP PAYING $702.00 BECAUSE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. THE MECHANIC SHOWED IT TO ME AND JOKINGLY SAID ISN'T IT FUNNY HOW THIS CAN BE SO CHEAP THAT IT ALMOST WAS DETERIORATED AND THE WARRANTY 5YRS IS UP. EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT DROVE 25,000 MILES YET. WELL THE FINAL BLOW , ON OCT 10,2002 I KEPT HEARING A CLUNK WHEN I MADE LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. TOOK IT TO THE RHODEN DODGE. WE WERE TOLD THAT RIGHT & LEFT TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE & SWAY BAR LINKS WORN & LOOSE(2 TIE RODS,& 2 BALL JOINTS) I ASKED THEM TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH ,TOTALING $779.00 BECAUSE WHAT ELSE WILL BREAK. WELL IN JAN. 2003 THE BRAKES WERE ON MEDAL ANOTHER $190.00. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT IN TO THE GARAGE. THERE IS ONLY 37,000 MILES DRIVEN AND I AM HEARING ANOTHER NOISE WHEN I TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE FIXED THEY TOLD ME THEY TEST DROVE IT AND HEARD NOTHING . SOME HOW IT SEEMS THAT 5 YRS OR 25,000 MILES IS TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE SOLD IT BEFORE THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE COMPANY KNEW THINGS WOULD START HAPPENING. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME. PLEASE, THIS CAR IS A LEMON WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008284

Incident

Feb 10, 2002

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN HE RECEIVE A CAMPAIGN BULLENTIN NUMBER #96V07500 FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE. THE WORK WAS DONE THREE TO FOUR YEARS AGO. WHILE THE CONSUMER IS APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SWAY TO THE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8021307

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

ANT-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE STARTED TO SMOKE WHERE BRAKE PADS WERE LOCATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018177

Incident

Aug 20, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

761088

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW VEHICLE, AND BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, RESULTING IN A CRASH, WHERE IT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT OR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT MADE A DETERMINATION FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

897690

Incident

Oct 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN N.IT TOOK THE DEALER 3 WEEKS TO FIX IT. WITH THE HEAD GASKET, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SERVICE STATION 3 SEPARATE TIMES TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS RUNNING HOT, BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. THIS HAPPENED ONLY WHEN THE CAR LEAKED OUT ALL OF THE ANTIFREEZE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES 4 TIMES AND THE REAR BRAKES 3 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS WITH ANY OTHER CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

751299

Incident

Nov 27, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND REAR ENDED A PICK UP TRUCK. APPROXIMATELY $5000+ DAMAGE DONE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK CONSUMER STATES REAR BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID

887570

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

TIE-ROD FAILED NO STEERING,2 HEADGASKET FAILURES IN PAST 5 YEARS,BRAKE ROTORS FAIL EVERY 2 YEARS....

NHTSA ID

744918

Incident

May 3, 2001

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEN, TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

883181

HEADGASKET BLEWOUT SINCE PURCHASE. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER, POWER STEERING PUMP, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND VALVE COVER GASKET. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

879927

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

731832

Incident

Sep 18, 2000

BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED REAR END ACCIDENT.*ET

NHTSA ID

553159

Incident

Aug 28, 1999

SECOND SET OF ROTORS TO FAILED DUE TO CORROSION IN 4 YEARS, DEALER REPLACED ORINGINALS, IN BOTH CASES PADS WERE FINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

722595

Incident

Apr 28, 2000

SECOND FAILURE OF BRAKE ROTORS IN 4 YEARS DUE TO CORROSION, BRAKE PADS STILL GOOD. CHRYSLER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN NE BEFORE. *AK

NHTSA ID

722237

Incident

May 1, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH OVER A BRIDGE DRIVER IN THECAR IN FRONT PUT ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE JUMPED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. WHEN SHE APLLIED THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME, VEHICLE WENT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT INTO THE WATER AND FLIPPED TWICE, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN . CONSUMER BROKE THE WINDOW, AND CRAWLED OUT OF VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

858765

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

850969

Incident

Oct 18, 1998

CAR IS PRESENTLY AT CROWN DODGE@ PHONE # IS 281-556-6400 ROBERT

NHTSA ID

713275

I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES NOW. I AM TAKING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL THE DEALER KEEPS DOING IS PUTTING ANOTHER HEAD GASKET ON AND CHARGING ME MY $50 DEDUCTABLE. THIS IS GETTING VERY TIRING. MY BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN 1997 AFTER THE FACTORY RE-CALL HAD BEEN PREFORMED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD PUT THE SEAL IN WRONG. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE HEAD GASKET, NUMBER 4, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CV BOOT NEEDED REPLACED. DURRING THE REPAIR THE AXEL JUST FELL APART. SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION PUMP NEEDED REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED REPLACED AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. AND IT STILL LEAKS FROM THE SAME SPOT THE REAR LEFT OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

711943

Incident

Jun 12, 1997