1996 Dodge Stratus Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, WHICH ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10453099

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT COMMAND AT ANYTIME AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE LAST TIME, THE DEALER PLACED A HORN BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 12/05/11

NHTSA ID

10414004

Incident

Jul 20, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V021000 CONCERNING FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115259

Incident

Mar 5, 2005

MY MECHANIC STATED THAT MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERYWERE, I HAVE TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 4 - 5 DAYS. I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, MY ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER DO NOT FUNCTION AND DISPLAY. MY RADIO DOES NOT WORK, AND NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS AREN'T FUNCTIONING. I CHECKED AND ALL OF MY FUSES ARE FINE. I CAN'T AFFORD THE ENGINE REPAIRS FOR THE OIL. I HAVE TO GET THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED. CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068189

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

Mileage

92,880 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

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

THREE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE VEHICLE HAD A PERPETUAL OIL LEAK AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SHE HAD TO SEEK HELP FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH OIL LEAKING OUT, THE CONSUMER PLACED OIL IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF GAS. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID, ALSO THE FRONT SEAL BEGAN TO LEAK AS WELL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MISSING OUT, SPUTTERED, AND THE STARTER WAS INTERMITTENT DUE TO A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED A REFUND OF REPAIRS. OTHER REPAIRS WERE AS FOLLOWED: THE AIR COMPRESSOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, STARTER, REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET THREE TIMES, ONCE AT 11565K MILES AND SECOND AT 20495K MILES AND AGAIN AT 69000K MILES. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10037844

Mileage

11,565 mi

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011677

Incident

May 28, 2002

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY PULLED OUT AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THEN, REINSTALLED IT. NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE UNDER CAR. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004553

Incident

Feb 22, 2002

DURING THE END OF SUMMER MY CAR ENGINE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS (USUALLY @20 - 40MPH). I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE MY CAR REPEATEDLY SHUTS OFF WHEN I TURN CORNERS OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 30 OR LESS IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND WE HAVE FACED MANY CLOSE ACCIDENTS! ONCE THE CAR'S RPM SHUTS DOWN THE CAR SHUTS OFF NO MATTER WHERE I AM. WHEN I DRIVE 50MPH OR MORE MY CAR JERKS. MY CAR ALSO ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVE 40MPH OR LESS ON ITS OWN IN SEVERAL INSTANCES I ALMOST HIT CARS IN FRONT OF ME DURING RED LIGHTS. MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS ON AND THAT IT WOULD COST $70.00 AN HOUR FOR A COMPUTERIZED CHECKUP WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. ANOTHER TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE SHUTOFF PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND ASSUMED THE THROTTLE BOTTLE WAS THE CAUSE. WESTMINISTER DODGE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BOTTLE AND MY CAR STILL CONTINUES TO SHUTOFF SINCE SUMMER OF 2001. MY AIR BRAKE FAILED ME IN 9/2001, I ENDED UP UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR FROM KNOCKING OFF A WHEEL COVER OF A MITSUBISHI 4 DOOR. MY CAR SHUTOFF WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR TO AVOID HITTING THE MITSUBISHI AND MY FRONT END OF MY CAR (LICENSE PLATE NOSE) TOOK OFF HER WHEELCOVER IN WHICH I OFFERED TO REPLACE FOR $40.00. I AM VERY AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. MY NEWEST PROBLEM AS OF 1/14/2002 IS MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMM. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE FULL CONTROL OF MY CAR IT KIND OF RIDES ALL OVER THE RODE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE BEFORE I GET IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNFIXABLE CAR FAILURE! I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR OR TRADE IN.

NHTSA ID

757929

Incident

Aug 17, 2001

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AND DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892004

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN FRONT PARKING LIGHT WHICH CAUSED A FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

890016

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDER HOOD FIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

882912

Incident

Feb 12, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

741441

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. THEN, STOPPED ON SIDE, OPENED HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE. AFTER EXTINGUISHING FIRE SAW THAT ALL WIRES WERE BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

879791

Incident

Jan 22, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

879409

COMPUTER CONTROLLER,IDLER ARM AND PULLEY,TIMING BELT,AND BOTTOM CRANK GEAR ALL WENT OUT AT SAME TIME.HEAD GASKET WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE WHILE IN SHOP FOR TIMING BELT REPAIRS.CHRYSLER HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR 500 OF THE 725 DOLLARS IT WOULD COST TO FIX HEAD GASKET,BUT NOTHING ON ALL THE TIMING BELT RELATED PROBLEMS AT 525.00.AUTO WAS 4,000 MILES AND 1 YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN PROBLEMS OCCURRED.JUST SEEMS ODD THAT THE COMPUTER AND ALL THE TIMING BELT RELATED PROBLEMS HAPPENED AT THE SAME TIME.THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.AFTER COMPUTER WAS REPLACED THE TIMING BELT PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED. *AK

NHTSA ID

737068

Incident

Nov 13, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

735170

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

1) TRANSMISSION LEAK DUE TO CRACK IN CASE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS CRACK DUE TO DAMAGED DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER. DESCRIBED AS MOUNTING PIN BROKE OR WORKED LOOSE, ALLOWING PLAY IN DIFFERENTIAL, BANGING AGAINST CASE. 2) FAULTY STARTER MOTOR CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF FUSE. FUSE WOULD BLOW IMMEDIATELY UPON IGNITION ATTEMPT. 3) CONSTANT OIL LEAK FROM REAR OF ENGINE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET SEAL. 4) TRUNK LID OFTEN WILL NOT LATCH.

NHTSA ID

727639

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMED IN MAY 1999. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOW TO DECELLERATE.. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND SAYS IT OPERATES NORMALLY.

NHTSA ID

724994

SPARK PLUG TREADS AREN'T THERE. DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

858244

Incident

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE SHE SAW SMOKE. THEN WHEN OPENED THE HOOD, ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

857627

Incident

Feb 22, 2000

ON WEEK OF 10/18/99 CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE A TUNE-UP DONE ON VEHICLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY DO NOT DO TUNE-UPS ON VEHICLES WITH AS LOW MILEAGE AS MINE. BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER, CHANGE THE OIL, REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND DID A 26 POINT CHECK. THE CHARGE CAME TO $272.55. THE FOLLOWING WEEK MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CHUGGING AND ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. SOMETIMES, WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD QUIT FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN START BACK UP AGAIN. SO, MY HUSBAND CALLED ROBERSON MOTORS BACK AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. CANDY BULL QUOTED THAT IT COULD COST FROM $200 TO $450 TO REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM ON 11/9/1999 WITH A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS. THEY CALLED ME BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY TO TELL ME THE GAS TANK WAS EMPTY AND THAT THIS MADE THEM MISS THE ALLOTTED TIME FOR MY CAR. THEY WOULD NEED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. WE LEFT THE CAR THERE OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY CANDY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN OVER-FUELING. I ASKED WHAT CAUSES THIS? HER STATEMENT WAS THAT IT JUST HAPPENS. AFTER I GOT FRUSTRATED AND TOLD HER THAT I COULD PROBABLY UNDERSTAND IF SHE WOULD EXPLAIN IN DETAIL TO ME BECAUSE I AM FAMILIAR WITH HOW CARS OPERATE, SHE FINALLY EXPLAINED THAT THE TUBES FOR THE SPARK PLUGS WERE TOO LARGE ALLOWING OIL AND FUEL TO MIX UP AROUND THE SPARK PLUGS. SHE STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE SOAKED WITH OIL. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHE SAID "NO, IT JUST HAPPENS, WE HAVE NOTICED IT IN THE DODGE CARAVANS BUT NOT IN THE STRATUS'". I TOLD HER THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE A TWO-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER THAT QUITE FREQUENTLY RIDES IN MY CAR. WHAT IF IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE? I ALSO ASKED IF IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE OR HOW WE WERE DRIVING IT. HER ANSWER WAS "NO". SHE STATED THAT "IT JUST HAPPENS". ON 11/10/99, I WENT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP AND WAS CHARGED $355. *AK

NHTSA ID

714761

Incident

Nov 3, 1999

THE RACK AND PINION HAS FAILED TWICE. I HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER OF A BUZZING AND/OR GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN AT LEAST 2 OTHER TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND AM GOING TO TAKE IT IN THIS THURSDAY (10/21/99) AGAIN FOR THE SAME BUZZING NOISE. EACH TIME I TAKE IT IN IT IS THERE FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 DAYS IF NOT LONGER. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN NOISE. THIS THURSDAY I WILL ALSO TAKE IT IN FOR SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE - THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES NOT START ON ME. *AK

NHTSA ID

713538

Incident

Oct 11, 1999