1996 Dodge Stratus Steering Problems

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

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 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

RUPTURE IN POWER STEERING HOSE CAUSED POWER STEERING FLUID TO TO CONTACT HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE THAT MELTED IGNITION WIRES, DISTRIBUTOR, AND POWER STEERING RETURN FLUID LINE. TS

NHTSA ID

10000493

Incident

Dec 31, 2002

Mileage

123,521 mi

WHILE DRIVING FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP. CONTACTED DEALER. TIE ROD CAME UNDONE. THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018176

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

MY WIFE CALLED ME TO REPORT THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING SOME BINDING IN THE STEERING AS SHE WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING MALL, AND HAD DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE PARKING LOT. I WENT TO THE LOT TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER AND DROVE THE CAR IN THE LOT, TURNING BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FREQUENTLY, AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO BE ALRIGHT. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, AND THEN NOTICED THAT A SLIGHT CLUNKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SPOTS IN THE PAVEMENT. I DECIDED TO JACK UP THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHAT MIGHT BE LOOSE. WHILE MANUVERING THE CAR INTO POSITION IN MY GARAGE, THE RIGHT TIE ROD END BALL STUD SEPARATED FROM ITS SOCKET, WHICH OF COURSE IS THE CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT SIDE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE SOCKET AND BALL WERE VERY RUSTY AND THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION PRESENT, ALTHOUGH IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SEALED, LUBRICATED FOR LIFE JOINT WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A GREASE FITTING.*AK

NHTSA ID

764514

Incident

Jul 14, 2002

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE AND FELL OFF CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO DO ANTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

8013765

Incident

Jun 17, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE 2 OUTER TIE ROD PINS FELL OUT, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF STEERING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013554

Incident

Jun 6, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, ALSO THE TIMING COVER WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

564640

Incident

Nov 11, 1998

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, NOTICE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. TIE ROD BROKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS NO GREASE FITTING ON THE PART, THE STUD WAS MISSING, RUBBER BOOT DESTORYED AFTER STUD FELL OUT, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

9005155

Incident

Oct 3, 2001

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 9 TIMES. SEVERAL OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN REPEAT REPAIRS. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS ON 10/18/1999. IT TOOK THEM UNTIL 08/28/2001 TO REPAIR IT. THEN WE HAD TO BRING IT BACK ON 10/22/2001 BECAUSE A SEAL WAS LEAKING ON THE TRANSMISSION. AT THAT TIME I HAD THEM LISTEN TO THE CAR, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE IT STARTED WITH IN 10/1999. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, WHICH IS WHAT THEY TOLD US UP UNTIL 08/28/2001. NOW THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. IN THE 3 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR IT HAS HAD $5201.48 WORHT OF REPAIRS DONE TO IT. IN ADDITION TO THE DEFECTIVE PARTS I HAVE LISTED, IT ALSO HAD AN IGNITION COIL, INJECTORS, BALL JOINTS, AND TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. ALL REPAIRS WE DONE BY MIDDLETOWN DODGE, RT 17M, MIDDLETOWN, NY, EXCEPT THE FIRST REPAIR. THAT WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A GREAT EXTENDED WARANTY. OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THESE REPAIRS OURSELVES. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR WILL CONTINUE TO BREAKDOWN AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO KEEP IT OR SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ID

757717

Incident

Feb 29, 2000

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLING VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC AT A TIRE SHOP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE IN HALF. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

897571

Incident

Oct 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

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

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

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN THE SHORT 7 MONTHS THAT I'VE HAD IT. CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

734828

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

558284

TIE ROD FAILURE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. FRONT WHEELS WERE ORIENTED AT 90 DEGREES RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER. LIKELY FATAL ACCIDENT AVOIDED ONLY THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCE OF PART FAILING AT LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT. *AK

NHTSA ID

732060

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

CLUNK IN THE LEFT FRONT REVEALED FAILED TIE ROD END. UPON REMOVAL IS WAS FOUND THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD END HAD SEPARATED AT THE BALL STUD. THE BALL STUD WAS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE RUBBER BOOT. WE ALSO REPLACED THE RIGHT TIE ROD END AND FOUND THAT IT TOO WAS FAILING. IT WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF BINDING. FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

725626

Incident

Jul 18, 2000

4 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR, I STARTED HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT. I'VE HAD TO PAY $830 FOR A HEAD GASKET AT 82,000 MILES, $318 FOR SUSPENSION + ALIGNMENT BECAUSE MY TIERODS BUSTED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 92,000 MILES. I STILL CANNOT GET THE FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM FIXED, BECAUSE I'M OUT OF MONEY. I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR IN TWICE FOR THE STALLING, ENGINE DYING, AND SHAKING PROBLEM, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED (STARTED 4 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR). *AK

NHTSA ID

724357

Incident

Jun 17, 2000

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO BROKEN TIE ROD END. *AK

NHTSA ID

861884

Incident

Apr 15, 2000

DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED OUT OF SOCKET, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF ALL STEERING CONTROL, THE CAR IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS FAILURE, DEALER INSPECTED CAR TWO MONTHS PRIOR AND SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WEAR ON BOTH TIE ROD JOINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

719936

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

714654

Incident

Nov 10, 1999