1996 Dodge Stratus Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A GAS STATION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUFFERED A MELT DOWN. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 193,000. UPDATED 8/7/09 *CN THE PCM AND POWER SHIFTER WERE FAULTY. UPDATED 08/11/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10274355

Incident

Jun 2, 2009

Mileage

193,000 mi

WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND TO THIRD, THE MOTOR JUST REVS UP AND YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO UNDER 30 MPH BEFORE IT STOPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216033

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO. SHE FORGFOT ABOUT IT AND FOUND IT ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. SHE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. TTHEY WERE NOT REPAIRING THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. SHE TALKED TO DEALER ON 7-5-05 AND THEY STILL HAD NOT FIXED IT. SHE HAS NOT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10132199

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL FOR THE TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK CHECKED OUT ON HER 1996 DODGE STRATUS.*MR THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THEY DID NOT MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL CHECKS. WHEN THE CONSUMER JUST SHOWED UP AT THE DEALER THEY WERE ALWAYS TOO BUSY TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10130175

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

RECALL 04V021000 CONCERNING FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION INTERLOCK. CONSUMER WAS WAITING OVER 60 DAYS FOR PARTS THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099551

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

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

OWNER OF 1996 DODGE STRATUS, A CERTIFIED LEMON WITH REPEATED HEAD-GASKET LEAKS/TRANSMISSION LEAKS. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE AND TWICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025542

Incident

Apr 19, 2001

Mileage

63,000 mi

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

I OWN TWO DODGE STRATUS. ONE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP DAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO THE RADIATOR HAD LOOSENED UP. THE CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. NOW MY OTHER STRATUS HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION LEAK. SAME PROBLEM!! I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTER DEFECT!!*AK

NHTSA ID

757811

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

749446

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. MECHANIC FOUND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE, CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY 2/3 OF COST. *SLC.

NHTSA ID

884584

Incident

Mar 24, 2001

THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO ME DEFECTIVE AND NOW NEITHER THE WARRANTY COMPANY OR THE DEALSHIP WANTS TO HANDLE IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

742918

Incident

Mar 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

HAVE REPLACED BEARINGS, BALL JOINTS, HEAD GASKETS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION ON 1996 STRATUS.*AK

NHTSA ID

741679

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

741441

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED BY MECHANIC. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. *YH

NHTSA ID

880332

Incident

Jan 25, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

735170

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING FLUID FOR THE PAST YEAR. MY SERVICE STATION CAN'T LOCATE THE LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID

733581

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

558284

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

731832

Incident

Sep 18, 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

CAR JERKS WHEN PUTTING IN PARK AND STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS, AND DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PART FOR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

865841

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

CAR MADE NOCKING NOISE WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE ENGINE OR TAKE IT OUT IN FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. HE WROTE A NOTE AND SAID THAT IF THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE THAT HE WOULD REPAIR THE CAR IF IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. NOW THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS IN TO LOW OF A GEAR. ALSO I HAVE LOST A LOT OF POWER.*AK

NHTSA ID

724927

Incident

Apr 1, 2000