1997 Dodge Stratus Brakes Problems

I HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY DODGE STRATUS IT'S ONLY A 1997 WITH 86,582. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 23,000 IN JANUARY OF 1999 FROM A CAR DEALER. I HAVE SPENT $2,335.30 IN REPAIRS IN 2002&2003 IN MAY & JUNE OF 2003 I SPENT $1,678.31 & $656.99 IN JULY 2002 STARTING WITH BRAKES BEING CONTAMIED ,WATER PUMP ,RADIATOR REPLACED,AND IT'S BEING DRIVEN LOCALLY NEVER BEEN OUT OF THIS STATE. I FEEL THIS IS A LEMON CAR BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR REPAIRS AND THE MILEAGE IS ONLY 74,153 WHEN I STARTED HAVING REPAIRS AND KEEP HAVING MAJOR REPAIRS TOTALLY $2,400 ONLY HAD IT 3 1/2 YRS. I FILED A REPORT WITH THE LEMON LAW IN WASHINGTON STATE.

NHTSA ID

10070485

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

Mileage

74,153 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT LEAVING SKID MARKS. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ID

8021988

Incident

Oct 26, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

765271

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BROKE AT ABOUT 13000 MILES. OLYMPIC DODGE SAYS THAT I MUST REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SPINDLES. THAT THEY ARE CRACKED. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON 07/10/2002. THEY HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS WHICH COST OVER $300.00. HOW CAN 2 SPINDLES FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. HOW CAN THEY FAIL WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.*AK

NHTSA ID

764160

Incident

Jun 30, 2002

LEFT CALIPER BURNED AND FROZE, DIGGING INTO THE ROTOR; RIGHT CALIPER ON THE VERGE OF DOING SO. THE CAR HAD PASSED RIGOROUS EQUIPMENT INSPECTION JUST 3 MONTHS BEFORE WITH NO WARNING OF IMPENDING EQUIPMENT FAILURE. CAR IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY; DEALER SAID THAT ONLY THE COST OF THE CALIPERS WOULD BE COVERED. HAD CAR REPAIRED AT A LOCAL SHOP THAT GUARANTEES ITS WORK, BOTH PARTS AND LABOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

759693

Incident

Oct 29, 2001

IF I AM DOING MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOESN'T STOP COMPLETELY WITHOUT SLIDING. *AK

NHTSA ID

754223

GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE CRUISE SONTROL IMMEDIATELY. MY CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKE HARDER, REALIZED THERE WAS NO STOPPING, PULLED OVER TO BREAK DOWN LANE. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, ENDED UP WITH JUST SQEALING TIRES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HORRIBLY. LET ME JUST NOTE THAT AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THANK GOD A STATE POLICE PULLED UP BEHIND ME, AT WHICH TIME I HAD THE CAR AT 10MPH BUT WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY 10 YEAR OLD CHILD HAD TO JUMP FROM MY CAR TO LET THE OFFICER KNOW WHY I COULDN'T STOP. HE ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL IN FRONT OF ME AND SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT NOTHING TO FINALLY STOP MY CAR AT WHICH POINT HE GOT OUT , CAME TO MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IN THIS FORM I COULD NOT FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE VIN, ETC. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS TOWED AND I AM WITH A FRIEND IN MASS. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DODGE COMPANY ON MONDAY. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY FOR MY CHILD. MAINE STATE POLICE WAS OBVIOUSLY INVOLVED. HIS NAME WAS ROGER. *AK

NHTSA ID

753201

Incident

Oct 12, 2001

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON THREE OCCASSIONS, AND WERE REPLACED BY DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ID

562186

Incident

Jan 31, 1998

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON THREE OCCASSIONS, AND WERE REPLACED BY DEALER.*JB

NHTSA ID

561688

Incident

Jan 31, 1998

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. POSSIBLE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE BRAKES OR ENGINE LEAK MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE.

NHTSA ID

9002428

Incident

Jan 31, 2001

HEAD GASKET - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO (2) HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LEAKS IN THREE YEARS. FIRST ONE COST A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 AND THE SECOND ONE WILL COST ME $250, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT DODGE HAS ISSUED TECH BULLETINS TO ADDRESS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS. DODGE DID THE GOOD WILL BIT IN BOTH CASES BY SUPPOSEDLY SPLITTING THE COST 50/50. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT CONSUMERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH HEFTY FEES FOR INFERIOR/FAULTY DESIGNS. BRAKES - APPARENTLY THE DESIGN OF THE CALIPERS INCLUDES A CYLINDER MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF NORMAL BRAKING OPERATIONS AND WILL NOT CONTRACT PROPERLY WHEN COOLED DOWN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CALIPER STICKS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHICH CASUSES THE DISC PAD TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR, THUS WEARING DOWN THE PAD PREMATURELY AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS. THIS COST ME $559 THE FIRST TIME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE SIMPLY BEEN CHANGING THE PADS EARLIER THAN NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE IT COULD (OR HAS TO OTHERS?) CAUSE AN ACCIDENT/FATALITY ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. *AK

NHTSA ID

742634

Incident

Nov 24, 1998

TURN LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND CAUSED CONTROL PANEL TO BE INOPERABLE, SIGNAL LIGHTS INOPERABLE, AND HVAC INOPERABLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

785278

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

TRUNK LEAKS. *MJS

NHTSA ID

785095

Incident

May 31, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BRAKE FAILURES, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555483

Incident

Jul 10, 1998

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS BROKEN. PART OF THE SEAT WHERE CONSUMER'S HIP GOES UP A METAL PIECE STICKS OUT. CONSUMER FEELS FRAME MAY BREAK COMPLETELY, AND FAMILY MAY BE INJURED. *AK LEFT FRONT SEAT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS. LEFT DOOR HINGE BROKE TOO. FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND ROTORS FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID

868231

Incident

Apr 30, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR MOMENTARILY, AND RETURN AFTER PUMPING THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

866263

Incident

Apr 8, 1998

WHEN I USED THE BACK BUTTON TO CORRECT AN ITEM, THE ORIGINAL COMMENTS WERE WIPED OUT. YOU HAVE TO FIX THAT. WE HAVE HAD FOUR BRAKE FAILURES ON OUR DODGE. EACH HAS BEEN EXACTLY THE SAME. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS WHEN THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON IT. BOSCO DODGE INSPECTED THEY BRAKES THEN AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. THEY DID REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER WITH A FACTORY REPLACEMENT. THIS SPRING, THEY FAILED AGAIN IN THE SAME MANNER. AGAIN, THE DODGE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HE DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME. TODAY THE BRAKES FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. HOW DO THEY FAIL? EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS MOVED THAT DAY. THREE TIMES THE BRAKES FAILED LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM THE DRIVEWAY. MY WIFE WAS STOPPING THE CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. THE FOURTH TIME WAS THREE BLOCKS AWAY. IN EACH INSTANCE THE CAR LOST ALL BRAKING POWER TO ALL WHEELS AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BAKES AND CAR OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER EACH INSTANCE. IN MY MIND, IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ANTI-LOCKS HUNG UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

725822

BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

861039

Incident

Feb 27, 2000

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. I HAVE BRAKE LINE TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG CRYL/DODGE SAID BECAUSE I HAD CAR TOWED TO MY REPAIR PLACE THERE WAS NOTHING THAY COULD OR WOULD DO FOR ME.AND THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I HAVE MY 5 SPEED TRANS. REBUILT AND HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING IN THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

721709

Incident

Apr 17, 2000

ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS REALIZED, I HEARD A VERY LOUD WHIRRING SOUND. I HAD TAKEN IT TO FEENEY DODGE IN PALATINE TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES DONE. THEY DID THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT NOTICE THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR IN MT. PROSPECT FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY NOTICED IT RIGHT AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD AN AMOCO STATION I KNOW WELL DO THE REPAIR. WHY DID A CAR THAT IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD NEED A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED? I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY WASN'T THIS UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY? I CONTACTED FEENEY AND ANOTHER DEALER IN THE AREA AND GOT TOLD THAT NO, THAT IS NOT UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY CHRYSLER NOT ME. THE PART HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

711284

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

DURING DRIVING ON SNOW THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED A FEEDBACK TO THE SYSTEM THAT RESULTED IN LOCKING UP,AND A PEDAL THAT REBOUNDED OUT WHEN BRAKING ON SNOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

718601

Incident

Feb 3, 2000

THIS VEHICLE RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING FROM THE SPEED OF 70 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

854891

BRAKES MAKE NOISE BECAUSE OF PAD FAILURE .YH

NHTSA ID

784389

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND SPONGY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. AFTER THIS HAPPENS I TRY TO DUPLICATE THE DEFECT BUT IT WON,T HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

715544

Incident

Nov 27, 1999

UPON BEING STRUCK IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, NEAR THE BATTERY, MY CAR BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 200 FEET DESIPITE VARIOUS METHODS OF APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I THEN DEPLOYED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THE POWER CUT OFF AND THE FINALLY DIED.

NHTSA ID

714470

Incident

Aug 4, 1999