1997 Dodge Stratus Electrical Problems

TAKATA RECALL, HORN DON`T WORK, MILLAGE DON`T WORK ,GAS LIGHT COMES ON AND NEDDLE MOVES UP AND DOWN ALOT

NHTSA ID

11115723

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

CAR WAS SITTING FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343993

Incident

Jul 18, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi

POWER STEERING HOSES DEVELOPED HOLES THROUGH THE WHOLE HOSE MASSIVE FLUID LOSS NOW POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FROZE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 67 THOUSAND MILES FOR 97 YEAR 95 % OF MILES HIGHWAY ALSO A/C COMPRESSOR AND A/C DASH SWITCH BOTH NON WORKING WITH FULLY CHARGED COMPRESSOR AND ALL RELAYS AND FUSES REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231968

Incident

Jun 19, 2008

Mileage

670,000 mi

I WAS GOING TO MY COUSINS GRADUATION AND HAD ASKED AN OFFICER ABOUT PARKING WHEN HE DIRECTED ME WHERE TO GO WHEN I TURNED I HEARD A POP AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD, AND THE NEXT DAY TOWED TO MY PROPERTY. EVERYTHING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200727

Incident

May 26, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL WIRE ACCORDING TO THE FIRE MARSHAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT BEING DRIVEN. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING BEFORE THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10166171

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

WE HAD FREQUENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE LIBERTY DEALERSHIP IN JOHNSTOWN, OH TO GET THEM FIXED UNTIL WE GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THE CARE WAS VALUED TO GUARANTEE THE FIX. THESE ITEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. ONE DAY AFTER PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AFTER WORK, I SHUT THE CAR OFF, OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, GIVING ME A PRETTY GOOD SHOT IN THE FACE. THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL AND NOT RUNNING. THE KEYS WEREN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. I CALLED CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND FILED AN INCIDENT. THEY ASSIGNED A.L. GILBERT TO WORK ON THE CASE. A INVESTIGATOR WAS DEPLOYED FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY OUT OF DAYTON, OH. HE TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN MT. VERNON, OH AND DETERMINED BY LOOKING AT THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT IT HAD BEEN WRECKED. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WASN'T THE CASE AS THERE WASN'T A DENT OR SCRATCH ON THE CAR AND I WAS SITTING STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY. HOWEVER, CHRYSLER REFUSED TO CHANGE THEIR DETERMINATION. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REQUESTED MULTIPLE TIMES, A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE INVESTIGATOR FROM DAYTON, OH WAS NEVER PROVIDED ME. A.L. GILBERT BLATANTLY CALLED ME DISHONEST BECAUSE HE SAID THE COMPUTER DIDN'T LIE. I CONVINCED HIM TO LET ME TAKE IT TO THE LIBERTY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOK AT THE CAR WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. THE LIBERTY SERVICE MANAGER TOLD A.L. GILBERT THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY ACCIDENT ON THE CAR. A.L. GILBERT SAID THERE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAID SO. THE LIBERT SERVICE MECHANIC SAID, IN FACT THE ONLY SCRATCH I SEE IS ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND LOOKS LIKE HE'S DRIVEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD. GILBERT RESPONDED AND SAID THAT WAS ALL THE EVIDENCE HE NEEDED AND THAT THE DECISION STOOD. I STILL DRIVE THE CAR TODAY BUT WITHOUT AIR BAGS AND WITH A DASH THAT LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145247

Incident

May 18, 2003

Mileage

117,000 mi

DT: CONTACT'S WIFE WENT INTO WALMART AND 15 MINUTES LATER 1997, DODGE, STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, POSSIBLY AROUND THE BATTERY BOX OR THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 5, 2005. THE ONLY PROBLEM THE CONTACT HAD WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO TTHE FIRE WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAMING ON SOMETIMES. THE CAR HAS CRUISE CONTROL, AND ELECTRIC WINDOWS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10132629

Incident

Aug 12, 2005

Mileage

110,000 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. AT 27,000 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND PULLEYS. AT 39,000 THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THEY FOUND THAT ONE COIL WAS SHORTED, THE PCM WAS BAD, THE TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE, THE RELAY, AND THE PLUG WIRE. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE THE TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME, THE HEAD GASKET AND PACKAGE, THE PLUG AND PLUG WIRES, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE ALSO REPLACED. CURRENTLY AT 89,000 THE TIMING BELT AND HEAD GASKET NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE IS OVER HEATING AND WILL NOT START. THIS CAUSED THE HEATER CORE TO GO OUT. THE CLUSTER HAS GONE OUT; THE WHOLE LIGHTING SYSTEM COMES ON AND GOES OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THESE CURRENT PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FOR THE FLOOR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE SO THE CONSUMER CAN NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALLS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10129984

Incident

Dec 24, 1999

Mileage

27,133 mi

STEREO AND MIRROR QUIT WORKING HALF WAY THROUGH A TRIP TO ST. PAUL. CHANGED FUSE, SMOKE CAME POURING OUT OF THE TOP RIGHT OF THE DOOR PANEL. FUSE BLEW. TOOK DOOR APART. SWITCH TO ELECTRICAL SIDE VIEW MIRROR HAD SHORTED. MELTED DOWN INTO HARNESS. BIG FIRE HAZARD BECAUSE DOOR INSULATION IS RIGHT THERE. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

NHTSA ID

10121956

Incident

May 23, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. SHE SAYS THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD HER THAT THE FIRE STARTED BY A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE PANEL. SHE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT ON RECALL. *TT *EH

NHTSA ID

10121043

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

DROVE HOME FROM WORK. PARKED CAR IN PRIVATE LOT. APPROXAMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER. NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS NOTIFIED ME THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING. UPON RESPONDING. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE AND HOOD AREA. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALED. THE POWER STEERING HOSE ( PART # 4764-347A / 0777C/ 25517 DF 3251 3/8" ID # 03067F1) RUPTURED AND LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE MANIFOLD AND IGNITED THE POWER STEERING FLUID STATING THE FIRE. I PERSONALLY NOTED THE SMELL OF POWER STEERING FLUID COMING FROM VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10096362

Incident

Oct 2, 2004

Mileage

122,000 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL LEAKED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092866

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE RUNNING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087791

Incident

Aug 12, 2004

CONSUMER STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 35 MINUTES IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055993

WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED LOSING ALL POWER. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT AND PULLEY. TIMING BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ALSO HAD COMPUTER REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006656

ENGINE STARTED SMELLING LIKE BURNT RUBBER, ALSO STARTED SMOKING, HEARING ELECTRICAL POPPING NOISE AND THEN ENGINE STARTED BURNING WITH THE GLOW OF FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER AND OUT OF THE ENGINE HOOD COMPARTMENT. MY CHILDREN AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR CRYING AND VERY EXCITED, TRUAMATIZED BY THE SOLE FACT OF MAYBE GETTING BURNED UP IN THE CAR OR BLOWN UP. I THEN , WITHOUT HASTE, WENT TO MY APT. AND DIALED THE POLICE AT "911" AND WAS DISPATCHED OVER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER, APPROXIMATELY 10 MINS., THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGHISED THE FIRE AND MADE THEIR REPORT AND SPEAKING WITH ME ABOUT THE TURN OF EVENTS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

746698

Incident

May 21, 2001

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE. NLM

NHTSA ID

785414

Incident

Dec 15, 2000

INS. ADJUSTED UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE OF FIRE WHICH BURNED MY CAR TO THE GROUND. TOTAL LOSS!! TOOK FIRE DEPT 35 MINUTES TO ARRIVE. NOTHING LEFT BUT THE SHELL! CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF! *AK

NHTSA ID

740155

Incident

Dec 15, 2000

CONSUMER'S BROTHER STARTED VEHICLE UP TO DRIVE VEHICLE OVER TO CONSUMER'S HOUSE. IN PROCESS OF DRIVING, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER SMELLED THE SMOKE. BACKSEAT STARTED TO EVAPORATE. EVERYTHING THAT WAS INSIDE OFF VEHICLE WAS DEMOLISHED. *AK THE CLOGGED EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. *YH

NHTSA ID

877695

Incident

Dec 17, 2000

MY HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITH 84,000 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND 2 DODGE DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 6 WEEKS THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AFTER THE HEADGASKET WAS REPLACED. BASICALLY THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TIMING BELT. AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT. PLUS I HAD TO PAY FOR A COMPUTER,WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE MONEY WAS NON REFUNDABLE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DODGE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM SAYING IT WAS ELECTRICAL. I HAD TO PAY OVER 450 DOLLARS FOR THAT. THE TOTAL I PAID WAS OVER 1200 DOLLARS. I THINK ITS PRETTY BAD THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULND NOT EVEN FIX IT! IT SEEMS TO RUN ALL RIGHT NOW. IVE READ HOW A LOT OF THESES DODGE MODELS I.E. 2.4 LITER ENGINES HAVE A MAJOR CORROSION PROBLEM THAT THE DODGE COMPANY FAILS TO TELL ANYBODY ABOUT OR EVEN TRY TO FIX IT. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

722705

Incident

Jan 30, 2000

WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK A FIRE COMMENCED FROM FUEL FILLER NECK. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. CAUSE OF FIRE BELIEVED TO BE STATIC ELECTRICITY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

858543

Incident

Mar 11, 2000

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

WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, APPRX 30 MIN'S WHEN SOMEONE NOTICED THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND A TECH FROM THE PLACE I WAS AT WENT OUT WITH A FIRE EXT. AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN A DOOR PANEL SWITH (PWR DOOR LOCK OR PWR MIRROR SWITCH) CAR WAS TOWED TO SCULLY MOTOR AND I CALLE D CHRYSLER, THEY DID A THOUGH INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THE FAULT TO BE IN THE PWR MIRROR SWITCH. THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AND HAVE ASSUMMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TOTALING MY CAR AND DOING A COMPLETE BUY BACK WHICH IS IN THE PROCESS. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFTY OF OTHERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE GOOD FOTUNE I HAD OF NOT BEING IN THE CAR SINCE IT BURNT UP AT A FAST PACE. HOPE THIS HELPS OTHERS, THANKS KAREN.

NHTSA ID

712759

Incident

Sep 16, 1999

THIS IS THE SECOND MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE

NHTSA ID

711681

Incident

Sep 19, 1999

LOST TURN SIGNAL, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER FUNCTIONALITY SIMULTANEOUSLY. FUNCTIONALITY RETURNED AFTER IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FAILED PART, BUT THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A GLITCH IN THE BODY CONTROLLER. CHRYSLER REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALER SAYING THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS THE PART WERE SHOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO SHARE WHAT SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED BY THE BODY CONTROLLER AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES COULD BE IF IT FAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

707681

Incident

Jun 12, 1999