1997 Dodge Stratus Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. SHE NOTICED OIL LEAKING AFTER THE CRASH. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT A NEW HEAD GASKET WAS NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10210271

Incident

Oct 21, 2007

Mileage

81,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS FOLLOWING AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER AND MULTIPLE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE STALLING PROBLEM. THE REAR FREEZE PLUG WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148362

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

Mileage

106,000 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

WHILE HAVING THE HEATER CORE REPAIRED DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099971

Incident

Oct 14, 2004

Mileage

46,000 mi

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . THE FIRE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WHEEL WELL AREAS. *NM *SC

NHTSA ID

10101429

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FORE INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091747

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

WHITE SMOKE AND WATER COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE. MORE THAN LIKELY BLOWN HEAD GASKET.SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEMS FOR THESE CARS.DODGE SAYS ITS NOT ON RECALL BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE!!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10075176

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

77,747 mi

A VERY SMALL "DRIP...DRIP...DRIP" OF OIL STARTED AROUND 47K MILES. DRIP BECAME A GUSH BY 50K MILES. OIL WAS FLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD GASKET AS FAST AS I COULD PUT IT IN. (YEAH, BIG SURPRISE, HUH?!) THANKS, CHRYSLER, FOR STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND MAKING GOOD ON YOUR SCREW-UPS. TYPICAL AMERICAN BIG BIZ ATTITUDE! YOU CAN BET MY NEXT VEHICLE WILL BE A TOYOTA! OH GEE! I ALMOST FORGOT - YES, I'LL BE SURE TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO "STEER CLEAR OF ANYTHING CHRYSLER". NO PUN INTENDED I ASSURE YOU... ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUR CRAPPY ENGINEERS JUST COST ME $1000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068460

Incident

Apr 6, 2004

Mileage

47,000 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 31,000 MILES ON 1997 DODGE STRATUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067620

Incident

Apr 21, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL INTO ENGINE. ALL NORMAL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN CONDUCTED REGULARLY. AT ONLY 80K MILES, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING!! THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED ONLY MINIMAL ASSISTANCE. THIS NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL! PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH A RESPONSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064239

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

WHILE DRIVING OIL LEAKED FROM THE HEAD GASKET WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH OIL OFTEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10059335

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

Mileage

53,000 mi

1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.4L HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 119000 MILES AND MY REPAIR TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD REALLY NOT OCCUR AT THIS POINT. THE CAR HAS LEAKED OIL SINCE ABOUT 60,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10058457

Incident

Jan 29, 2004

Mileage

119,000 mi

VEHICLE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE SEALS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056135

Mileage

95,000 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROX. 72,000 MILES. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN DODGE STRATUS AND DODGE NEON BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET. I WOULD LIKE DODGE/CHRYSLER TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM, AS I WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE A PROBLEM EXISTS AND HAVE SINCE CHANGE THE STYLE OF GASKET USED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054538

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

72,000 mi

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 NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF OIL, AND WAS LOSING PRESSURE IN THE MOTOR. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED THE MOTOR ONCE ,AND THE HEAD GASKETS ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053659

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.0 SOHC MOTOR, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, BROKEN POWER STEERING PUMP, EGR VALVE STOPPED WORKING, LEAKS ALOT OF OIL OUT OF CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, HEATER CORE RUPTURED, HEATER HOSE RUPTURED ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT STOPPED WORKING . *AK

NHTSA ID

10050905

Incident

Dec 6, 2000

Mileage

50,000 mi

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT AROUND 70,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN AND THERE APPEARS TO BE OIL IN THE COOLANT, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE RESURFACED AGAIN. GIVEN THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LOGGED BY CONSUMERS ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS, THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041449

Incident

Oct 8, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

ENGINE EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032674

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

140,000 mi

OIL LEAKS FROM HEAD GASKET IN 97 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 - SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM! WHEN WILL CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT? PAID $700 FOR REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029304

Incident

Oct 3, 2001

Mileage

70,000 mi

AS MY '97 DODGE STRATUS ES (2.4L) APPROACHES 58,000 MI, IT APPEARS TO BE SELF-DESTRUCTING, OF COURSE THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL (1 QT/WEEK) AT THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET, COOLING SYSTEM IS FOULED (HEATER QUIT, FLUSH+CLEAN DIDN'T SOLVE) , AND I JUST GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY TO WORK! I HAVE BEEN A CHRYSLER CUSTOMER FOR DECADES, BUT HAVING A CAR THAT RUNS FINE FOR 55K AND THEN DIES BY 60K WILL MAKE ME BUY FOREIGN HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE OIL LEAKS WILL IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL? (I HOPE I ADD TO THIS COUNT) MAYBE IF I GET THE NEXT STAGE, AN ENGINE FIRE, AT LEAST THE INSURANCE MIGHT HELP PAY FOR MY TOYOTA...*JB

NHTSA ID

10008411

Incident

Feb 28, 2003

Mileage

56,500 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 58K MILES, CAUSED OIL LEAK,LIKE SO MANY OTHER 1997 DODGE STRATUS WITH FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE, 2.4L.

NHTSA ID

10005484

Incident

Feb 6, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND THE OIL LIGHT CONTINUE TO STAY ON. DEALER STATES THE VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET HAS MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ID

10006279

Incident

Nov 3, 2002

Mileage

141,000 mi

HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK LOWER CONTROL ARMS BALL JOINTS TIE RODS

NHTSA ID

10002763

Incident

Jan 16, 2003

HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 65K MILES. CHRYSLER PAID FOR PART.

NHTSA ID

10000203

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

Mileage

65,000 mi