1997 Dodge Stratus 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

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

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.

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

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

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

HAVE CONTACTED DODGE/DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 DODGE STRATUS GOING OUT. HESITATION ON SHIFTING INTO GEAR, SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND BACK IN ON TURNS, TRANS LEAKS, SLIPPING INTO GEAR SUDDENLY AND JERKING THE CAR, AND SO ON. CAR HAS ONLY 66,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I GOT IT IN 2001 WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY. IT HAD ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT THEN. A TRANS SHOULDN'T BE GOING OUT AT 50-60,000 MILES. IF DODGE HAS A BAD PRODUCT THEY SHOULD CORRECT IT THEMSELVES. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR A PROBLEM DODGE ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT AND ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT. I NEVER HAUL OR PULL ANYTHING AND I ONLY PUT 13,000 MILES ON IT IN FIVE YEARS. NOT HEAVY DRIVING. I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL AND DODGE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING OR PAY FOR REPAIR- JUST SAYING "IT'S PAST WARRANTY". I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR BUT I SHOULD HAVE A VEHICLE COMPANY THAT IS PROUD OF IT'S PRODUCT ENOUGH TO STAND BEHIND IT. I ONLY GET $867 A MONTH RETIREMENT AND I'M 60 YEARS OF AGE. DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE MADE REPAIRS WHEN I FIRST CONTACTED THEM A YEAR AGO. THIS IS A DAILY PROBLEM AND GETTING WORSE. HUNDREDS OF FAILURES. I HAVE TO USE THE CAR FOR PET CARE SO JUST CONTINUE TO PUTT ALONG UNTIL IT (THE TRANS) GOES OUT COMPLETELY. *NM

AUTO TRANSMISSION. 1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.5L WITH AUTO STICK. TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE AND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT ABOVE SECOND GEAR, AND GEAR SLIPS. *NM

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

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

NOTICE A SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING OPEN THE HOOD FIRE PUT THE FIRE OUT NOTICE POWER HOSE HAD LEAK IN IT I FEEL DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE HAD A LEAK DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

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

EITHER THE OIL LIGHT OR CRUISE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND CAR LOSES ALL POWER. I HAVE TO PULL OFF ROAD AND PUT CAR IN PARK TURN IT OFF AND SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST START RIGHT BACK AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINS FOR IT TO START BACK. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE MARCH OF 2013 AND IT HAS DONE THIS 10-12 TIMES SINCE THEN. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED A FEW TIMES CAUSE WITH NO POWER IT IS HARD TO GET CAR OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM YET. *TR

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING LEFT CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO DO THE REPAIRS AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE TIRES MAKE A NOISE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE WAS LOOSE AND WOULD NOT KEEP FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 168,000.

LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING. WHILE ON HILLS IT HAS NO POWER ON ME SHUTS OFF ON ME EVERY WEEK. SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR FIXING THAT DODGE DEALER ISN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES. *TR

THE CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT BEGAN COMING OFF. IT STARTED ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK LID AND HAS NOW BEGUN TO SPREAD TO OTHER PARTS OF CAR. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING THE OIL THE HINGE FOR THE HOOD SEEMED LOOSE. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL # 97V095000 REGARDING THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. HE ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PARTS AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS AND NOTICED THAT EVERY VEHICLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD THE SAME FAILED COMPONENT. AS OF AUGUST 28, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WHICH WAS RARELY USED, HAD DETACHED FROM SEAT. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT IT LOOKED AS IF IT WERE CUT. NLM SCC

DT: DODGE STRATUS 1997. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER PARK INTERLOCK. CONSUMER SAID THAT IT BROKE, CAUSING THE AXLE TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN TURN THE CAR ON CONSUMER COULD SHIFT THE SHIFTER INTO GEAR WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON ON SHIFTER OR PRESSING THE BRAKES. BEFORE HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH BUTTON TO GO INTO GEAR. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON. SOMETIMES WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL CONSUMER MESSED WITH THE SHIFTER. CONSUMER CALLED IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND CONSUMER WENT BACK TO PICK UP VEHICLE AND THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING COLUMN WERE TAKEN APART AND NOT PUT BACK TOGETHER. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS LAYING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THERE WAS NO FAN BELT ON ENGINE. CONSUMER SAID THAT DEALER CHARGED HER $87.00. *AK

VEHICLE FIRE

ON RETURNING FROM A CAMPING TRIP I WAS LOADING THE TRUNK WITH CAMPING GEAR. A COAT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TRUNK LIGHT BULB. I SMELLED SMOKE AND DISCOVERED THE SMOLDERING COAT, LUCKILY BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRUNK BULB IS EXTREMELY HOT AND NOT COVERED WITH NO WARNINGS POSTED. NLM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN APPROXIMATELY 4 HRS, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. APPARENTLY STARTED ON DRIVERS SIDE DASH AND SPREAD TO THE DRIVERS DOOR.*AK

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

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BLOWN OUT ON 5 OCCASIONS. DEALER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK

I NOTICED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR ON JULY 4TH WHICH WAS A REALLY HOT DAY I CONTACTED QUICK LUBE ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS MY COMPRESSOR THEY SAID THAT IT WAS WAY PREMATURE TO LOSE A COMPRESSOR AT 47,000 MILES AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID THEY PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME THAT THAT WAS JUST THE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLES AND $ 800.00 LATER I WAS A VERY DISGRUNTELED VEHICLE OWNER I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE SPEND GOOD MONEY ON A CAR AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE REPAID FOR GOOD MAINTINENCE ON OUR CAR . I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN !!!! S. *AK

THE CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED CAUSING FIRE. *ET

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

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

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

WHEN REPLACING THE BATTERY THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE TIRE AS IT IS AN ANTI-THEFT. THE PROBLEM IS THE LUGS: NUTS BREAK OFF VERY EASILY. HAS THERE BEEN ANY SIMILAR COMPLIANTS? I'M FACING A LARGE BILL AND DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS.

TIRE HAD A BULGE AT THE BEAD LINE. HAD A SLOW LEAK AND WAS OUT OF BALANCE. I RETURNED THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE. THEY SHOWED ME THAT THE TIRE WAS MISSING RUBBER AT ALONG THE TIRE BEAD AND WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. *KB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK