1998 Dodge Stratus Owner Complaints

FIRST HORN WAS BLOWING OUT OF CONTROL, THAN THE ENGINE WE GOT IT FIXED, OR SO WE THOUGHT ,THAN GOT THE STARTER FIX DROVE IT 2 WEEKS AND NOW IT TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOTHING SO IT'S SITTING IN MY YARD NOT WORKING AND AM SICK OF IT SO FAR I HAVE PAID OUT OVER A GRAND AND THIS CAR DON'T WORK JUST WHY,OH GOD JUST WHY.I HAVE PAID SOME OF EVERYTHING YOU THINK OF ONE THAT CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWARDS SO MUCH STATE FARM WANTED TO CANCEL MY INSURANCE, OKAY LET'S BEGIN.STARTER REPLACED,EG ROAD VALVE SENSER,VALLEY + PIPE, IGNITION COIL,IGNITION RELAY,TEMPERATURE SENSER,IGNITION WIRE, ROTOR, INJECTOR, BRUSH, BEARING BALL, DECEMBER FRAME NOT TO MENTION THE LABOR MY GOD. AND NOW IT SITS IN MY YARD AM TIRED REALLY.

NHTSA ID

10945788

Incident

Aug 20, 2016

LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE

NHTSA ID

10911036

Incident

Sep 15, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE ABS AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM QUIT WORKING I GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAD BREAKS BY THE TIME I GOT THREE OFF RAMPS LATER TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY I HAD NO BRAKES THEY DIDN'T WORK IN THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR CAUSING AND ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

10861912

Incident

Mar 7, 2016

Mileage

1,000 mi

HAVING ISSUES WITH DASH AND HEADLIGHT DIMMING,ALSO RADIO GOES OFF AND LOOSES MEMORY,DOOR LOCKS WON'T WORK WHEN RADIO GOES OFF. BURNT OUT DEFOGGER RELAY AND POWER AMP FUSE WITH NO POWER AMP, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE HORN RELAY YET TAKING ALL THOSE RELAYS OUT AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. ALREADY CHECKED LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, THAT WAS POPPING AMP FUSE. FIXED THAT STILL HAPPENING. ALSO GOES THROUGH 1 QUART OF OIL A MONTH BUT NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR WHEN MOVED. ?????? HELP!!!!!! THE OIL PROBLEM SHOULD FALL UNDER HAZARDOUS METERIALS ACT IF ALL THESE CARS ARE DUMPING USED OIL ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

NHTSA ID

10787527

Incident

Oct 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENACE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER DETERMINED BOTH TIMES THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 98V183000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID

10759378

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10692440

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V02100 (POWER TRAIN), HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED AT THE TIME AND NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10604274

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

I STARTED THE CAR, PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LARGE POOL OF FLUID ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. MASTER CYLINDER WAS NEAR EMPTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES (6?) WERE LEAKING AT THE ABS PUMP. THIS IS THE CAR MY WIFE DRIVES. MY WIFE! I AM ANAL WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLES CONDITION AND MAINTENANCE. TO HAVE A FAILURE LIKE THIS ON A WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A "QUALITY AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE" IS ABSURD AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! MY BROTHERS 1999 HONDA, MY STEP SON'S 1991 NISSAN STANZA (RECENTLY SOLD) A 1993 GEO PRIZM (I.E. TOYOTA COROLLA!!!) RECENTLY SOLD HAD ZERO RUST ON ANY BRAKE FITTING, BRAKE LINE OR FUEL LINE. I HAD NO BRAKE ISSUES PREVIOUSLY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441989

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT IGNITIED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V001000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) DEALT WITH THE 1999-2002 DODGE STRATUS AND NOT THE 1998 EVEN THOUGHT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED FOR THE SAME REASON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10408692

Incident

May 14, 2011

Mileage

175,000 mi

1998 DODGE STRATUS RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE PULLING INTO A TOLL BOOTH LANE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0765-90. *JB

NHTSA ID

10285371

Incident

Aug 28, 2009

POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE LEAKING ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD FIRE RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280230

Incident

Aug 11, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY NAME IS [XXX] . THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR THE CAR ALLOWANCE REBATE SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT MY CAR IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CLUNKERS FOR CASH PROGRAM. IT IS A CLUNKER, IT IS 11 YEARS OLD. BUT BECAUSE THE MPG IS 22 I WAS TOLD I DON'T QUALIFY. WHY HAVEN'T IT BEEN MADE A LITTLE EASIER FOR THOSE THAT OWN OLD VEHICLES PERIOD? I FEEL THIS ISN'T DONE FAIRLY AND IT COULD BE CHANGED. THIS WILL BE BREAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO UPGRADE TO BETTER CARS. THOSE THAT ARE LOW INCOME WORKERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10278135

Incident

Jul 23, 2009

Mileage

189,432 mi

1998 2.7 V-6 ENGINE IN DODGE STRATUS VEHICLE. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON COST OF REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD BY MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS ENGINE HAS FAILED IN THIS SAME MANNER FOR ALL OF THE VEHICLES. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000-5000 MILES, MORE OFTEN THAT SUGGESTED BY THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES TO CHANGE IT EVERY 7500 MILES OR 6 MONTHS WHICH EVERY COMES FIRST. MOST OF THE REPAIR PLACES THAT I SPOKE TO SAID THAT THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247729

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

135,800 mi

WELL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY OIL PRESSURE SENSOR ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY, IT SEEMS LIKE I REPLACE IT EVER 6 MONTHS OR SO, IT HAS BEEN LEAKING OUT OF THE ELECTRICAL END OF THE SENSOR BUT NEVER LEAKS OUT OF THE THREADED END THAT GOES INTO THE BLOCK, IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BLOW UP MY MOTOR THAT LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT IS JUST BECOMING A HUGE HASSLE THERE HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT IN THE PART, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PARTS STORE I GO TOO THEY ALL END UP LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244020

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

1998 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH POWER STEERING LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230009

Incident

May 29, 2008

THROTTLE CABLE FRAYED AND STUCK IN CABLE HOUSING NOT LETTING THE ENGINE TO IDLE DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218467

Incident

Feb 18, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

CAR WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID SO WE KEPT ON ADDING MORE UNTIL WE COULD SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED(AROUND $350.00, NO SMALL FEE FOR A WORKING FAMILY!)THEN, THE SMOKING GOT WORSE UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE! I COULDN'T PUT IT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT IT OUT AND NOW THE CAR IS TOTALED! CAN WE STILL GET A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10211184

Incident

Dec 3, 2007

Mileage

112,000 mi

1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201487

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. ATTEMPTS TO FIND A REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. ALL SALVAGE YARDS THAT HAD ONE SAYS THAT THEIRS IS ALSO CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198542

Incident

Jul 28, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 189,608.

NHTSA ID

10193629

Incident

Jun 7, 2007

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO HAVE ON RECORD THIS INCIDENT AND SEEKING QUESTIONS ALREADY POSED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER. I INFORMED DAIMLER CHRYSLER BY EMAIL, THAT MY 1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY DAUGHTER. ON MAY 23, 07 ON PEOPLES COURT A 1997 DODGE STRATUS WAS BURNT TO A CRISP BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE. A PORTER HILL @ 248-944-7134, FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONTACTED ME REGARDING THE DATE THAT THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AND THE LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE. THAT THEY WOULD BE COMING TO SEE THE VEHICLE. I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP WITH NO SIGNATURES READING THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCIDENT AND THEY HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THAT FURTHER INQUIRIES BE DIRECTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAD INQUIRED TO KNOW FROM CHRYSLER IF THEY HAD OTHER REPORTED INCIDENTS WITH POWER STEERING HOSES CAUSING FIRES TO THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND WHETHER THIS VEHICLE HAD ANY RECALLS. YET, NO ONE HAS ANSWERED THIS QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192420

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE BROKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR 1997 VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188137

Incident

Apr 15, 2007

THE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER IS VERY CLOUDED FROM A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC THE WRONG TYPE OF PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT THAT DEALS WITH THE ELEMENTS AND THE DOES THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS INTERNS REDUCES THE LIGHTING FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS SO BAD THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT AND IM 23 AND HAVE 20\20 VISION. I CAN DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON AND THE LIGHT IS STILL WEAKER THAN MOST OF THE CARS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER 1998 DODGE STRATUS CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM UNLESS NOT DRIVEN MUCH AND GARAGED. SPEAKING TO A QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AT GRIMM BROTHERS PLASTICS IN WAPELLO IOWA HE TOLD ME THAT THE WRONG PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT. I HAVE RECENTLY ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND NOW DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. AND ITS MY ONLY CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175724

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED, AND FLAMES WERE NOTICED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE HAD OPERATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE TYPE OF FIRE AND EXACT COMPONENT INVOLVED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN, BUT THERE WERE PICTURES AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10175304

Incident

Nov 8, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS ES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL PLACE ITSELF IN NEUTRAL AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE AT A STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE TRANSMISSION WORKING AGAIN IS TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR HAS THE POWER-STICK TRANSMISSION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173434

Incident

Nov 4, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi