1999 Dodge Stratus Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO THE DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10808123

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ALL DAY AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE; WHICH HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD, A LIGHT WHITE SMOKE AS IF SOMETHING WAS DRIPPING AND BURNING OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE I PARKED THE CAR ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATE THE SMOKE BECAME DARK AND BLACK AND FIRE ERUPTED. CAR WAS TOTALED, FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641640

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE PARKED AT A STORE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD CAUGHT FIRE. THE PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 200835803237. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE HER INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND FORWARD THEM THE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10235102

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD , AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAUSED THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION. THIS FAILURE PREVENTED HER FROM DETERMINING HOW FAST SHE WAS DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN HOT. SHE WILL COLLECT THE WORK REPORTS AND RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER REGARDING THE OTHER FAILURES THAT OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 105,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10188916

Incident

Aug 22, 2006

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING INCIDENT, THE AIR AND THE HEAT OPERATES ONLY ON HIGH OR OFF, THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS INCIDENT; HOWEVER, IT RECURRED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AND IS NOW STATING THAT THE INCIDENT MAY BE ENGINE RELATED. THE CONTACT IS SCHEDULING ANOTHER REPAIR FOR THIS FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178868

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT NOTICED GREY SMOKE ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WAS ALERTED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. A REPRESENTATIVE OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON 06/04/06, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK. A LETTER WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER DATED 06/09/06 THAT DECLARED DAIMLER CHRYSLER WOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE INCURRED DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. A CARD WAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER ALERTING THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT RECALL E23 ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. ON 06/19/06, A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HIGH PRESSURE STEERING HOSE FOR THE VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10160345

Incident

May 29, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS OIL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACKED HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10152185

Incident

Mar 8, 2006

Mileage

54,000 mi

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS. PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE THE STORE, AND CAME OUT AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CONTACTED DODGE, THEY SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTOR SAID, THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE EXPLODED AND DO NOT FIX THE VEHICLE, DODGE WILL FIX THIS FOR YOU. REC'D A LETTER FROM DODGE, STATING THEY DENIED MY CLAIM TO FIX VEHICLE, BUT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REASON. THEY ALSO WOULD NOT GIVE ME A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT, THEY INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO GET A SUBPOENA TO GET A COPY OF THE REPORT. CALLED THE INSPECTOR BACK, FOUND THAT REALLY STRANGE THEY ALWAYS GIVE THE REPORTS OUT AND THEY MUST BE HIDING SOMETHING. CALLED DODGE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY WERE RUDE AND HUNG UP ON ME. THEY WOULD NOT TRANSFER ME TO ANY ONE, AND DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, I THANK GOD EVERYDAY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. NOW I HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MYSELF TO GET TO WORK AND MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT WITH 2 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND 1 INFANT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10136386

Incident

Aug 18, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

MULTIPLE FAILURES, CONTINUALLY STEERING PROBLEMS. ENGINE LEAKED OIL, NO A/C OR HEATED, ECT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND HIT THE CURB DUE TO THE LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10101681

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

DROVE 4 TO 5 MILES, THEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TOTALED . THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISHED FIRE. NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL COME OUT TOMORROW FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099169

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THE THERMOSTAT FAILED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10087141

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

78,239 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE GETTING ON AN OFF THE RAMP VEHICLE STALLED PERMANENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR EXAMINATION, AND DEALER FOUND THAT THE PICKUP TUBING IN THE ENGINE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081964

Incident

May 26, 2004

Mileage

65,500 mi

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE STRATUS WITH A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. WHEN I WENT TO DODGE ABOUT IT THEY SAID THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND THAT THE NEW MODEL STRATUS' HAD BEEN FIXED. BUT WITH ALL THAT I HAVE READ IT SEEMS THAT THEY SAY THIS EVERY YEAR AND THESE CARS STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DON'T HAVE $1200.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE AND POOR CRAFTSMAN SHIP. I PUT AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL IN EVERY FOUR DAYS OR SO. WHEN EVER I CALL AND ASK ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO HELP THEIR ANSWER IS, THAT IT IS MY PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. I HAD TO POST-PONE SCHOOL THIS SEMESTER BECAUSE OF THIS CAR. I GO TO SCHOOL AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY AND I CAN'T WORRY WETHER OR NOT IT WILL MAKE IT. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT MY EDUCATION ON HOLD FOR THIS. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND MAKE THE OUTRAGEOUS $320.00 A MONTH PAYMENTS AND INSURE IT. IF THIS CAR BREAKS DOWN I AM OUT OF LUCK. I WOULD HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I WOULD BE STUCK PAYING FOR A CAR THAT DOESN'T GO. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FIRES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I AM AFRAID MY CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068508

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS HAS A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK WITH ONLY 43,000 MILES. IT WILL COST $800 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING EXTENSION RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DODGE STRATUS. NOW I HAVE READ THAT THIS COULD BE FATAL TO DODGE OWNERS DUE TO THE FIRE RISK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DODGE STRATUS AND TO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060757

Incident

Mar 6, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, SECOND 1999 DODGE STRATUS WE HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. WAS THIS NOT RECALLED, I SEE ALOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054525

Incident

Dec 21, 2003

MY SON DROVE HIS 1999 DODGE STRATUS BACK TO HIS COLLEGE DORMITORY WHEN HE SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE JUST BEFORE FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE TOTALED HIS SON'S VEHICLE AS WELL AS DAMAGED AN ADJACENT VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10054520

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

72,980 mi

COMPRESSOR BLEW OUT-CAR SHAKES HARD NOW. SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES DON'T FEEL RIGHT, THEY FEEL WEAK. ROLLING WINDOWS DOWN TAKES AWAY POWER TO THE CAR, OR AC. BRAKES MAKE UNUSUAL NOISES BUT DODGE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM, MY MECHANIC SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED BUT DODGE SAID THE BRAKES ADJUST THEMSELVES

NHTSA ID

10070784

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

50,968 mi

1999 DODGE STRATUS WITH MALFUNCTION/DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047377

Incident

Nov 17, 2003

Mileage

100,450 mi

CAR HAS MASSIVE OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET AT REAR OF DRIVERS SIDE HEAD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I FEAR FOR THE LIVES OF MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. IS THERE A RECALL OR ANY INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER? IF NOT? WHY? *LA

NHTSA ID

10043191

Incident

Oct 6, 2003

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR (DODGE STRATUS 1999) AFTER I PARKED IT AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANYTHING AMISS. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT I AM TOLD THE CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023622

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

TOOK MY '99 STRATUS TO MY MECHANIC FOR AN OIL LEAK. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND THAT IS COMMON IN THAT YEAR. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS CONFIRMING THIS. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY DENY HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND OTHER SITES HE AGAIN DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE THERE IS NO WAY I WILL EVER BUY A CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021297

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY WIFE DROVE ABOUT 25 MINUTES TO A FLEA MARKET. BYSTANDERS THERE TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE STOPPED, THEY TOLD HER THAT HER VEHICLE IS ON FIRE AND TO GET OUT. SHE IMMEDIATELY GOT HER CHILDREN OUT. A MAN THERE POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE THE DAY BEFORE.

NHTSA ID

10019527

Incident

May 8, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

THERE IS AN OIL LEAK (FROM THE HEAD GASKET) ON MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT EVERY DODGE STRATUS THAT HE HAS SEEN WITH AN OIL LEAK HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AND I HAVE HEARD OTHER STRATUS OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010231

Incident

Jan 2, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART.*JB

NHTSA ID

10006982

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE BEFORE TAKING ANOTHER TRIP OUT OF TOWN. THIS WAS JUST 2 MONTHS AFTER HAVING OIL LEAKS REPAIRED AND CLUTCH CABLE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP CHECKED ON CLUTCH CABLE AND ALL WAS FINE, HOWEVER UPON PROCEEDING WITH OIL CHANGE THEY FOUND 2 MORE OIL LEAKS! THESE WERE REPAIRED AND COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRENTY. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS WARRENTY RUNS OUT?

NHTSA ID

10003004

Incident

Aug 10, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi