2000 Dodge Stratus

ODI HAS RECEIVED 29 REPORTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKAGE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES (JA-CARS) EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES.THESE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE RESULTED FROM A POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK OR THAT IT OCCURRED AFTER AN EXTENDED DRIVE AND SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED - CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH IGNITION OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SURFACE DURING THE VEHICLE HOT SOAK PERIOD. ON JANUARY 6, 2006, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON MY 1999 AND 2000 JA-CARS BUILT FROM JULY 1, 1998 TO JULY 31, 2000 AND EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINES (RECALL 06V-001).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT ?THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY PREMATURELY HEAT, AGE AND DEVELOP A LEAK. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.DCC INDICATED THAT IT WAS AWARE OF 94 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THIS CONDITION WHEN IT MADE THE DEFECT DETERMINATION.TO REMEDY THE DEFECT CONDITION, DCC WILL REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH A NEW PART MADE FROM A HOSE MATERIAL WITH INCREASED HEAT RESISTANCE CAPABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

ON JUNE 29, 2005, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE05-036 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2000 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE PASSENGER CARS (JA CARS). THE JA CARS WERE INTRODUCED IN MY 1995 AND ENDED WITH MY 2000.THEY WERE PRODUCED WITH 2.0L, 2.4L AND 2.5L ENGINES.THE INCIDENT DATA IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS RESUME ARE FOR SUBJECT VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES FOR ALL CAUSES. ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, EVIDENCE COLLECTED FROM FIELD INSPECTIONS OF FIRE INCIDENT VEHICLES INDICATE THAT FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE IS USED IN JA CARS WITH BOTH THE 2.4L AND 2.0L ENGINES IN MY 1995 THROUGH 2000.THE FIRE INCIDENT RATE IN THE MY 1999 THROUGH 2000 JA VEHICLES WITH 2.4L ENGINES IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IN THE PRIOR MODEL YEAR VEHICLES USING THAT ENGINE AND IN ANY OF THE VEHICLES WITH THE 2.0L OR 2.5L ENGINES.DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS CONTINUING ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE ISSUE AND HAS PROVIDED PERIODIC UPDATES TO ODI. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-019) HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT AROUND 25MPG, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MADE A POP SOUND AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE SHE SAW THAT THE WHEEL WAS FOLDED UNDER THE CAR. SHE HAD IT TOWED AND WE LEARNED THE TIE-ROD CONTROL ARM FAILED AND BROKE THE SHAFT. THANK GOD SHE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE PAID 1200.00 DOLLARS TO GET HER BACK ON THE ROAD AND 4 MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. NOW I LEARN THAT IT SEEMS THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS! OH, AND THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND WILL COST 500.00 TO FIX.

NHTSA ID

11074959

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLUID COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ID

10895154

Incident

Aug 7, 2016

Mileage

197,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGH SPEED. HAD FUEL FILTER REPLACED BY DODGE DEALER IN MARIETTA, OHIO. DEALER DID NOT CHECK FUEL PUMP WHILE TANK REMOVED FROM AUTOMOBILE. FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSE OF STALLING. INVOICE # DOCS155552

NHTSA ID

10894203

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

Mileage

165,753 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY SNAPPED IN HALF, THE ENTIRE TIRE ALMOST CAME ALL THE WAY OFF.

NHTSA ID

10810584

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

151,000 mi

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING PROBLEM SUBSIDES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000. JFT. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JAN 05, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V001000 COMPONENT(S): STEERING

NHTSA ID

10552895

Incident

Nov 2, 2013

Mileage

229,000 mi

STARTING MARCH I HAD PROBLEMS WITH TURNING THE WHEEL AND I TOOK CAR TO GET OIL AND ASK MECHANIC TO CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID. IM TOLD IT IS FULL AND THAT THEY DO NOT WHY I HAVE TURN THE WHEEL AS IF I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. EACH MONTH I GET SOMEONE CHECK POWER STEERING AND TOLD IT IS FULL. I HAVE TO TURN THEE OPPOSITE WAY WHEN GETTING OUT OF A PARK. SOMETIMES I BACK IN PARK IN ORDER TO GET OUT. THEN I START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAR MAKING NOISE AND CAR SOUND WHEEL GOING TO BREAK. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS..I HAVE NO HORN,INSIDE LIGHTS, AIR AND RADIO DUE TO I TOOK FUSE OUT BECAUSE HORN BLOWING, LIGHTS AND LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515774

Incident

Mar 15, 2013

Mileage

15,400 mi

MY DODGE STRATUS STARTED BLOWING HORN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING. EVERYTIME I TURN THE WHEEL THE HORN BLOWS. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THE LIGHT CAME IN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEN LOCKS START GOING UP AND DOWN AND DOOR MAKE BEEP AS IF A DOOR HIS OPEN. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSES TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING, CUT INSIDE LIGHTS OFF AND STOP LOCKS FROM GOING UP AND DOWN. THE CAR STILL MAKES BEEP NOISE AS IF DOOR OPEN WHOLE TIME DRIVING AND STOPS AND START BACK WHEN I HIT A BUMP. MY FRONT WHEEL MAKING A NOISE AS IF THE WHEEL IS GOING TO BREAK OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS ALSO DRINKING GAS AS IF IT IS LEAKING. I DONT SEE ANY GAS ON THE GROUND BUT I CAN SMELL FUMES OFF AND ONE AND SOMETIMES UNDER THE HOOD. IT IS LIKE I AM LOSING GAS PRESSURE BECAUSE CAR STALLS AND I AM LOSING GAS SOMEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515764

Incident

Apr 19, 2012

Mileage

154,000 mi

DROVE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO STORE. WAS IN PARKING LOT, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. WOMAN IN LOT STOPPED AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPOT TO CENTER OF AISLE. CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. CAUSE OF FIRE NOT YET DETERMINED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512284

Incident

May 15, 2013

Mileage

195,000 mi

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.