2000 Dodge Stratus Brakes Problems

IN FIVE YEARS I HAVE PUT ON THREE SETS OF BRAKE PADS AND THREE SETS OF ROTORS AND CALIPERS,I HAVE USED DEALER PARTS AND AUTO STORE PARTS AND I STILL ONLY HAVE MINIMAL BRAKES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205199

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

AFTER AN ABRUPT STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING ABILITY WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED. I WENT HOME IMMEDIATELY FEARING FOR MY SAFETY. AFTER AN INSPECTION UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN MY DRIVEWAY. LOOKING MORE CLOSELY I FOUND THE LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD WORN A SPOT ON THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS COMBINED WITH CORROSION HAD CAUSED THE LINE TO RUPTURE. IT LOOKS AS IF THE FACTORY WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS A SOFT 3" PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER TUBING OVER THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WHERE IT CONTACTED THE HYDRAULIC LINE. THIS FOAM RUBBER MAY HAVE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION BY TRAPPING WATER BETWEEN IT AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. JUDGING BY THE AMOUNT OF RUST STUCK TO THE FOAM RUBBER I WOULD SAY THIS IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT. CHRYSLER DEALERS AND THE MAIN OFFICE OFFERED NO RECOURSE. AFTER EXPERIENCING ALL THIS AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS FROM A VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, I CAN SAY THAT I WILL NEVER PAY FOR ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE GIVES ME ONE, I MAY CONSIDER THE OFFER. P.S. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: OIL PRESSURE SENDING SENSOR, TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSORS, FRONT WHEEL BEARING, RADIATOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, AN UNRESOLVED PULLING TO THE RIGHT NOT RESOLVED AFTER NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ETC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197680

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

Mileage

127,000 mi

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO LET OFF OF MY BRAKE PEDAL AND I FELT AND HEARD A POP. I DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER AND AGAIN STOPPED AND WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE I HEARD AND FELT A GRIND AND A LOUDER POP THAT SHOOK THE CAR. IT DID THIS ONE MORE TIME BEFORE I GOT TO WERE I HAD TO GO, AND WHEN I STOPPED MY DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS SMOKING AND HAD AN AWFUL SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. THANK GOOD I HAD SOMEONE CLOSE TO AREA TO STOP AND COME HELP. I HAD NO BRAKE ON THAT REAR TIRE, IT WAS METAL TO METAL, THE CYLINDER WAS SO HOT THERE WERE NO RUBBER BOOT LEFT ON IT AND THE HUB HAD SEIZED. I HAD NO INDICATION OF ANY OF THIS, NO SQUEALING OR ANYTHING IT WAS PRETTY SUDDEN. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS STICKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPRING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS FLAT. ALL THE OTHER BRAKES WERE FINE STILL LOOKED NEW. I'M NOT SURE WHAT DAMAGE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED BUT I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THIS CAR ALL THE TIME. I WAS ALSO TOLD BUY THE SELLING DEALER THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AFTER THIS PROBLEM I HAD SOMEONE LOOKED OVER MY WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETECT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM THERE IS A SPOT FOR A FUSE BUT NO FUSE WAS THERE. I WILL NEVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186819

Incident

Mar 22, 2007

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE OCT. OF 2000 AND ABOUT FOUR MONTHS LATER, I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT THAT WAS THE OTHER VEHICLE'S FAULT. EVER SINCE THEN MY BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 4-5 TIMES FOR VEHICLE FAILURE TO NOT STOP IN ENOUGH TIME AND PULSATING. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY CLAIMED THE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING EVEN WITH A TEST DRIVE. THE THIRD TIME THEY CLAIMED MY BRAKES WERE BAD AND REPLACED THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ROTORS. AFTER THAT THE PULSATING WAS NOT AS NOTICEABLE FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK THEM ONE OR TWO MORE TIMES AND AGAIN THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I HAD A SMALL FENDER BENDER DUE TO BRAKES NOT STOPPING MY VEHICLE PROPERLY. I HAVE TO HAVE MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES CHANGED TWICE A YEAR, THE FRONT BRAKES GO LIKE THEY ARE MADE OF PAPER, THE REAR BRAKES WEAR ON ONE SIDE MORE THAN THE OTHER. MY OUTER TIE ROD HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE THEY WERE BROKEN, THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. FOR THE PAST TWO WINTERS WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT SCREECHES SO LOUD AND POPS I THINK MY TIRES ARE GOING FALL OFF. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND FIND THIS VERY UNSAFE. WHEN I HAVE TO COME TO A STOP I HAVE TO ALMOST STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE SURE I STOP IN TIME. IT IS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS BUT 90-95% OF THE TIME IT IS AND I KNOW THAT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179208

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

Mileage

20,000 mi

OK MY CAR MAKES A HUMMING NOISE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD. ITS A LOUD HUMMING SOUNDS. I THOUGHT IT JUST MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG (EVERYDAY THING) BUT WHEN I GOT ANOTHER CAR THAT DID THE SAME THING IT MADE ME WONDER. . .SOMETHING MUST BE DEFECTED. MY LAST CAR WAS TOTALED. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. . AND I SOMETIMES THINK THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A DEFECT. IT SEEMED LIKE FOR EVER FOR MY CAR TO STOP AT LOW SPEED EVEN. AND THE HUMMING NOISE BOTHERS ME, ITS SCARY. I THINK ITS DANGEROUS AND IT MUST BE ON MORE CARS IF THIS IS MY 2ND CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. 2000 DODGE STRATUS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW. . . PS. . .I RECENTLY GOT THIS CAR (AFTER I FOUND OUT MY OTHER ONE GOT TOTALED) AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PAST RECALLS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! -ROBERT MCFADDEN PS. . .PLEASE LET ME KNOW SOMETHING!. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145256

Incident

Dec 15, 2005

I HAVE MY AUTOMOBILE ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, EVERY 6-8 MONTHS, (OIL, TUNE UP,...)OIL SLUDGE BAKING IN ENGINE BLOCK-CYLINDER AT 50,000 AND AGAIN 114000. CORROSION BUILD UP & GUNK IN CYLINDER BLOCK, COILS & SPARK PLUG CORROSION CAUSING BAD-STRONG ORDER IN AUTOMOBILE AND SPUTTERING, POOR EMISSION. TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM TIME TO TIME AT 25,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 114000, WITH LEAKS WHICH WE CAN SMELL VERY STRONG IN AUTOMOBILE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE LOCKAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN NORMAL-AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 MILES. CONSTANTLY HAVING TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPAIR ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIFE WARRANTY ON BREAKS. REPAIRER STATES ITS THE AUTOMOBILE. SAFETY BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH PROPERLY AND HAS UNLATCHED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE IM DRIVING WITH MY SON, (6 YRS OLD). DRIVERS BELT ALSO UNLATCHES FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THE CAR TENS TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE HAD THIS AUTO ALIGNED AS WELL AS, ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, BALANCING, ECT,...YET IT STILL DOES THIS TO DATE. BALL JOINTS, STRUTS WEARING OUT AT 25,000. I AM TIRED OF INVESTING SO MUCH IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. MORE THAN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE TO. I ALSO FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILE. SHOULD MY AUTOMOBILE CAUSE ANY SUDDEN FIRE DUE TO GUNK IN A HOT RUNNING ENGINE & TRANSMISSION, I WILL FILE A LAW SUIT. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPAIR MY AUTO AND REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL I HAVE PAID SIMPLY SO THAT MY SON AND I CAN FEEL & BE SAFE DRIVING IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107909

Incident

Jan 25, 2005

Mileage

50 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKE PADS WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY. DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS TWICE. ALSO, TIE RODS WERE REPLACED TWICE . HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS RECURRED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067042

Incident

Aug 21, 2000

Mileage

9,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS. *AK *SC THE TIE RODS FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10061520

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

I HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED AT 23000 MILES AND EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE. THEY ARE ONLY WEARING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THE WORST BUT WEAR ON BOTH SIDES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE METALLIC. THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY NOISY WITH SQUEALING AND GRINDING SOUNDS. I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED AND HAVE SPEND OVER 3000 DOLLAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. ALSO THE LEFT CHILD LOCK IS NOT WORKING AND THEREFORE CAUSES THE DOOR TO ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE HANDLE WHEN PULLED FROM THE INSIDE HAS NO RESISTANCE AND THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS IN TACT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED OR FIXED AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE CHILD LOCK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045756

Incident

Oct 8, 2001

Mileage

23,706 mi

I PURCHASED A 200 DODGE STRATUS ES IN JAN 2001 FROM A TOYOTA OF NEW ORLEANS DEALER. AFTER PURCHASE, I STARTED HAVING RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. BRAKES,HEATING SYSTEM REPLACED,BRAKE DRUMS. AT THIS MOMENT SOMETHING CALLED SWAY LINK BARS HAVE GONE BAD ON THE CAR. I HAD A ACCIDENT IN APRIL 2002 BUT ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER IN GRETNA LOUISIANA THE ACCIDENT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM I'VE HAD OR HAVING WITH THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE CHRYSLER COMPANY OF MY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. IT SHOULD BE. I'M HAVING CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS SWELL. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE BEING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OF A NEW MODEL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043190

Incident

Apr 3, 2002

POSSIBLE BRAKE DEFECT IN 2000 DODGE STRATUS. *MR THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM COLD, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED. AFTER EVERY START FROM STOP, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE FRONT WHEEL LININGS AT MEDIUM SPEEDS WHEN APPLIED LIGHT TO MEDIUM. THIS ALSO OCCURRED IN THE REAR BRAKES. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10037826

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ONE OF MY THREE BRAKE LIGHTS IS NOT WORKING. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY REASON AS THE SAME LIGHT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT WORKING WILL WORK WHILE A DIFFERENT ONE WILL BE OUT WITHOUT ANY WORK BEING DONE ON THE CAR TO TRY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SOME TIMES, ONLY ONE LIGHT IS WORKING OR NONE OF THEM ARE WORKING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS FLUID ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE HAD MY PERSONAL MECHANIC TO REFILL THE TRANSMISSION AT LEAST TWICE AFTER LESS THAN 3,000 MILES AND HAD HOSES CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO APPARENT LEAKS. NONE WERE FOUND. THE LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS FILLED WAS AT THE END OF MAY AND IT IS JERKING REALLY HARD AGAIN AFTER IT WAS REFILLED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO. THAT DOES NOT APPEAR NORMAL TO ME.*JB

NHTSA ID

10028581

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME AS IN RECALL NUMBER 00 V 196 000 FOR THE BRAKE HOSE, BUT VEHICLE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. PH

NHTSA ID

10006593

Incident

Feb 5, 2002

EXPERIENCE NUMERIOUS INCIDENTS WITH FRONT DISC BRAKES SQUEALING SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO. NORMALLY OCCURS ON FIRST FEW INSTANCES BRAKES ARE APPLIED AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. HAVE HAD IT INSPECTED BY DEALER AND INDEPENDENCE BRAKE SHOP (MIDAS). BOTH DEALER AND MIDAS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. DEALER SUGGESTED TURNING ROTORS AND REPLACING PADS BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS OVER 5000 MILES. MIDAS INFORMED THAT TURNING ROTORS AND REPLACING PADS COULD CORRECT PROBLEM BUT STATED IT WASN'T NECESSARY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE SITUATION BEING A HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

767532

Incident

Sep 21, 2002

CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVIE WEAR WITHIN A MONTH.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018739

Incident

Aug 16, 2002

FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES, FIRST TIME AT 2000 MILES DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. ROTORS WERE WARPING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008212

Incident

Feb 15, 2000

CONSUMER STATED STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED, AND BRAKES PULSATE WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED, DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS, PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FOR A SHORT TIME AND REOCCURRED. *AK WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND GROWL TAKING A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. *YH

NHTSA ID

8002759

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CONSTANT CRACKING SOUND, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 8 TIMES, STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED, BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS CLICKING NOISE ON ALL TURNS AND GRINDING TYPE NOISE, DEALER FOUND REAR INBOARD BRAKE PAD RATTLING, LUBRICATED SLIDERS AND PUT ANTI SQUEAL ON INBOARD BRAKE PAD BACKING, CONSUMER WAS ALSO HEARING NOISE OVER BUMPS, DEALER FOUND REAR SWAY BAR MISALIGNED. *YD

NHTSA ID

8002143

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

AFTER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT HEAD ON THERE WAS NOT MUCH DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, SOON AFTER CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATED ABS FAILED.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8001179

Incident

Dec 25, 2001

I HAD TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT THE ADDITIONAL INSURANCE AND THE DEALERS AND NO ONE EVER RESPONDED TO ME.. I REPLACED THE BRAKES ALSO BEFORE I HAD THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

754702

Incident

Aug 25, 2001

BRAKES MAKE A HORRIBLE SOUND EACH TIME APPLIED, SOMETIMES SEEMS I HAVE NO BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT EVERY 3 MONTHS. THEY SAY , THEY LOOK LIKE NEW AND THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE BAD SOUND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T USE ASBESTOS IN BRAKES ANYMORE.*AK

NHTSA ID

751595

Incident

Jan 25, 2000

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 23-1389-946. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900630

Incident

Aug 19, 2001

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, EXTREMELY HARD DOWN SHIFT FROM 3 TO 2, HUNTING FOR GEARS & HARD SHIFTING IN GENERAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES FOR REPAIR ATTEMPT. AT LAST ATTEMP WE WERE TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEMDY AND TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS REPLACED AT 14,000 MILES AND ARE EXPERIENCING INTERMITENT GRINDING AS WELL AS LOUD SQUEALING FROM THE BACK BRAKES DAILY. WE HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING, HARD STARTING IN COLD WEATHER AND A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

750620

Incident

Jul 15, 2001

THIS IS THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL ON THE CAR. IT KEEPS COMING LOOSE. WE NOTICED IT BEFORE THE WHEEL FEEL OFF, AND TIGHTENED IT BACK UP. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!! WHEN THE NUT COMES LOOSE, THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING OFF ON THE TIRE COMING OFF THE CAR AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

748133

Incident

Jun 16, 2001

BRAKES SEEM TO PUMP WHILE BRAKING IN THE SPEED RANGE OF 20MPH AND BELOW. PROBLEM DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN AND DEALERS SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

747916