2000 Dodge Stratus Problems

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

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

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

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

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

HAD DODGE STRATUS 2000 ES FOR TEN YEARS. MILEAGE AT APPROXIMATELY 53,000. THIS YEAR WHEN INTERIOR HOT THE FOLLOWING DO NOT WORK: WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DASH GAUGES, SECURITY SYSTEM, DASH INDICATOR FOR TRANSMISSION GEAR, COOL AIR THROUGH AIR CONDITIONER. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS AND AM UNABLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR CAR IS IN, WHAT SPEED, FUEL LEFT, WIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING ALL WHICH ARE SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN INTERIOR COOL, ALL FUNCTIONS RETURN. WORKED WITH A GOOD MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED FAULTY BODY CONTROL MODULE ALSO CALLED A MULTI FUNCTION MODULE. $750 DOLLARS LATER, CAR OK. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE DRIVER BEGAN TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF ON THE EMERGENCY LANE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE CAN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED BUT THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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

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

2000 DODGE STRATUS, HAD A LEAKAGE IN THE FUEL LINE, IN JUNE 2009 AND HAD IT REPAIRED, THAN TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT, NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, CAR WOULDN'T GO PAST 50MPH WITHOUT JERKING AND STILL WAS A GAS-HOGGER, COST MORE TO FIX THE CAR SO HAD TO HAVE IT SALVAGED COULDN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, AND MY FRIEND ALSO HAD A DODGE STRATUS SAME YEAR AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I DID AND SHE ALSO HAD TO SALVAGED HER CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FLOOR SHIFTER SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO OTHER GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,507.

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.

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.

BLOWER MOTOR FOR HEATER APPEARS TO BE BAD. HEATER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO RUN HOT AT TIMES.*TR

CHRONIC FAILURE IN BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATING/AC. UNIT HAS MODEL SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS A DRIVING HAZARD. BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATS CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS IN THE TRANSISTORS AND/OR THE DIFFUSERS WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE HEATING/AC FAN TO MALFUNCTION WHICH MAKES DRIVING DANGEROUS WHEN DEFROST OR DEFOG IS NEEDED. REPLACED THREE TIMES IN AND OUT OF WARRANTY. JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, AND IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08

THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT AN AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH BE INSTALLED IN HER 2000 DODGE STRATUS. *NM *JB

ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO MY HEATER STOPPED WORKING ONLY FROM LOW TO MEDIUM. IF IT IS PUT ON HIGH IT WORKS NO PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS ON THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING KNOBS HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING AS WELL EXCEPT FOR THE DEFROST LIGHT. THE KNOB FOR THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS ALSO VERY HARD TO TURN. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS ALSO DECIDED TO WORK WHEN IT LIKES. I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE BUTTON BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BUTTON ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW. WHY IS IT WHEN THE CAR IS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THEY GIVE YOU THE RUN AROUND BUT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVER ANY MORE THEY WANT TO CHARGE A LOT OF $ TO FIX IT? *JB

PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS AN RECALL FOR THE CONTROL THAT TURNS ON THE HEAT AND THE AIR? I HAD MINE REPLACED AND THE KNOB THAT TURNS ON KEEPS ON BREAKING, NOW IT ONLY WORKS ON HIGH, I ALSO HAD THE LIGHTS LOOKED AT ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, THE OVER HEAD AND THE DASH BOARD, MILEAGE I CAN'T SEE BECAUSE IT SAID DOOR IS AJAR. ALL THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY AN DODGE DEALER AND CLAIMED TO BE FIXED BY THEM . BUT IT'S NOT,WHEN I PUT A NEW FUSE IN IT WORKS FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES, THEN IT GOES OUT. THERE MUST BE AN SHORT SOME WHERE I DON'T KNOW. CAN'T YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO TO THIS FOR ME. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED. THEREFORE, THE BASE OF THE CHILD SEAT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY ON THE SEAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,800. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT BELT LATCH SNAPPED OFF . WITHOUT THE MECHANISM SECURELY IN PLACE, THE BELT SLIDES AROUND. UPDATED

DT: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR SIDE SEAT BELT ADJUSTORS BROKE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

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

DT: WHERE THE HOOD FASTENED THERE WAS A LEVER IN THE OUTER SKIN OF THE HOOD WHERE IT WAS NOT MOLDED PROPERLY. THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH METAL TO MOLD IT PROPERLY. THE PAINT RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT COULD CAUSE THE LATCH TO COME UNDONE AND THE HOOD FILE UP. NOTICED THIS ON ALL 2000 MODELS, AND ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005. *AK

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

DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND STOPPING AT A LIGHT A LOUD NOISE (CLUNK) WAS HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ELIMINATED. RETURNED TO RESIDENCE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE SPEED SENSORS HAD FAILED. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS BE REPLACED, DROP TRANSMISSION PAN FOR INSPECTION, AND PERFORM TRANSMISSION FLUSH. AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP TO INQUIRE ABOUT POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS NOT PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD A 3YR/36,000 WARRANTY ON THE POWER TRAIN. BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT DUE TO WARRANTY BOOK RECEIVED WITH VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THE POWER TRAIN MODULE IS 7YR/70,000. INVESTIGATING FURTHER. BELIEVE THAT THIS SENSOR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE POWER TRAIN SINCE IT PROVIDES CONTROL TO THAT COMPONENT. *NM

BLOWER MOTOR FOR HEATER APPEARS TO BE BAD. HEATER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO RUN HOT AT TIMES.*TR

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED. HAVE HAD IT FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND GOES BAD AFTER A SHORT PERIOD. *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE THAT COMES FROM ENGINE, THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK

MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS, AND THE FUEL NECK HAS RUSTED. APPARENTLY THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON THIS PRODUCT AND I AM UNABLE TO GET IT UNTIL OCTOBER 30TH. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HE SAID THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WAITING ON THIS SAME PART AND THAT ALL I CAN DO IS WAIT FOR THE PART..MEANWHILE MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS AND UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN...IF A PART IS VIA THE DEALERSHIP ONLY IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INSTANCES JUST LIKE THIS! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET TO WORK? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TAKE MY KIDS TO DAY CARE? I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER BECAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! I GUESS IF THE CAR BLEW UP BECAUSE OF THE GAS LEAK IT'D BE MORE OF A CONCERN! *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. FIRST IN 3/13/2003 THEN IN 4/2004 BOTH TIMES FIRE DEPT WAS DISPATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REPORTED TO CHRYSLER. *JB