2000 Dodge Stratus Suspension Problems

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN OR WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,100.

NHTSA ID

10490760

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

132,000 mi

LOWER BALL JOINT/ CONTROL ARM DEFECTIVE. NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OR UNUSUAL WEAR ON THE VEHICLE TO PRECIPITATE THIS PROBLEM. THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WAS SEEN ON OTHER 2000 DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES WITH APPLICABLE RECALLS. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT BASED ON MY VIN NUMBER THE RECALL DOES NOT YET APPLY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AT STEVE WHITE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN NEWTON, NC. THE PARTS ARE STILL IN PLACE ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396810

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER TIE ROD ON 2000 DODGE KEEPS BREAKING. HAVE REPLACED TIE ROD 4 TIMES, BUT 2 SEPARATE MECHANICS ARE TELLING US THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT TIE RODS WOULD BREAK REPEATEDLY IS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT. TIE ROD HAS SNAPPED NEXT TO BALL JOINT EVERY TIME. IT IS ALREADY CRACKED AND ABOUT TO BREAK AGAIN. IT HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS FOR US AND ONCE BEING STRANDED AT A GAS STATION AN HOUR FROM HOME. THE LAST TIME IT BROKE WAS NOVEMBER 2009. THE BALL JOINT IS THE ORIGINAL THAT CAME ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331614

Incident

Nov 15, 2009

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

HAVE HAD THIS 2000 DODGE STRATUS WHICH DAUGHTER HAS DRIVEN FOR 5 YEARS NOW IT IS ON IT'S FOURTH TRANSMISSION SINCE PURCHASING AND NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS, ALL SOFT PLUGS REPLACED, ORIGINALS WERE MADE FROM POT METAL, REPLACED WITH BRASS. NUMEROUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. BUT JUST LAST MONTH DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A SEVERE SCRAPPING NOISE ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BRAKES WEARING OUT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM RUBBING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. LOWER BALL JOINT HAD GIVEN AWAY AND THE ENTIRE CONTROL ARM WAS NOW RESTING INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. 2000 & 2001 DODGE STRATUS UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167641

Incident

Jul 21, 2006

Mileage

99,582 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON DRY ROADS, THERE WAS A CRACKING NOISE ACCOMPANIED BY A SHUDDER FELT IN THE FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE LEFT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

10166539

Incident

Aug 25, 2006

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

THE CONSUMER NOTICED A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB.......*AK

NHTSA ID

10105460

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

Mileage

96,000 mi

VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS. ALSO, BLOWER MOTOR ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10016432

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

44,000 mi

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