Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILED. THIS CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN. THE WATER GOT HOT ENOUGH ON A 600 MILES TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO MISSISSIPPI THAT IT BOILED AND CAUSED THE OIL TO TURN INTO SLUDGE (MOLASSES LIKE CONSISTENCY). THIS CAUSED A LACK OF LUBRICATION OF THE DUAL CAMSHAFTS WHICH IN TURN BURNED UP. END RESULT WAS ENGINE FAILURE.
GRANDAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM COLLEGE . VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE ON HIGHWAY BETWEEN MARBLE FALLS TEX AND BURNET TEXAS.. HER MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER CAR AND BARELY HAD TIME TO RESCUE SOME OF THE PERSONAL ITEMS BEFORE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. GRANDDAUGHTER BARELY ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE FIRE ON HER CELL PHONE.. THE FIRE BEGIN EITHER UNDER THE HOOD OR UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.. GRANDAUGHTER AND HER MOM WAS VERY DISTRAUGHT AND TERRIBLY UPSET UNTIL FIRE DEPT FROM BURNET ARRIVED ON THE SCENE . THEY WERE CALLED (911) BY A PASSING MOTORIST. THE BURNED OUT VEHICLE WAS HAULED IN TO BURNET TEXAS BY ADVANTAGE TOWING 512-756-7995. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM DODGE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NOTICED SLIGHT GEAR SLIPPAGE TRAVELLING 35-45MPH. ALL FLUIDS CHECKED, AT PROPER LEVELS. A WEEK LATER, ENGINE 'JERKED' WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE STOP, CHECK ENG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. ONCE ENGINE WARMED UP, STARTED HEARING A 'WHIRRING' NOISE FROM LOWER-MIDDLE AREA OF ENGINE. STOPPED @ LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THEY CHECKED FLUIDS AND VAC HOSES, NOISE STOPPED, BUT NOTICED COOLANT IN RESERVOIR SIDE 3/4 FULL & BOILING, TEMP GAUGE ON DASH 'NORMAL'. NEXT DAY, WHILE COLD, I CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL IN RESERVOIR (LEFT SIDE) STILL FULL, (HADN'T FLOWED BACK THRU SYSTEM ONCE COOL). I ADDED WATER TO 'FILL LINE', CHECKED CONDITION OF PRESSURE CAP (LOOKED FINE), PLACED & TIGHTENED, STARTED ENGINE, LET RUN A FEW MINUTES, LOOSENED 'AIR BLEEDER' ON TOP OF COOLANT BLEEDER HSNG. THEN I SLOWLY SHIFTED THRU ALL GEARS, W/FOOT ON BRAKE, LET AIR BLEED TIL SOLID STREAM OF LIQUID AND SHUT CAR OFF. WAITED AN HOUR, STARTED UP AND DROVE. CK ENG LT= OFF. FINE FOR A FEW DAYS, SAME ISSUES STARTED UP AGAIN. LOUDER 'WHIRRING', LIKE A BELT OR BAND SLIPPED. IRRATIC SHIFTING, TRANS NEVER FAILED. RAN BOTH CODE TESTS ON DASHCLUSTER=NO DTCS. JAN 2014-DROVE TO DODGE DEALERSHIP: DISPOSITION: REPLACE MOPAR 41TE TRANS. MY LOST WAGES / LOSS OF VEH USE(DEC/JAN) + BURDEN OF A LOAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION = MORE THAN I PAID IN FULL TO BUY THE CAR BARELY 6 MONTHS AGO. UNFAIR TO CUSTOMERS: ONGOING COMPUTER AND PCM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE SINCE 1999. THE 'OOPS' TECH SPEC-CORRECT TRANS FLUID ATF+4 HOW MANY DAMAGED & FAILED TRANSMISSIONS? REFUSED TO HONOR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY!! AND CONTINUED PLACING. SHAME ON ALL OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES & ENGINEERS THAT GOT RICH FROM ROBBING THE CONSUMERS. YOU WERE 'SUCCESSFUL FAILURES' MOPAR, CHRYSLER-DODGE-DAIMER-IACOCCA, ETC. 90+ TSBS, NO RECALLS. CLASS ACTIONS DISMISSED! TIME FOR THE CONSUMERS TO PREVAIL. TIME FOR A CALIFORNIA CLASS ACTION!! *TR
I HAVE READ ABOUT THE KNOWN DODGE 2.7 ENGINE FREEZE ISSUE AND IT HAPPENED TO ME. PLEASE DO SOMETHING *TR
ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE. I HAD 2 NEIGHBORS PUSH THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE. HE TOOK OUT THE PARTS TRYING TO REBUILD THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THERE WAS SLUDGE THROUGHOUT THE PARTS. HE THEN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO TRY AND CLEAN IT OUT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW FAR INTO THE ENGINE IT HAD GONE. I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE AN WHOLE NEW ENGINE. HE LOOKED FOR ENGINES BUT COULD ONLY FIND THOSE WITH HIGH MILEAGE. HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WOULD STAND-UP FOR LONG OR EVENTUALLY CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN. THE CAR IS STILL WAITING FOR AN ENGINE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION TO AFFORD IT. I RECENTLY STARTED TO LOOK AGAIN TO GET AN IDEA OF WHEN I MAY BE ABLE TO WORK ON THIS AGAIN. I REMEMBER HEARING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STRATUS' BUT WHEN I CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS FOR INFORMATION, THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL FEELING. THE CONTACT INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE BRACKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING BENT VALVES AND THE NEED TO REWORK THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE. IN DOING RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 2.7L V6 AND THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE LIKELY CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
DODGE STRATUS 2.7 LITER TRANS REPLACED ON 5-1-06 OIL SLUDGE ENGINE FAILURE ON 1-2-10. *TR
I OWN A DODGE STRATUS (2002) THAT HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT THINKING IT WAS A HEAD GASKET AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE GASKET WOULD BE LIKE A BAND AID ON THE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CHRYSLER 2.7L ENGINE IS HAVING "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS. I CANNOT JUNK THIS VEHICLE AS I STILL OWE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND STILL HAVE TO PAY MY MONTHLY BILL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE DIES. I COASTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. ALL IT WOULD DO IS CLICK. A CALL TO AAA AND THE CAR WAS TOED TO THE DEALER. I CALL FROM THE DEALER LATER IN THE DAY REVEALED A SEIZED ENGINE. MY HUSBAND CONFRONTED THE DEALER AND ASKED TO HAVE THE ENGINE OPENED UP FOR INSPECTION. SURE ENOUGH LARGE DEPOSITS OF OIL SLUDGE. I ASKED THE DEAL WHERE WE GO FROM HERE AND HE SAID A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS $4900.00 AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES I MUST KNOW REPLACE THE ENGINE. HOW CAN CHRYSLER NOT BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THE ATTENTION IT IS GETTING. *TR
2002 DODGE STRATUS OIL SLUDGE ISSUES - MOTOR BLOWN - *TR
ON 9/3/08 I HAD BROUGHT MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS 2.7L V6 IN FOR A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH. I WAS CHARGED $129.95. SOON AFTER, I SMELLED BURNING COOLANT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD SAID IT WAS JUST EXCESS BURNING OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER ON 9/23/08, I WAS ON RT 1 TO OUT TO MY SISTER-IN-LAWS IN LANCASTER, PA, WHEN MY CAR OVERHEATED AND HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN ON AN OFF RAMP. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND ALL THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MILLER DODGE, AND THEY HAD INFORMED ME MY WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN. IT COST ME $628.63. I HAD ARGUED WITH THE DODGE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY JUST DID MAINTENANCE INVOLVING THE WATER PUMP, AND NOW IT IS DEAD. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT IT. I FOUND A BULLETIN ON MYCARSTATS.COM REGARDING MY ENGINE THAT THE WATER PUMP APPEARS TO FAIL AFTER A COOLANT FLUSH IS PERFORMED. THE BULLETIN ID # 0700202, MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20020204, AND THE NHTSA ITEM # 629131. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I AM STILL FIGHTING THAT FIGHT NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER. I FEEL THAT IF THE COOLANT FLUSH DAMAGES THE WATER PUMP, THAT IT IS A DEFECT, AND CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. I DO NOT FEEL I AM GETTING ANY WHERE WITH CHRYSLER, AND NOW I AM REPORTING IT, HOPEFULLY FOR SOME KIND OF SOLUTION. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A ROAD TRIP (ABOUT 2 HOURS) THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND OPENING THE HOOD, THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
NOTICED INCREASED OIL USAGE WITH NO LEAKS ALTHOUGH OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3 MONTHS OR 3000 MILES. AT APPROX. 122000 MILES, ENGINE THREW A ROD. SEVERAL DODGE/CHRYSLER MECHANICS STATED THIS WAS DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" BUILDUP, SAYING THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF OIL USED OR FREQUENCY OF OIL CHANGES. *TR
DURING DAILY DRIVING MY DODGE STRATUS 2.7 MOTOR FAILED. AFTER TAKING TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSE BY ENGINE SLUDGE AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS GOING TO COST ME 4K. *TR
2.7L ENGINE FAILURE. TENSIONER FOR PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN FAILED TO EXTEND. 2 O RINGS MISSING ON TENSIONER . OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE. OIL PASSAGES ALMOST PLUGGED. *TR
OIL SLUDGE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING ON THE CA-110S. *TR
WHILE ON 495 LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY THE CAR MADE A LOAD KNOCKING SOUND AND DIED. WHEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC HE SAID IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED IN NOV. 2007(THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUGUST 2002), AND THERE WERE NO FUNDS TO FIX IT WHICH HAS CAUSED TRANSPORTATION/FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN REGARD TO WORK FROM NOV. 2007 UNTIL THE PRESENT,JUNE 2008. THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER REP. SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BRING THE CAR TO THEM FOR OUR OIL CHANGES. I JUST RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A JASPAR ENGINE FOR 4,500 TO 5,000 DOLLARS. *TR
THE ENGINE STOP WORKING AND I REPLACE THE ENGINE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. ITS THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN PEOPLE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. *TR
OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING UNTOUCHED. *TR
OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING MOST WHEN I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING MAYBE 3 WEEKS AFTER. I KNEW I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I HAD ONE DONE YESTERDAY THAT DIDN'T STOP THE KNOCKING. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER I BROUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE ENGINE SO LAST NIGHT AS IM DRIVING THE KNOCKING GOT REAL LOUD AND YOU COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING MORE. BEFORE I KNEW IT THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. *TR
ALWAYS CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3,00 MILES. AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT KNOCKED FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE WITH THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE WARNED AND ANYONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE AMOUNT TO FIX THE PROBLEM THROUGH DODGE. *TR
MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND OIL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED. *TR
ONE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE STRATUS FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, THE CAR DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS BUT CAR STARTED FOR HIM. 2 DAYS LATER CAR DIED AGAIN SO WE TOWED IT TO A DODGE DEALER. HE HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND INFORMED US THE ENGINE WAS SHOT DUE TO OIL SLUDGE AND A TIMING ISSUE. IT WOULD NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $6100. WE DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 20 MILES, DIDN'T MAKE OUR FIRST PAYMENT ON A 3 YEAR LOAN AND HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE. I STILL HAVE A 10 YEAR OLD DODGE CARAVAN, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE 2.7L ENGINE DODGE KNOWING SOLD TO CONSUMERS. NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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