2002 Dodge Stratus Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER TIME WITH THE REMAINING THREE BALL JOINTS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID

10763793

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

186,000 mi

MY CAR HAS A BAD NOISE AND POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. I WAS TURNING OUT OF MY MOMS DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE COLLAPSED IN .. MY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE . AFTER MY CAR WAS JACKED UP MY LOWER A ARM AND BALL JOINT WAS BROKE .. I REPLACED EVERYTHING . A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED . MY CAR STILL MAKES A AWEFUL SOUND LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BRAKE . SHOULD I REPLACE EVERY PART IN THE FRONT . CAUSE IT DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILD .

NHTSA ID

10716802

Incident

May 6, 2015

Mileage

185,750 mi

MY DAUGHTER PULLED OUT OF MCDONALD'S TURNING RIGHT AND THE LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. I HAVE READ ON LINE AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690340

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE CLICKING NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED. THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,300.

NHTSA ID

10620659

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

191,300 mi

I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED THE WHEEL JUST A LITTLE, I HEAR A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON STATING "AIR BAG". I HAVE ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS I HAD TO REPLACE MYSELF AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. NOW I HAVE A FAULTY AIR BAG THAT IS MAKING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL. I ALSO FOUND OUT I HAVE NO HORN. IT DOES NOT WORK SINCE THE AIR BAG IS FAULTY. I AM NOT PROTECTED WITH AN AIR BAG AND CAN NOT DEFEND MYSELF WITH MY CAR HORN...I NEED HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10522418

Incident

Jun 16, 2013

Mileage

64,800 mi

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A TERRIBLE NOISE EVERYTIME I TURN MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS. OFTEN TIMES I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED AND I FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE TO HAVE MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS ITEM WAS RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457242

Incident

May 3, 2012

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A SLIGHT INDENTATION IN THE ROAD WHERE IT HAVE BEEN NEWLY PAVED. I HEARD A LOUD "THUD" IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND UNCOVERED THE WHEEL WELL AND SAW A HOLE WHERE THE STRUT MOUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR HOME AND CALL A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHILE TAKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE MADE THE SAME LOUD "THUD". WITHIN A FEW MILES MY CAR STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER. WHILE GOING AROUND A SMALL CURVE MY SHOCK CAME OUT AND TORE OPEN MY NEW TIRE. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO GET IT FIXED. WHAT WE FOUND WAS A CORRODED PIECE OF METAL, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT WAS MY "STRUT MOUNTS". I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT WITH MY STRUTS BEING ALMOST NONEXISTENT, AND THE TIRE BLOWING OUT THAT THE ACTUAL FRAME OF MY CAR COULD VERY WELL BE MESSED UP TOO. THE CAR IS STILL BEING FIXED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART THAT WAS NEEDED WAS DISCONTINUED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. (I DID KEEP THE CORRODED PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS ONCE MY STRUT MOUNT.) *TR

NHTSA ID

10369843

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

2002 DODGE STRATUS REAR STRUT MOUNTING PLATES. TURNING TO POWDER SEEMED TO BE MADE OF PRE-CAST ALUMINUM, UNPAINTED. HEARD CLANKING SOUND THOUGHT THE SPARE WAS LOOSE AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE DISINTEGRATING THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE A RECALL . *TR

NHTSA ID

10330609

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 4-30-2010 IN MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS ES SEDAN. I HEARD A STRANGE METALLIC CLUNK FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. ONCE I GOT TO WORK I CHECKED AROUND THE REAR WHEELS AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER/REAR SPRING MOUNT PLATE WAS TOTALLY CORRODED AND A CHUNK WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING TO SLIP (NOISE I HEARD). THE OTHER PASS/REAR SIDE IS JUST AS BAD. THE ALUMINUM MOUNTS ARE TOTALLY CORRODED AND FLAKING APART. I LIVE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS SO CORROSION IS A USUAL THING, BUT FOR PARTS TO JUST FLAKE AWAY IN CHUNKS? THIS SEEMS OVERTLY DANGEROUS AND AN ENGINEERING OVERSIGHT. I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED RIGHT AWAY OR WHO KNOWS HOW THE SPRINGS WILL FAIL AND CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328409

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

110,950 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FALLEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BE PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10323445

Incident

Mar 31, 2010

Mileage

77,000 mi

LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL

NHTSA ID

10307513

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

137,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THERE IS CONSTANT KNOCKING UNDER MY CAR. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL OF THE RECALLS THAT ARE WITH THE DODGE PRODUCTS; HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE DODGE STRATUS 2002. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250610

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

REAR FRAME TO SUSPENSION MOUNT HAS BROKE. THE SHOCK INSIDE THE COIL THEN WAS ABLE TO GET LODGED INTO THE SPRING. THIS MADE THE SUSPENSION STUCK/IMMOBILE. THE VEHICLE WAS 3-WHEELING AROUND CORNERS ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD THE PART WAS BACK-ORDERED TO THE FACTORY AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT ANY OTHER DEALERSHIP ACROSS THE US. WAIT TIME FOR THE NEW PART IS MORE THAN A MONTH. I WORK FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIER. IF ITS THIS HARD TO GET A PART, SOMETHING MORE IS WRONG. HOW MANY OTHERS ARE SUFFERING OUR FATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235771

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

72,000 mi

TOOK MY DODGE STRATUS 2002 IN AND MECHANIC DEEMED REAR STRUTS BAD. ORDERED REPLACEMENTS. WHEN ARRIVED THEY HAD SENT REAR UPPER STRUT HOUSING MR31114 INSTEAD OF #4879072AD. WHEN LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER CALLED IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS A BACKORDER OF OVER 8000 OF THESE. I THEN CALLED THE 800 NUMBER AND AFTER 4 HRS OF CLIMBING THE LADDER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PART WAS IN FACT BACKORDERED WITH CURRENTLY THAT MANY CARS AWAITING THIS PART AND THAT IT WAS BEING RETOOLED AND WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE TILL LATE AUGUST. THE ISSUE IS SAFETY IN THAT THE REAR UPPER STRUT HOUSING IF BROKEN PRESENTS AN ISSUE FOR DRIVER AND VEHICLE SAFETY AND THE NUMBER OF CARS NEEDING WHAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IS GROWING AND THE COMPANY HAS NEITHER A RECALL OR SAFETY NOTICE OUT NOR IN MY CONVERSATIONS AT LEAST HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR CARE ABOUT THIS. FOR MANY IF THIS IS YOUR ONLY VEHICLE YOU HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS AND MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE ON THE ROAD IN THIS CONDITION OF BROKEN REAR UPPER STRUT HOUSINGS. WHAT AM I TO DO AND WHAT RECOURSE IS THERE? *TR 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ID

10233858

Incident

Jul 8, 2008

Mileage

214,000 mi

MOPAR AGREES RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS PART FAILURE. 02 DODGE STRATUS REAR STRUT MOUNTS. STRUT MOUNTING PLATES ON VEHICLE ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM OR SOME TYPE OF WHITE METAL AND THEY HAVE DISINTEGRATED INTO A POWDER LIKE DUST AND THE STRUT WAS DETACHED. MOPAR CONFIRMED ABOUT 8553 BACKORDERS ON 7/8/08 DEALERS AND 8607 BACKORDERS AS OF 7/9/08 - I REPLACED PART FROM A JUNKYARD CAR, AS THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET A CAR BACK ON THE ROAD UNTIL SUPPLY IS ADEQUATE ON NEW PARTS WITH NEW DESIGN. VEHICLES CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF COMMISSION AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. POSSIBLY FOR MONTHS WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233720

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

76,200 mi

2002 DODGE STRATUS REAR STRUT MOUNTS. THE TOP, REAR, STRUT MOUNTING PLATES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM OR SOME TYPE OF POT METAL AND THEY HAVE COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT OF THE STRUTS NOT BEING ATTACHED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND SHE PROCEEDED HOME AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. UPON INSPECTION THE LEFT REAR STRUT MOUNTING PLATE HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND THE STRUT WAS NOT ATTACHED AT ALL TO THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE SWERVE. UPON CHECKING WITH DEALERS AND PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED ON THOUSANDS OF CARS. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND WE WERE TOLD BY A DEALER THAT, ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE 1800 REQUESTS PER WEEK FOR THIS PART AND A TOTAL OF ALMOST 8,000 ON BACKORDER THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY DEFECT AND IT IS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I WOULD THINK THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE AS THEY COULD EASILY CAUSE A WRECK WHEN THEY BREAK FREE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233344

Incident

Jul 2, 2008

Mileage

86,023 mi

I DRIVE A 2002 DODGE STRATUS,AT 40,000 MILES TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED COSTING ME 1300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE,AT 62,000 THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED ME AGAIN,ANOTHER 1300 DOLLARS,NOW AT 90,000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS DOWN SHIFTING ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE,3,000 MILES AGO I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT COMPLETELY BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE, WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF COSTING ME 700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR,WAS JUST INFORMED THE PASSENGER SIDE IS GOING OUT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215252

Incident

Apr 12, 2006

I HAVE HAD THE CONTROL ARM REPLACED ON THIS CAR TWICE ON THE SAME SIDE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IT JERKS WHEN IT GETS UP TO 50 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206659

Incident

Mar 3, 2007

Mileage

77,601 mi

REAR SHOCK UPPER MOUNT ATTACKED BY CORROSION, VEHICLE ONLY 4.5 YEARS OLD AND 60,500 MILES. UN-PAINTED POT METAL LIKE MATERIAL BROKE UP INTO MULTIPLE PIECES WITHOUT WARNING. ONE MINUTE VEHICLE DROVE FINE, HIT A TYPICAL PAVEMENT EXPANSION JOINT CAUSING A LIGHT CLUNK TO DEVELOP. WITHIN TWO MILES I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT BECAUSE THE HAMMERING IN THE SUSPENSION GOT SO BAD. FOUND THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS NO LONGER RETAINED AT THE UPPER END. VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN HOME GENTLY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING RETAINING THE COIL SPRING TO THE BODY OTHER THAN GRAVITY. BOTH UPPER MOUNTS WERE REPLACED WITH PAINTED REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM THE DEALER. THE LEFT REAR MOUNT HAD NOT FAILED YET, BUT CORROSION WAS RAPIDLY TURNING IT INTO POWDER FROM THE TOP DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10195999

Incident

Jun 9, 2007

Mileage

60,500 mi

REAR STRUT MOUNT PLATES DISINTEGRATED TURNED TO POWDER CREATING UNSAFE CONDITION WITH REAR SUSPENSION. REPLACED STRUT AND PLATES. HAVE PIECES WHAT IS LEFT OF IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168458

Incident

Sep 2, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 25 MPH. SHE HIT A SLIGHT POT HOLE AND HEAR A LOUD BANG IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE A SOUND LIKE SOMETHING WAS ROLLING AROUND (BANGING) IN THE TRUNK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REAR STRUT PLATE MOUNT DISINTEGRATED AND WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT. I WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER DODGE STRATUS OF SAME TYPE AND YEAR WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM SO I FELT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU AS DID THE OTHER PARTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165413

Incident

Aug 3, 2006

Mileage

61,560 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND DROVE OVER A SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN THE PAVEMENT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE PASSENGER RIGHT REAR. THE LOUD BANGING SOUND CONTINUED AS LONG AS THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. I NOTICED A COMPROMISE IN THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REGISTERED REPAIR SHOP WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE REAR STRUT PLATE TOP MOUNT HAD DISINTEGRATED DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. THE DRIVER REAR STRUT MOUNT WAS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING APART ALSO. IT APPEARS THAT ROAD SALT PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION. THE REPLACEMENT MOUNTS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE FOLLOWING REPAIR/PARTS WAS PERFORMED: REAR SHOCK & OR STRUT ASSEMBLY (2), UPPER SHOCK MOUNT (2). *JB

NHTSA ID

10161816

Incident

Jun 29, 2006

Mileage

47,552 mi

I DRIVE A 2002 DODGE STRATUS 4 DOOR R/T AND NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF CAR. I PULLED OVER COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING AND DROVE AGAIN. IT STILL MADE A LOUD THUMP SOUND FROM THE REAR OF CAR. INSPECTED CAR AT HOME WITH PROPER TOOLS, I FOUND THE REAR STRUT MOUNT ON THE LEFT OF CAR WAS BROKE IN TO 6 PIECES. IN SIGHT OF THIS I TOOK THE RIGHT REAR STRUT MOUNT OFF AND FOUND IT TO BE BROKE INTO 2 PIECE WITH A 2 INCH CRACK GOING ACROSS PART OF IT. ORDERED TWO NEW REAR STRUT MOUNTS TO FIND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR PART CHANGE. THE OLD PARTS ARE ALUMINUM AND NOT PAINTED AND THE REVISED PARTS ARE STEEL AND ARE PAINTED BLACK. I CALLED DODGE'S COMPLIANT LINE AND WAS HUNG UP ON. PLEASE NOTE THAT 4 DOOR R/T SUSPENSIONS ARE NOT THE SAME AS ALL OTHER 4 DOOR STRATUS CARS. TIRES WORE ON THE INNER EDGES AND THE SHOCKS WERE FREE TO JUMP UP AND DOWN SINCE NOT ATTACHED TO THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156522

Incident

Apr 14, 2006

Mileage

49,250 mi

LEFT FRONT AXLE CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. THE PREVIOUS MONTH THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOWER CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES WERE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149614

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

DT: 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN UPPER REAR RIGHT BALL JOINT. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH HEARD A NOISE , AND THE BACK END OF THE CAR SETTLED DOWN, UPON INSPECTION THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. IT HAS BEEN FIXED AT THE COST OF $200. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO ACCIDENTS. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10132830

Incident

Aug 2, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi