CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Stratus, Intrepid & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,000 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
: the contact stated the vehicle was parked less than 10 minutes in the driveway when it erupted into flames. The fire began in the engine compartment. Prior to the failure the vehicle was operating normal. The fire department was alerted and a report was filed. The insurance company is investigating the fire.
Vehicle was parked outside of the residence and fifteen minutes later vehicle caught on fire in the engine compartment. Driver called the fire department to extinguish the fire. The car was running fine. There was no warning or recent repair priot to the fire. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company.
On Dec. 12, 2004 myself, my daughter, & her step-daughter were on our way to go shopping approximately 60 miles from home. We stopped at approximately 45 miles and ate lunch, then continued the other 15 miles. We exited the 1999 Dodge Stratus and entered the store. After approximately 5-10 minutes, an in-store page went out that a vehicle of our description was smoking badly. When I looked out the store window, I saw the vehicle was mine. I ran out to the parking lot to find my car (1999 Dodge Stratus) motor was on fire with fire coming out from underneath the motor and black smoke boiling out. By the time emergency vehicles arrived (police and fire department), my car was fully in flames. Fire fighters extinguished the fire finally, but my car was totally destroyed. The hot-spot on the hood was on the driver side near the windshield.
Vehicle caught on fire when it was parked and engine turned off. Fire started from the left front compartment per the fire report, but where the fire originated from was undetermined.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Portland, OR, USA