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:
0 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,720 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.
While driving the vehicle I came to a stop to make a left hand turn and as I started without warning the vehicle stalled and lost power of steering wheel and brakes I almost hit another car. This wasn't the 1st time car has stalled while driving but the one where is came close to causing an accident
My horn goes off when turning the steering wheel, it started about 3 weeks ago, had the horn disconnected, have a new battery and it goes dead over night, my mechanic said it may be a short in the steering wheel by the air bag. I see other people with the same problem, how do I know that my air bag not going to explode and injury me. Should be a recall on this problem.
I was driving the car all day and it began to smoke; which had been an ongoing problem under the hood, a light white smoke as if something was dripping and burning off the engine. Once I parked the car about 10 minutes late the smoke became dark and black and fire erupted. Car was totaled, fire dept was called to the scene.
My girl friend came home and said the car was smoking so I went to look at it and yes smoke was coming from the firewall side of the motor right above the exhaust manifold.I did some research and found a recall on the high pressure hose for the power steering pump so I called the number given and Chrysler set me up with haddad Dodge in bakersfield California we set an appointment for the repairs to be done, I brought the car to them and they kept it for 4 days I called them about the car and they said it was ready I picked it up later that afternoon drove approx 6 miles home it was smoking slightly but no where near as bad as before so I thought nothing of it, maybe just residual from before the repair.the following morning I drove from real rd to fair view ave and the car was smoking heavily I stopped in front of a friends house opened the hood and there was a fire burning on the back side of the engine luckily there was a garden hose hooked up out side the house, I grabbed that and put the fire out. Could smell fuel heavily parked the car and have not moved it since just a week ago about a month after all this haddad Dodge left me a message saying that my parts had come in and they would like to set an appointment for the work to be done. According to them they had already done the work no body told me that the work was not complete quite the con-trary I was told it was fixed and ready to go the service attendant was so busy on his phone and cell phone he hardly spoke a word to me I had to find the car in there lot so I could go home, why would anybody in there right mind let someone drive a car that could catch fire.
This is the second time this has happened. Lost all instrumentation: Speed, fuel, RPM, etc, at 50mph. Just prior to this, the ABS light came on. The first fix included a new battery last year, three alternators until one worked (do not think this was the problem), and some kind of a harness which was rubbing on the engine? and creating a short. This problem could be the reason for all the car fires. Thank you.
- Coopersville, MI, USA
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The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. Whenever the weather is very hot or a heavy rainfall has taken place, none of the instrument panel gauges or electrical equipment will work in the vehicle. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 5,000. Updated 08/28/09. Updated 08/31/09.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While the vehicle was idling for approximately 20 minutes, it burst into flames. The fire department extinguished the underhood fire, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. A firefighter stated that the fire originated from an electrical failure. The manufacturer stated that they issued a recall, NHTSA campaign id number 06V001000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections). They would not assume any financial responsibility for the failure. She never received a recall notice from the manufacturer. The contact has pictures of the failure and a copy of the police report. The failure and current mileages were 115,000.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The contact noticed excessive smoke emanating from the vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed. An investigator from the fire department concluded that the cause of the fire was electrical. The contact has pictures of the vehicle after the failure. A fire report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 119,266.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. On October 31, 2007, while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard a faint clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. She pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. She then noticed a faint puff of smoke rising from the vehicle; however, she did not think it was a serious concern because the smoke was so faint. The vehicle eventually caught fire. The contact noticed sparks coming from underneath the vehicle and huge puffs of black smoke. The fire department arrived at the scene. They opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and the contact believed a report was filed. The fire department was uncertain of the cause of the fire, but stated that it may have been electrical. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was uninsured and the dealer informed her that she was still responsible for making her payments. The VIN, purchase date, engine size, and powertrain were unknown. The current and failure mileages were approximately 100,000.
I was in my 1999 Dodge Stratus all of maybe 15 minutes traveling to the store. I turned it off and went in the store for maybe 5 minutes. I started my car again and traveled to a friends house maybe 10 minutes from the store. I was in their home probably 10 minutes tops. When I went to leave I noticed smoke coming out from under my hood and flames shooting out from under the front of my car. We tried unsuccessfully to put the fire out. When the fire department finally arrived my car was totally engulfed in flames. I had liability insurance so I just lost my car because it was totaled. Then in April of 2006 I get a recall (E23) from daimler Chrysler and I am totally amazed. This is probably what happened to my car. I notified daimler Chrysler and the sent someone out to take pictures of my car and then sent me a letter denying my claim. The same complaints which alerted them of the problem with the power steering fluid hose and caused this recall to be made, are those with almost exact circumstances as myself. So what do I do now? the gentleman at customer claims resolution group for daimler Chrysler stressed to me to hire and attorney. So this is what I will be doing within the next few days.
On thanksgiving day of 2005 I picked up my 74 year old grandmother, who is blind to go see my mom, who lives about an hour away from me. As we were approaching my mother's house, I heard a popping sound from what appeared to be the power steering hose from my 1999 Dodge Chrysler Stratus and the steering wheel locked up. Smoke and fire started coming out from under the hood. I stopped the car and put it in park and shut off the ignition. I froze for a couple of seconds and realized we had to get out from out of the car. I went around to get my grandmother out and the locks went down automatically. I opened her door and told her to get out, hold on to me and run as fast as she could. She asked me what was going on and I told her the car was on fire and could blow up. We started running and screaming for help. People came out of their houses and two men tried to put down the fire but to no avail. After a while, the fire dept and police arrived. The fire dept. Was able to put out the fire but the car's front was completely consumed. The fire inspector told me he had heard of similar stories with this car. I called Chrysler Corp in puerto rico and they told me I have to wait for an inspector from Chrysler comes down to puerto rico and inspects the car to see if they are liable or not. Meanwhile, I have to pay for a tow truck to bring the car to wherever it is they will inspect it and also, the lady who took my complaint at Chrysler said if they find there was a defect, I have to wait to see what Chrysler decides to do about it. I have no car, my nerves are shot and my grandmother is a nervous wreck. This is extremely frustrating waiting for Chrysler to contact me to see when they will be able to inspect my car. Please help!!!!
On 8-25-05 the consumer had the vehicle parked when his wife came out of the store to find the vehicle on fire. The fire department was contacted. No one has been able to determine the exact cause of the fire. The consumer stated that the fire appeared to have started in the computer area, but because of the damage he could not be sure. There had been no previous problems or warnings before this happened.
After the consumer drove for awhile parked the vehicle, she came outside and the vehicle caught on fire. There was fire and smoke coming from under the hood. The fire department was notified. The vehicle has been scrapped and no one had looked at it. Also, the windshield wipers malfunctioned and the radio had turned on while the keys were out of the vehicle. There had been no previous problems with the vehicle.
Car was working fine, tuned up in may, kept up on oil changes, etc. My fiance was on the way home from getting the tires rotated and noticed smoke. He pulled over and didn't see anything. He got back in and flames started to shoot out. Fire dept came and extinguished the fire. Most of the front end is completely incinerated. The radiator and engine block had to be swept up. Front end completely melted. It's under investigation.
My wife drove for about 15 minutes and parked the 1999 Dodge Stratus. At that moment, Mrs. Aponte smelled and saw smoke coming from under the hood. By the time the fire was put out by firemen, the vehicle was totaled. The firemen told her that the fire was due to an electrical fault with the vehicle. The fire burned more by the driver side.
In hot weather, the dash lights/ windshield wipers, and air conditioner did not work. The vehicle was been taken to several dealers, they could not determine the cause of problem.
In hot weather the instruments on the dash dont function (tachometer, speedometer, temperature gauge, power windows, door locks and windshield wipers), the vehicle has been to the dealer three times for this problem.
Intermittently during hot weather instrument panel would go out. Power accessories, such as door locks/windows and windshield wipers became inoperative. Vehicle has been to the dealer and dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.
- Harrison, OH, USA
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kennewick, WA, USA