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 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,537 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.
On 31/1/01 there was a headgasket leak and under the warranty it was replaced. On 11/6/01 I was travelling at about 15 mph when I noticed my temperature gauge had passed the "H" the mark. I immediately pulled over and put my car into neutral and turned the heater on maximum. The engine temperature went down about 1/3 of the way from the top but went back up when I tried to drive. I had my car then towed to prevent any further engine damage.
Informed that head gaskekt was blown, extended warranty expired by 14 miles. Suspect inaccurate odometer reading.I noticed my odometer increase amount when driving oddly this occurred right arouned my warraty experation. Possibly suspect odometer tampering. Reviewed milage history and noticed a large milage amout in unrealistic periods of time. I caluclated known milage distance and compared odometer reading, appeared to be inacurate. I further feel that I was sold the wrong vehicle at purchase time. Dh odo. Please advise and assist a.
Vehicle is unsafe to drive and cannot be driven in a normal manner. Note: This is car has a manual transmission. All throttle (gas pedal) movement, acceleration or deceleration is followed by a < second application of full power or full deceleration, followed by the reverse application of full deceleration or full power, respectively, until the computer figures out what to do. At no load, e.g. cruising at 65 mph, especially on a slight slope, the computer never figures out what to do. The whole system goes into oscillation, with < second alternate applications of full power then full deceleration, then full deceleration, for as long as a constant throttle position is maintained. In all cases, the engine winds up on its rubber motor mounts with a thump that can be felt throughout the car. This is so severe that the shop supervisor at the dealer was going to try replacing the motor mounts.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- West Hollywood, CA, USA