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.
I have had the car to 3 different shops about this and nobody can seem to figure out what is causing the problem. Mind you this problem has continued after the following failures in the past 5 months since I've owned this car: Starter replaced, fuel pump and fuel filter replaced, catalytic converter failure, oxygen sensor replaced and distributor replaced.
This car is a piece of junk. I sure wish I had found the car complaints website before I purchased this car. My goodness the car does not even have 100K miles on it yet. Should have kept my 1993 Cutlass Seira I just sold. It had over 225K miles on it. I replaced the "original" alternator right before selling the car. Yes it had it's share of parts that went out over the years, but it wasn't until it hit 150K.
This is what made me mad & is the reason I've bought my last big 3 vehicle.....
There is between 8-10 inches of snow here today. I had to go on a medical mercy mission, taking a friend's (whose car got stuck) son to pick up his first artificial leg, when the problem developed. We'd picked up the leg & made it into a dealership a little before 5.
When I pulled up to the entrance to the service dept, instead of opening the door, they actually sent a guy out to run me off. Near 5? Fair enough if I'm wanting them to do something cosmetic or performance enhancing, but when I told the man I was trying to make it home, nearing dark, 8 inches of snow as a backdrop, this 'expert's?' (ha!) response was "I'm sorry sir but we haven't had hardly anybody in all day & everybody's just waiting to go home."
I said "You can't even hook it up to a diagnostic machine to tell me what the problem is so I'll know our likelihood making it home?"
"I'm sorry sir, can you bring it back tomorrow?
Peeved, and with forced resolve, I entered the showroom hoping to merely get info on any other dealerships that stay open later in the St Louis area & incompetent staff couldn't even accomplish that! I added a bit more volume to my voice than usual as I left muttering about bailouts & possible policy evaluation aimed at stemming future need for them, something about customer service..
When I got back to the car, my friend told me he knew of a dealer that at least had a 24 hr parts dept & that might have later service hours too. I knew the place & thankfully it was in the direction of home.
We arrived at about 5:20 & saw signs saying service was open till 7 & the service entry door opened to let us in as we pulled up. Would you believe these mechanics were also in so big of a hurry to go home, this time early no less, THEY DID NOT CARE IF THEY WERE LEAVING A CUSTOMER STRANDED IN THE COLD & SNOW! They, too, refused to even do a diagnostic check.
Incompetence & lackadaisical attitudes being on the increase society-wide even in the face of massive job losses, I've decided my next vehicle will be a fully electric, if available, to gain dependability through greatly reducing the number of moving parts. It's the only way I can think of to reduce the likelihood of a repeat of the above on my part.
I don't think the car is anywhere near as bad as the car company, I DID make it home, but looking online, it could be any of a half dozen or more things costing from $0-$400 just for a part. I hate being dependent on mechanics to say what's wrong & I hope the new upstart electric car companies can weed out the bad mechanics. They won't starve. There's plenty of jobs wiping butts in nursing homes that will teach them customer service up close & personal.
- Rob A.,
Union, MO, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have had the car to 3 different shops about this and nobody can seem to figure out what is causing the problem. Mind you this problem has continued after the following failures in the past 5 months since I've owned this car: Starter replaced, fuel pump and fuel filter replaced, catalytic converter failure, oxygen sensor replaced and distributor replaced.
This car is a piece of junk. I sure wish I had found the car complaints website before I purchased this car. My goodness the car does not even have 100K miles on it yet. Should have kept my 1993 Cutlass Seira I just sold. It had over 225K miles on it. I replaced the "original" alternator right before selling the car. Yes it had it's share of parts that went out over the years, but it wasn't until it hit 150K.
I will never buy a Dodge Stratus again!
- marydee, Hernando, MS, US