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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,615 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 owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that when she attempted to accelerate, the vehicle felt as if it would stall and failed to move. The failure has occurred every day since the vehicle was purchased. She also stated that the vehicle would not start when the key was turned in the ignition. She has not taken the vehicle to the mechanic. The current and failure mileages were 69,000.
On two separate crashes car came out of park and into reverse. First time broke mirror off of drivers door, thought maybe didn't have it all the way in park until one week later car was in park got out while car was running with two passengers inside after about 5 minutes with me standing in the door car kicked out of park and into reverse running me down. Door got stuck in dirt and bend backwards crushing the fender. Called one Dodge dealer and they denied there being a recall on the transmission and was told it was impossible for car to kick out of park and into reverse. Called a second dealer and was told yes there had been a recall and he looked up my VIN # and said my car had been repaired. My husband said that it was possible to take car out of park and into reverse without the key being in and unlocked. Car can also be bumped into neutral while driving on highway.
Consumer bought car in 1999. Two years later transmission failed, and consumer paid $2,500 to replace it. Consumer said that when she got into vehicle and sometimes when she left vehicle the doors did not lock, and sometimes the passenger side window will not roll down. Consumer thought she had all this fixed, but problem recurred. Dashboard shut down/gauges did not work, and tdashboard illumination malfunctioned. When consumer drove dashboard ca me on at once/gauges will began working, and light came on. Consumer had to replace wiring and sensors, but problem recurred.
I own a 1999 Dodge Stratus and it has one hundred forty three thousand miles on it and the transmission started pouring out trany fluid and they tell me I need to replace it, I did all scheduled maintainances on this vehicle and I find it hard to beleive I need to replace the transmission so soon.
While the vehicle is running or in drive if the emergency brake is not on. The vehicle will accelerate on its own. The dealership is aware of the problem.
- East Hampton, CT, USA
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Five incidences where the car will not shift out of 2nd gear. This happens when the car is placed in drive. It lunges forward because it is already in 2nd gear. Will not shift into 1st or 3rd gear from there. Auto stick is stuck in 2nd also. This causes the "check engine" light to be displayed. Three different dealers replaced shifting sensors, soleonoids in transmission, replaced seals. After last repair, car made it one block before problem arose again, and this time the speedometer did not move from 0. the car was obviously not test driven before we were called to pick it up. This problem has cost me lost wages with no way to get to work.
Vehicle would not shift out of first. Engine check light illuminated, and vehicle would shift to second gear. Consumer could not get over 20 mph. Consumer feels vehicle may be rear ended. Dealer has been contacted.
While traveling, transmission would not shift into next gear correctly. Would suddenly slam into gear, and cause vehicle to jerk forward. Rear brakes make noise. Consumer states steering wheel lock up. Windshield washer is not working. Rear bumper is coming loose. The vehicle also has noisy a suspension.
Transmission will not shift into another gear. Vehicle will shift into park and reverse without any problems. Dealership informed consumer that this defect was caused from an internal problem within transmission, which will resuled in transmission being rebuilt at consumers expense.originally going to charge consumer $1900, but changed price to $800. Please provide any additional information.
The problem with the brakes is that they do not stop the car. It feels like when you hit the brakes that the transmission won't disengage. It may not really be a disengagement problem but the brakes have never been good at stopping the car. When you hit the brakes the car nosedives but feels like it won't stop. It is like you have to get out of the seat and stand on the brakes. The feel is like the old brakes that had heat build up. You would get that outgassing that would resist pedal pressure. This has resulted in many near accidents and finally an accident. I also drive a pick up truck and those brakes work much better. I beleive there is an inherent defect with the brakes. It is also possible there is a frame problem. I don't see how a less than 10 mph accident could crush the hood and the front end to over 2600 bucks of damage. No damage to the car I hit except for a couple of chips in the paint on the bumper.
While vehicle was being driven a rattling noise occurred under hood. Shortly afterward, vehicle completley shut down due to a malfunction within transmission.
I discovered recently that the transmission can be shifted into drive without the brake being depressed. This was discovered accidently, almost resulting in the vehicle rolling away. It can be shifted only when the ignition is in the on position, but is locked when ignition is off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ox Mart , CA, USA