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. Also the 2.4L engine doesn't have the oil sludge problem.
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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.
About two weeks ago I was driving my car and when I went to let off of my brake pedal and I felt and heard a pop. I drove a little further and again stopped and when I let off the brake I heard and felt a grind and a louder pop that shook the car. It did this one more time before I got to were I had to go, and when I stopped my driver side rear tire was smoking and had an awful smell of burning rubber. Thank good I had someone close to area to stop and come help. I had no brake on that rear tire, it was metal to metal, the cylinder was so hot there were no rubber boot left on it and the hub had seized. I had no indication of any of this, no squealing or anything it was pretty sudden. The emergency brake cable was sticking on the driver side and had to be replaced. The spring on the emergency brake cable was flat. All the other brakes were fine still looked new. I'm not sure what damage this could have caused but I have two small children who ride in this car all the time. I was also told buy the selling dealer that this vehicle has anti-lock brakes, after this problem I had someone looked over my whole brake system and they stated that they could not detect an anti-lock brake system there is a spot for a fuse but no fuse was there. I will never buy a Dodge again.
- Pottstown, PA, USA
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- Pottstown, PA, USA