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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,342 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.
In five years I have put on three sets of brake pads and three sets of rotors and calipers, I have used dealer parts and auto store parts and I still only have minimal brakes.
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.
I have had this car since Oct. Of 2000 and about four months later, I was in an auto accident that was the other vehicle's fault. Ever since then my brakes have not worked properly I have taken it to the dealer 4-5 times for vehicle failure to not stop in enough time and pulsating. The first two times I took it to the dealer they claimed the couldn't find anything even with a test drive. The third time they claimed my brakes were bad and replaced the brakes and not the rotors. After that the pulsating was not as noticeable for a few weeks then it was back to the way it was before. I had the dealer check them one or two more times and again they said nothing was wrong. Shortly after that I had a small fender bender due to brakes not stopping my vehicle properly. I have to have my front and rear brakes changed twice a year, the front brakes go like they are made of paper, the rear brakes wear on one side more than the other. My outer tie rod have been replaced twice because they were broken, the rotors have been replaced 3 times. For the past two winters when I first start my car and turn the steering wheel, it screeches so loud and pops I think my tires are going fall off. I have two small children and find this very unsafe. When I have to come to a stop I have to almost stand on the brake pedal to make sure I stop in time. It is not always like this but 90-95% of the time it is and I know that my car is not the only one that this happens to.
Ok my car makes a humming noise when I hit the brakes hard. Its a loud humming sounds. I thought it just might be something wrong (everyday thing) but when I got another car that did the same thing it made me wonder...something must be defected. My last car was totaled. Someone pulled out in front of me.. and I sometimes think that the brake system had a defect. It seemed like for ever for my car to stop at low speed even. And the humming noise bothers me, its scary. I think its dangerous and it must be on more cars if this is my 2nd car with the same problem. 2000 Dodge Stratus. Please contact me and let me know... ps...I recently got this car (after I found out my other one got totaled) and I don't know of any past recalls that might have been done. Thanks for your time! -robert mcfadden ps...please let me know something!.
I have my automobile routinely maintained, every 6-8 months, (oil, tune up, ...)oil sludge baking in engine block-cylinder at 50,000 and again 114000. Corrosion build up & gunk in cylinder block, coils & spark plug corrosion causing bad-strong order in automobile and sputtering, poor emission. Transmission slips from time to time at 25,000 and now again at 114000, with leaks which we can smell very strong in automobile. Excessive brake lockage while attempting to break in normal-average speed of 25 miles. Constantly having to have the breaks repair although I have life warranty on breaks. Repairer states its the automobile. Safety belt does not always latch properly and has unlatched all by itself while im driving with my son, (6 yrs old). Drivers belt also unlatches from time to time. While driving I notice the car tens to sway to the right. I have had this auto aligned as well as, routine tire rotation, balancing, ect, ...yet it still does this to date. Ball joints, struts wearing out at 25,000. I am tired of investing so much in this automobile. More than I really should have to. I also feel unsafe to drive this automobile. Should my automobile cause any sudden fire due to gunk in a hot running engine & transmission, I will file a law suit. As a consumer I feel that Chrysler should repair my auto and reimburse me for all I have paid simply so that my son and I can feel & be safe driving in this automobile.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Possible brake defect in 2000 Dodge Stratus. There was a noise in the brake system. When the vehicle was started from cold, the brakes squeaked. After every start from stop, the vehicle pulled to the right. The dealer stated it was normal. This occurred intermittently in the front wheel linings at medium speeds when applied light to medium. This also occurred in the rear brakes.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Northlake, IL, USA