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 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,448 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.
My Dodge Stratus started blowing horn without me touching. Everytime I turn the wheel the horn blows. Then two days later the light came in the car would not go off. Then locks start going up and down and door make beep as if a door his open. I had to remove the fuses to stop horn from blowing, cut inside lights off and stop locks from going up and down. The car still makes beep noise as if door open whole time driving and stops and start back when I hit a bump. My front wheel making a noise as if the wheel is going to break off on the passenger side. It is also drinking gas as if it is leaking. I dont see any gas on the ground but I can smell fumes off and one and sometimes under the hood. It is like I am losing gas pressure because car stalls and I am losing gas somewhere.
Had Dodge Stratus 2000 ES for ten years. Mileage at approximately 53,000. This year when interior hot the following do not work: Windshield wipers, dash gauges, security system, dash indicator for transmission gear, cool air through air conditioner. Sometimes while driving this problems happens and am unable to see what gear car is in, what speed, fuel left, wipers not functioning all which are safety issues. When interior cool, all functions return. Worked with a good mechanic who diagnosed faulty body control module also called a multi function module. $750 dollars later, car ok.
My 2000 Dodge Stratus SE I have had for about 5yrs now excellent running car but has started making its own decisions when it comes to cold air in the summer, mileage, door locks & speed. If you want all gauges & door locks plus cold air in the summer time then you need to make sure your windows are rolled down and you are parked in the shade. If not you will drive around until the sun goes down and the car is cool enough for the gauges and air to kick back on. I have talked to several mechanics about this and no one can come up with a solution for it. I love my car and I want to know what is going on!!!!!!
My 2000 Dodge Stratus SE I have had for about 5yrs now excellent running car but has started making its own decisions when it comes to cold air in the summer, mileage, door locks & speed. If you want cold air in the summer time then you need to make sure your windows are rolled down and you are parked in the shade. If not you will drive around until the sun goes down and the car is cool enough for the gauges and air to kick back on. I have talked to several mechanics about this and no one can come up with a solution for it. I love my car and I want to know what is going on!!!!!!
2000 Dodge Stratus caught fire while car was parked. Fire dept. Believes the problem was electrical. Fire began on driver side near fuse bow and door panel area. Fuses did not blow.
- Waterbury, CT, USA
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The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Stratus. The contact was informed by neighbors that her vehicle was on fire. The vehicle had been parked for only five minutes. The fire and police department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed back to her residence. The weather was approximately 75-78 degrees and cloudy. The # of cylinders was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 144,000.
- the contact stated that on 07/30/06 the 2000 Dodge Stratus was parked in a parking garage. After parking the vehicle it became engulfed in flames. There were no warning lights or any indication of a failure. She stated that the fire department came and extinguished the fire. The fire department was not able to tell the contact what caused the fire due to the extent damage. The contact didn't have any reports for the cause of the fire. The fire damaged another vehicle that was parked next to her vehicle. She stated that she had no insurance on her vehicle, and had to pay for the damage of the other vehicle out of pocket. The contact stated that she will be able to obtain the insurance claim from the other vehicle owner. The current and failure mileage were both 87000.
My daughters drive a 2000 model Dodge Stratus. On one we have replaced the heater resistor switch that controls the fan on low speeds three times. On the other one we have replaced it once.
Ac blower motor would only work on high. Replaced the resistor 4 times. When I asked about at the dealers they said most likely the blower motor was bad. Replaced the blower motor and that seems to have fixed the problem for now.
- the contact stated that the 2002 Dodge Stratus got stuck in mud. Contactb went to get help when she returned approximately 15 minutes later the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The contact stated there were no warning indicators. She had not had any recent repairs.
: the contact stated the vehicle caught fire while parked in a parking lot. The contact noticed a smell of burnt plastic inside the vehicle and the power door locks stopped working prior to the incident. The contact went to school and returned to inspect the vehicle a couple hours later. The radio did not turn on and white smoke was noticed coming from the power mirror controls. A 6 inch flame erupted 2-3 mins later. The contact poured water on the flame near the power mirror controls, which extinguished the fire. The fire or police department was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance, and refused to take a safety complaint.
When putting car in reverse, lights fail and blows the fuse. Am using appropriate fuse called for in owners manual. Also, noticed trunk light bulb was burnt and melted, when I purchased it. Took it back to dealer that sold me the car, said they could find nothing wrong. However, the problem still remains.
While driving the car, noticed white smoke I pull over to look under the hood noticed that smoke was coming from behind where the spark plugs are just to the right of the power steering cap(while looking at engine with the hood up). Smoke subsided continued to drive noticed smoke 2 other ocassions the same day same area of engine, pulled car into driveway and approximately 15 minutes passed my 2000 Dodge Stratus was in flames from under the hood.
After having used my 2000 Dodge Stratus, I stationed it in my house and as to the to 30 minutes I smelled cable burning, when I left home, the left side of the motor was throwing away smoke and immediately a fire erupted, I called 911 and the police and firemen attended the fire. With Chrysler of puerto rico and I notify them of what happened but they only tell me that are not heads, at present I am working that case with my insurance company. My car was totally destroyed.
The main computer shorted ot and caused a fire. Consumer was working with a mechanic and that was when the computer shorted out. They were working on the air conditioner. Another mechanic stated that this was a common problem for this vehicle, and he knew at least three other people that this happened to while they were driving with the air condition turned on. Consumer havd to disconnect the battery because it would short out becuase ccould not get to the battery quick enough because of the way the car was designed.
Car burned in driveway. Was driving the car and the car started to smoke. The smoke stopped after the consumer got home. About 20 minutes later, the car caught on fire under the hood. The car was a total loss. Had the car towed to a body shop. The manufacturer's investigators came, and consumer's claim was denied. The vehicle was totaled. The dash lights were flickering and the power steering made a lot of noises prior to the fire incident.
Driving on I 35 going North mile marker 34, I smelled smoke, stopped care, got grandson out. Open hood, and flames shot from car engine. A volunteer firefight was behind me and stopped and put out the fire. Lathrop fire station was notified. And they came just as the fire was out. I called my wife sally meyer and told her of events and my grand son and I got a ride home. The care was towed to A-1 auto located in cameron Missouri by scotty"S towing service out of cameron M Missouri. Our insurance company american family insurance is currently investigating it. I have noticed there are other fires that have been reported for this year. Are you going to do something about this? obviously there is a serious design flaw in the electrical system. We are now with out a car. Is there anyone that can help us with the Dodge company to rein verse us for this damage"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Florence, SC, USA