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.
2000 Dodge Stratus ES 2.5 V-6 has almost all the options, very well equipped, runs great, until one day it started running real rough, off and on for a couple days. Engine light comes on the third day. Thought it was the fuel filter, so i had it changed. The next day the problem continues, but somewhat less. At this point I am thinking very bad thoughts about Dodge, since this is my first Dodge. Take the car to Autozone to get the code read. Code is #5 cylinder misfire. I walk out and lift the hood to find the problem. Such a simple problem, with an even simpler fix. The rubber seal around the #5 spark plug wire, where it goes into the valve cover, was lifted up, allowing a vacuum leak, causing a misfire. I pushed the rubber seal back in place, started the car. The car ran smooth, like nothing was ever wrong. After about 90 seconds the check engine light went off by itself, and has stayed off. How the rubber seal became lifted, i will never find out, but I think someone where my wife worked, may have did this as a joke. HA HA, NOT FUNNY!
SO I bought my car yesterday, I left work today and the check engine light came on. I was on my way to the dealership and the whole time the check engine light would go off and then come back on and then go off and come back on. Who knows what the problem is, but it did it all the way to my house to.
The check engine light came on while idling, took to Auto Zone showed all cylinders misfiring. Did full tune up, changed spark plugs, wires, distributor and rotor. Re-set engine light. After two days check engine light came on again. Took to Auto Zone (does check for free) showed cylinder #5 misfire. In researching the V6 engines through the Intrepid and Stratus a common problem was the Camshaft piston sensor bad. I bought this part and put in on. After driving approx. 10 miles the check engine light began to blink approx. 10 times then went off. After about a minute the engine light began to blink approx. 5 times. This went on for approx. 20 minutes, now the check engine light is just on. I need to take back to Auto Zone to see what the problem is or what code it is showing. This is a very big pain.
- iam10-96,
Ogden, UT, US
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2000 Dodge Stratus ES 2.5 V-6 has almost all the options, very well equipped, runs great, until one day it started running real rough, off and on for a couple days. Engine light comes on the third day. Thought it was the fuel filter, so i had it changed. The next day the problem continues, but somewhat less. At this point I am thinking very bad thoughts about Dodge, since this is my first Dodge. Take the car to Autozone to get the code read. Code is #5 cylinder misfire. I walk out and lift the hood to find the problem. Such a simple problem, with an even simpler fix. The rubber seal around the #5 spark plug wire, where it goes into the valve cover, was lifted up, allowing a vacuum leak, causing a misfire. I pushed the rubber seal back in place, started the car. The car ran smooth, like nothing was ever wrong. After about 90 seconds the check engine light went off by itself, and has stayed off. How the rubber seal became lifted, i will never find out, but I think someone where my wife worked, may have did this as a joke. HA HA, NOT FUNNY!
- David D., Corydon, IN, US