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 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
91,643 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.
2000 Dodge Stratus engine fire. After parking the car in the driveway, I began to smell and see smoke coming from the engine of the car. Determining that it was on fire, I backed it out of the driveway (luckily the driveway was sloped) to get it a way from the house.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Stratus. While driving 2 mph, the contact heard a noise coming from the engine. She parked the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the engine. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a mechanic. The mechanic stated that the engine backfired and was the cause of the fire. The current and failure mileages were 123,243.
I don't know what happened the car caught on fire when I cut the car off. Nothing was done to correct the problem. Before the incident I had the car check for problem the computers at shop stated it was the 02 sensor.
After driving my vehicle a short distance to the local store, I parked my vehicle and entered the store. Approximately. 15 minutes later the tag number of vehicle was announced over the intercom system, stating that the owner need to report to the parking lot immediately. I went to the parking lot to find that my vehicle was on fire under the hood. The fire department was called and was extinguishing the flames before I was able to get to my car. The fire department had broken the driver's door window to gain access to the hood release. The entire engine had appeared to be burned. The car was towed to rallye Dodge in ocala Florida where it was determined by our insurance company that it was a total loss. Dominick, one of the mechanics at rallye Dodge said that there was no way of determining the cause of the fire and the car could be repaired at a cost of approx. $5000. Back on March 16, 2005, I had to replace the PCM at the same dealer at a cost of $999.91. Now 7 months later I am out a $1000 computer and a $5000 car. What happens now" how and when will Chrysler be held accountable for the poor engineering of their vehicles"
Consumer took vehicle to the dealership for a state inspection, and the mechanic determined the power steering pump failed. Consumer had the power steering pump replaced. The steering rack and tie rod ends were worn. The consumer was also told the valve cover gasket had a slight leak and the engine light illuminated due to a loose gas cap.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
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On 10/22/2003 vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil leak. Dealer replaced the head gasket. On 10/26/2003, while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire, and determined that fire started in the engine.
Complaint about engine/oil light system. The consumer was driving the vehicle when it died out with little to no warning. (the oil light had come on seconds before the incident) the consumer was informed the motor was gone. The consumer was shocked because there was no dark smoke, knocking, nor did the oil light come on. The consumer requested a payment for the engine repair cost.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Decatur, GA, USA