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.
1.1
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
159,876 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.
Vehicle stalled at high speed. Had fuel filter replaced by Dodge dealer in marietta, Ohio. Dealer did not check fuel pump while tank removed from automobile. Fuel pump was cause of stalling. Invoice # docs155552
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.
- Florence, SC, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Pickerington, OH, USA