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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,000 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 car is leaking gas, and the fuel neck has rusted. Apparently there is a national back order on this product and I am unable to get it until October 30th. When I asked the dealer what I should do about this problem he said there are many people waiting on this same part and that all I can do is wait for the part..meanwhile my car is leaking gas and unsafe for my children to ride in...if a part is via the dealership only it should be available for instances just like this! how am I supposed to get to work" how am I supposed to take my kids to day care" I don't think I'll ever buy another Chrysler because of this horrible customer service! I guess if the car blew up because of the gas leak it'd be more of a concern!
I had a 2000 Dodge Stratus SE which caught on fire in my driveway after my daughter returned home with it. She came running inside saying it was smoking so when we went to look in was on fire, with flames shooting out of the hood. I call 911 while my husband and a neighbor sprayed the car with a hose. Everything under the hood was melted. When we called the Dodge dealership they pretty much laughed at us saying yeah there is a recall for the pressure steering hose which can leak and cause a fire. But since you didn't come get it fixed too bad, but if you bring it in now we will replace the hose for you!!! after many calls to the main Dodge number that is on the recall on their website they finally left me a voice mail stating we sent a notice too bad. I am so thankful that nobody was hurt. My teenage daughter had just gotten home from school. It would have caught fire there who knows what could have happened. I have lived in a different state since buying the car so that is why I didn't get the notice. It saddens me to think that is all they have to do is send out a notice when a fire will result if not taken care of, and they don't care.
- Owasso, OK, USA
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- Columbus, OH, USA