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.
9.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
135,000 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
i want my money back that i paid to get my car back running (1 reports)
We got this car with 30,000 miles on it and it worked fine when we got it. We started having problems with the power steering about a year and a half after we bought it. It felt like there was no power steering and was very hard to turn. Dodge had a recall for the problem in 2006 so we took it in to have it fixed. The fix was only good for about four months. After the four months it became hard to steer again. (Especially when cold) Anyone know what the problem could be?
- hethromethro,
Clearfield, UT, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
POWER STEERING RECALL LEAK AND A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
Update from Jan 18, 2012: cost me out of pocket money to replace the burn up wires
- parkstexas, Fort Worth, TX, US