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 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
118,605 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.
TL-the contact owns a 2000 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle the steering wheel is very difficult to turn. The contact stated after approximately 1 minute after starting the vehicle the steering problem subsides. The contact stated the vehicle defect was not repaired. The contact stated the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 229,000. Jft. Report receipt date: Jan 05, 2006 NHTSA campaign number: 06V001000 component(s): Steering
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.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Stratus. While driving approximately 35 mph, there was a loss in the power steering and smoke emitted from the hood. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. The contact noticed small flames underneath the hood area and immediately extinguished the flames. There was power steering fluid visible on the ground. The identical failure recurred. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. There was a recall related to the malfunction associated with NHTSA campaign id number 06V001000 (steering: Hydraulic power assist: Hose, piping, and connections). The contact planned to notify the manufacturer to verify whether VIN was eligible under the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000. The VIN was unavailable.
After driving my car a friend went outside and seen smoke coming out from under the hood.she called me and I ran to the car and I seen fire under the front wheel's. friends sprayed water on the hood and I opened it up a little and they sprayed the fire and put it out. By this time the top of the motor was burnt bad. Everything on top needs to be replaced, it was caused by the high pressure hose on the powersteering. I found out that it had a recall on the hose so I called Dodge Corp. And they gave me a case # and to take it to my dealer so I did. Then the Corp. Office called me today and said it's been to long this should have been done by the last owner and hung up. I bought this car Oct.14 of this year and this happened on the 31. How am I to know that this was going to happen in 18 day's. I paid a lot of money for this car and I think. The computer can tell you the recall and how to get it fixed; but you try to find somewhere on here on what to do when there is a recall and it done what it said it would do and you didn't know about it until it did it. I need help I don't have the money to fix it. I took out a loan to get it.
- Henderson, KY, USA
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I need some one to investigate a recall part on a 2000 Dodge Stratus on a power steering leak that cause a fire under the bottom to the top. And the dealership is not telling the truth on what cause the fire.
The contact owns a 2000 Dodge Stratus. The vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 06V001000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections); however, the secondary power steering hose also cracked due to aging. Both power steering hoses experienced the failure, but only one is coverd under the recall. The current and failure mileages were 93,000.
2000 Dodge Stratus driver's power seat moves forward while coming to a stop. The consumer heard a whinning noise in the steering wheel when making turns.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Williston, ND, USA