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.
AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK FROM MY... MY MECHANIC WITH A NEW PCM (PER DIAGNOSTIC) NOT 3 HRS LATER, "CHUG, CHUG..." CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON AGAIN. MY MECHANIC (FIRST NAME BASIS NOW) SUGGEST SENDING IT DIRECTLY TO DODGE FOR A MORE DETAILED DIAGNOSTIC ($45.00 TOW, $164.00 DIAGNOSTIC). THEY SAID I NEED A NEW PCM! TOLD THEM MY MECH BOUGHT THE PART FROM THEM AND INSTALLED IT 3 DAYS AGO! FOUR DAYS LATER, I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK WITH NEW SENSORS, PCM FINALLY ARRIVED AND PLACED IN. MY RECALL FOR THE STEERING WAS NOT COMPLETED IN THE FOUR DAYS IT WAS THERE! FOUR FREAKING DAYS LATER MY CAR CHUGS AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AGAIN NO WARNING LIGHT, THE CAR STARTS TO LOSE POWER AND SMOKE STARTS FROM THE ENGINE AND IN THE CAR! TOWED IT BACK TO DODGE, SPOKE TO NUMEROUS EMPLOYEES (A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WERE OKAY TO TALK TO) NO POWER, NO BATTERY POWER.... YOU COULD PROBABLY HEAR CRICKETS HAVING SEX IN THE SILENCE WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION KEY!
I SURFED THE WEB (AS MY DAUGHTERS SAY IT) TO FIND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON MY MAKE AND YEAR AND FOUND VERY DISTURBING COMPLAINTS, INVESTIGATIONS AND HORROR STORIES OF UNSOLVED ENGINE FIRES. MY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE DAY ONE STILL HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED BY ANYONE. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS CAUSING THE DYING OF MY CAR. WHEN THEY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC, IT JUSTS SHOWS PCM CHANGE. IS THIS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE UNSOLVED ENGINE FIRES! SOMEONE HAS TO START A "CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT" AND GET ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED TOGETHER AND GET ALL OUR MONEY BACK (NOT ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE) ON EVERY DAMN OIL CHANGE, ENGINE VISITS, PARTS & LABOR.
WE NEED TO SLAP THE PERSON WHO GAVE THE OKAY ON THE ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS... GEE IS THAT THE CEO OR WAS HE GULFING THAT DAY?
VERY ANGRY MOTHER HERE... AT VERY STUPID MOTHER ------S! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PLACE TO VENT.
MILLIE CERVANTES OF RICHMOND CALIFORNIA!
(AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY MY CONSUMER NAME. I HOPE THEY READ IT!)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
AFTER RECEIVING MY CAR BACK FROM MY... MY MECHANIC WITH A NEW PCM (PER DIAGNOSTIC) NOT 3 HRS LATER, "CHUG, CHUG..." CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON AGAIN. MY MECHANIC (FIRST NAME BASIS NOW) SUGGEST SENDING IT DIRECTLY TO DODGE FOR A MORE DETAILED DIAGNOSTIC ($45.00 TOW, $164.00 DIAGNOSTIC). THEY SAID I NEED A NEW PCM! TOLD THEM MY MECH BOUGHT THE PART FROM THEM AND INSTALLED IT 3 DAYS AGO! FOUR DAYS LATER, I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK WITH NEW SENSORS, PCM FINALLY ARRIVED AND PLACED IN. MY RECALL FOR THE STEERING WAS NOT COMPLETED IN THE FOUR DAYS IT WAS THERE! FOUR FREAKING DAYS LATER MY CAR CHUGS AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AGAIN NO WARNING LIGHT, THE CAR STARTS TO LOSE POWER AND SMOKE STARTS FROM THE ENGINE AND IN THE CAR! TOWED IT BACK TO DODGE, SPOKE TO NUMEROUS EMPLOYEES (A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WERE OKAY TO TALK TO) NO POWER, NO BATTERY POWER.... YOU COULD PROBABLY HEAR CRICKETS HAVING SEX IN THE SILENCE WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION KEY!
I SURFED THE WEB (AS MY DAUGHTERS SAY IT) TO FIND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON MY MAKE AND YEAR AND FOUND VERY DISTURBING COMPLAINTS, INVESTIGATIONS AND HORROR STORIES OF UNSOLVED ENGINE FIRES. MY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SINCE DAY ONE STILL HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED BY ANYONE. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IS CAUSING THE DYING OF MY CAR. WHEN THEY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC, IT JUSTS SHOWS PCM CHANGE. IS THIS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE UNSOLVED ENGINE FIRES! SOMEONE HAS TO START A "CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT" AND GET ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED TOGETHER AND GET ALL OUR MONEY BACK (NOT ANOTHER DODGE VEHICLE) ON EVERY DAMN OIL CHANGE, ENGINE VISITS, PARTS & LABOR.
WE NEED TO SLAP THE PERSON WHO GAVE THE OKAY ON THE ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS... GEE IS THAT THE CEO OR WAS HE GULFING THAT DAY?
VERY ANGRY MOTHER HERE... AT VERY STUPID MOTHER ------S! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PLACE TO VENT.
MILLIE CERVANTES OF RICHMOND CALIFORNIA!
(AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO SAY MY CONSUMER NAME. I HOPE THEY READ IT!)
- Millie C., Richmond, CA, US