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.
4.2
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,680 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.
Chronic failure in blower motor for the heating/ac. Unit has model specific problems with overheating presenting a fire hazard as well as a driving hazard. Blower motor overheats causing malfunctions in the transistors and/or the diffusers which in turn causes the heating/ac fan to malfunction which makes driving dangerous when defrost or defog is needed. Replaced three times in and out of warranty.
Blower/resister has been replaced 3 times and needs to be replaced once again. After a few months, the fan only works on high setting which is very annoying and inefficient. It was first replaced in 2004 and worked until recently when stopped working at the lower levels and was replaced in (2006) may, then August and stopped working again in October.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Columbia, MO, USA