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.
For the last week my car alarm has gone off by itself in the middle of the night.
The first night (about 4am) I thought maybe someone had tried to get into it (highly unlikely, but possible). I turned off the car alarm went and inspected. Everything looked fine so I went back to bed.
The second night (again about 4am) the alarm went off. This time I was getting annoyed. I went to the door turned off the alarm. Everything seemed fine.
Third night (About 1am) it went off. This time I was PISSED. I went and turned off the alarm. Everything seemed fine. Once again.
Yesterday, as I was leaving work, my battery was dead. I thought... ok.... maybe that's what was causing the alarm to go off in the middle of the night. So later that night I went and had a new battery installed. Then this morning.... again.... the alarm went off. It was probably about 9:30am. My boyfriend went and turned it off. (AT this point I could care less if someone stole my car.)
SOOO.... It's not the battery going dead. It could possible be weather related, after all this week has been the coldest yet this year, however I have had this car for three years and never had this problem before.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
For the last week my car alarm has gone off by itself in the middle of the night.
The first night (about 4am) I thought maybe someone had tried to get into it (highly unlikely, but possible). I turned off the car alarm went and inspected. Everything looked fine so I went back to bed.
The second night (again about 4am) the alarm went off. This time I was getting annoyed. I went to the door turned off the alarm. Everything seemed fine.
Third night (About 1am) it went off. This time I was PISSED. I went and turned off the alarm. Everything seemed fine. Once again.
Yesterday, as I was leaving work, my battery was dead. I thought... ok.... maybe that's what was causing the alarm to go off in the middle of the night. So later that night I went and had a new battery installed. Then this morning.... again.... the alarm went off. It was probably about 9:30am. My boyfriend went and turned it off. (AT this point I could care less if someone stole my car.)
SOOO.... It's not the battery going dead. It could possible be weather related, after all this week has been the coldest yet this year, however I have had this car for three years and never had this problem before.
- hoosierxheart, Springville, IN, US