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.
Clockspring failures have resulted in the recall of over 1 million vehicles yet our Stratus is not one of those vehicles. We have no airbags which is an alarming safety hazard, no horn which does not allow us to notify other drivers in the event of a problem and our cruise control is also now disabled due to this clockspring failure. Dodge knows this part is crucial and has had multiple failures yet they refuse to cover our costs. We did not cause this. We are unable to cause this. This is a serious safety issue!! No airbags?
How can Dodge justify not covering this repair on any of their vehicles if they already know it is a faulty part? I'm baffled and angry. I'm also not rich. Costs should not be coming out of my pocket for something I have absolutely no control over and yet is a known, serious and extremely dangerous problem. Thank you for listening.
The clockspring is made very cheaply.. Looks like a 3rd grade scienge project.. It has a ribbon wire wound around a plastic spool..I took mine apart to see why it broke. It's substandard engineering for sure.. Now I have no airbag which is a very costly part all because a cheaply made part broke.. It costs $129 (the clockspring) but should cost $12.90 at the most.. It's ridiculous. I feel a recall should be issue as I'm learning about mroe and more of these cars running down the road with no functional airbag.
Before this I recommended my dodge to everyone.. Said you couldn't buy a better car.. I've got 212,000 miles from mine and it's still goin strong.. there have been a few small issues but for the most part it's been the best car I've ever owned and I've been through a few. but with this issue, if Dodge doesn't step up and fix this problem.. I'm gonna have to recall my recommendation. Dodge should not build a car that will lose it's airbag protection due to a raggedy part like this clocksping.. Engineer a decent part and replace them.. it take all of 10 minutes to switch it out.
- Jon C.,
Lake City, FL, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Clockspring failures have resulted in the recall of over 1 million vehicles yet our Stratus is not one of those vehicles. We have no airbags which is an alarming safety hazard, no horn which does not allow us to notify other drivers in the event of a problem and our cruise control is also now disabled due to this clockspring failure. Dodge knows this part is crucial and has had multiple failures yet they refuse to cover our costs. We did not cause this. We are unable to cause this. This is a serious safety issue!! No airbags?
How can Dodge justify not covering this repair on any of their vehicles if they already know it is a faulty part? I'm baffled and angry. I'm also not rich. Costs should not be coming out of my pocket for something I have absolutely no control over and yet is a known, serious and extremely dangerous problem. Thank you for listening.
- John H., Haines City, FL, US