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.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,000 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.

2001 Dodge Stratus steering problems

steering problem

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2001 Dodge Stratus Owner Comments

problem #1

Mar 032005

Stratus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There was a complaint I just read by [xxx] ODI cse number[xxx], and I agree with him about this complaint be handled as a top priority investigation. I bought this as a used car, I knew I'd end of having to put some money into it since I was not buying a brand new car. But I've only had it for 6 months and have to put quite of bit into it. It has 59,000 miles on it. I've had to get the upper and lower ball joints replaced. A month later we heard a noise when we steered. We added power steering fluid cause we noticed it was low. Only two days after we heard the noise which got louder was hard to steer. I drive my two young kids with this car and felt unsafe in it. A friend of ours who is a mechanic looked at it and said there was a leak since the fluid was almost empty again. I was told it was power steering line. It was rubbing against the A/C line which is metal and wore a hole in the line. My mechanic said this line was in back order (obviously in high demand). When he finally got it in, seems like Dodge has made some changes on the design. This was my first Dodge vehicle I had purchased and first used vehicle also. Because of this, this will be the last for Dodge and used. I agree with [xxx]. this needs to be investigated thoroughly before someone gets seriously injured. Again my car has only 58,000 miles on it and should not be having such serious failures. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Abilene, KS, USA

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