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.
My daughter has a 2002 dodge stratus with a 2.7 v-6 that will start to loose power and stall after about 20-30 minutes of driving.When parked along side the road after a short wait (5 minutes or less) the car will start up once again and driving can be resumed. We have had it to 3 repair shops and haven't had any luck with a fix as the problem hasn't occurred while at these shops.There is no engine code light that would point to any exact fix and in reading other blogs there could be an electrical issue, but what ? B.
have had this car for about 3 yrs.it's actually my wifes car to drive,she has complained for several months sbout it buck jumping as she would cruise down the interstate.when i would drive it at first i could not feel it,i drive a little more aggressive than she does.i was thinking she was just nitpicking every little thing she could,then around dec. or jan. of 2011 i started filling it,now like the other folks on this site the car is running rough and at red lights you have to hold the gas & the brake at the same time or it will die.the gas mileage has allways been crap,and if you run the aircond. it will spit &sputter &even die at the red lights no matter what you do.have tried replacing plugs,wires,pcv valve,air filer the usual things in a tuneup.nothing as of now has worked.thinking of trying the coil packs next,i would put anew feul filteron it but the manu.put in the damn gas tank.
my conclusion is this,car makers don't give a sh## about the consumer or word of mouth,no matter what their going to sell cars,& thats all they care about! it's good to have sites like this so maybe other people don't have to go through the same bullsh## that we have.i will never buy another car,truck,atvor boat without first getting online &investigating first.good luck to everyone who has adodge stratus!
My Daughters 2002 Stratus has a intermittent problem, most of the time it starts and runs fine. But lately she tells me it starts then dies, and she will start it again and it runs for two to three seconds then dies. It does this starting and dieing thing until it warms up enough to run on its own or something. And it wont do it again until you shut it off and wait 3-5 minutes or maybe over nite.
Was driving home from work and stopped for a traffic light and the car shut off. It would start up ok but would idle rough in gear at times. It has never done this before. The next day after work I decided to take it to a garage to have it looked at and the engine over heated on the way there. Found out the water pump rear seal was leaking antifreeze into the engine and mixing with the oil. This was very bad because now I need a new engine. We could only find a couple of engines near us with more than 110,000 miles and they were asking $2500. My car only had 86,000 miles and I would change the oil every 3,000 to 3,500 miles. This car was kept in great condition. I could not see myself buying another used engine with this poor design defect and have the same problem again later. Blue Book on this car was $4500 at that time and I got zero for it in that condition. I and my whole family would never ever buy another Dodge again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My daughter has a 2002 dodge stratus with a 2.7 v-6 that will start to loose power and stall after about 20-30 minutes of driving.When parked along side the road after a short wait (5 minutes or less) the car will start up once again and driving can be resumed. We have had it to 3 repair shops and haven't had any luck with a fix as the problem hasn't occurred while at these shops.There is no engine code light that would point to any exact fix and in reading other blogs there could be an electrical issue, but what ? B.
- Bob S., Le Sueur, MN, US