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.
This really sucks..I'm sorry but if the company is going to put in an air bag for safety and you're driving down the road and turn into a corner..(not even a sharp turn)..the spring should not snap...and the air bag light came on...and stayed on...I looked in the manual book and its say "Take to Dealer immediately..Air Bag will not deploy correctly if needed"...Now, I look on to the computer for recalls and there is not one..and others have had the same problem...I'm a nursing student and don't have the extra money to spend on a spring and labor that the dealership wants a lot of money for...Can't anyone in the US make anything that is reliable...It's terrible that we live in this country and we can't have anything that is built to last...Take pride in your work...Stand behind your product...Dodge needs to issue a recall
Ok so im driving down the road and i was like turn to the left and BAM!!!!! I hear a horrible Crack and then My air bag light goes on. I was like WTF dude, am i gonna have my neck snapped by this airbag, and my gf was like omfg imma die imma die imma die, so we are like ok move your seat all the way back and lean a little. next thing i know is i google, i have done tons of research and found out that it was my clockspring and by the way this fu...... the thing is only available by dodge, no one else. so i have to pay dodge price which is $129 + tax for this crap, cuz dodge likes to mark things up so much. anyways im not one to complain when a car breaks down, i just get it fixed. but wtf dude this is a serious issue. have had much luck finding this online cuz about 1/4 of the cars have the same problem from 01 to 07. you would think that a recall should be issued by now, but no. chrysler has to see about 10 people die in order to fix this crap. i just hate how many problems this car is causing me.
- Yair H.,
Porterville, CA, US
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This really sucks..I'm sorry but if the company is going to put in an air bag for safety and you're driving down the road and turn into a corner..(not even a sharp turn)..the spring should not snap...and the air bag light came on...and stayed on...I looked in the manual book and its say "Take to Dealer immediately..Air Bag will not deploy correctly if needed"...Now, I look on to the computer for recalls and there is not one..and others have had the same problem...I'm a nursing student and don't have the extra money to spend on a spring and labor that the dealership wants a lot of money for...Can't anyone in the US make anything that is reliable...It's terrible that we live in this country and we can't have anything that is built to last...Take pride in your work...Stand behind your product...Dodge needs to issue a recall
- ldusharm, Auburn, NY, US