Bought this 2004 Stratus back in 2005 brand new from the Dodge House in Midland Tx. The car had 329 miles on it. It was our 1st new car & we were extremely happy to have finally bought a new car. 2 months down the road the timing chain starting making noises, took it in & it got fixed. A/C compressor & heater core went out at around 45,000 miles, took it in & it got fixed. Finally paid the car off in December 2010 & then the current problem happened. At 76,000 miles the car started to make noise from under the hood & died. It wouldn't start, but I let it sit for about an hour & it finally started. Drove it right home (about 2 miles) pulled in & it died again.

Next morning went out to see if it would start & when it fired up it was making a lifter clatter noise. Popped the hood & removed the oil cap to discover major sludge in the head. Did some internet research & found this site, seen that all these people have the exact same problem as me.

I would like to take it in to the Dodge house but guess what, my warranty is up. We dropped the car from the insurance policy & have just let it sit, because its not worth fixing. Luckly we already own the title & don't owe anything on it. It just pisses me off that Dodge would sell a car with this kind of problem & not admit its a design error on there part.

We have within the last week bought a new car & no its not a Dodge. I guess I'll just have to sell the Stratus to a scrap yard & get whatever I can out of it. Thanks alot Dodge.

Ive had the same problem with my car too it goes away when i put my foot on the gas. I don't know what to do about it ive had the oil changed and everything but it still comes on. Just recently my engine started knocking and making a noise like its out of oil but it has just been changed. Ive had the oil pan cleaned of sludge and the engine to but i still have the knocking sound. I was told it was the water pump and coolant was mixing with the oil and that the oil wasn't getting to the whole engine. I don't know what it is but something needs to be done. LP's Automotive told me that alot of these cars are having these problems and that the engines are bad. And what makes thing worse is that i just got done paying that damn car off!!! Got it on December of 2004 and it starts dying February 2010.

i took my dodge stratus to the dealer on the 12th January 2008 to change the oil at the dealer in stone mountain off highway 78....and they called me and told me that the sensor was bad and then they replaced...so i picked my car up later that following day....and then i following morning i went back out to start the car...it could not start...i then called the dealership again to report the problem and they came and had it towed......and called me back later that following day and said that the engine is Dead.... and it will cost me $6000.00 to replace the engine.The car is sitting in the garage still paying a note on it and cannot be used..I had the car for four years and it never gave me a problem ..until that day i took it to the dodge dealer off highway 78 in stone mountain Georgia......and they refuse to take responsibility for it....i am left with no car...and still paying a note....i am very dissatisfied and no one is offering no help because they are saying the car is out of warranty..

I have a love hate relationship with my car, in proper working order, i totally love it. But now I am pissed beyond pissed. My damn car is only 3 years old, Im still making car payments. Anyways on my way to visit the family for Thanksgiving, and all of a sudden my engine goes out on me. Trapped on the damn grapevine, thank god for AAA. I went to the damn justaskcars.com and the expert there tells me that it is going to cost me like $5000 to fix it. Sh*t I owe more on the damn thing than that. I cant believe it I only have 52,186 miles on the damn thing and I have to replace the damn engine already. I dont even have any warranty on the car. I am so screwed. If im lucky maybe i can find a used engine. but whats the chance in that happening. I will never buy a Dodge again. I should have stuck with my damn Toyota corolla I drove the the hell out of that car, it has over 102,000 miles on it, and my sister has only had to do a tuneup. can you friggin believe it, better yet it is a 1998. I am so damn pissed. I wish we could boycott dodge.