Dodge Stratus 2002

• Recall 114504 [USA]: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
  Mitsubishi motors north america, inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 chrysler sebring and dodge stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
  chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began july 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
  owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 84380 [USA]: If there is a separation of the ball stud from the housing, the driver can loose steering control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
  Federal-mogul is recalling certain replacement control arm assemblies, part numbers k7425, 10945, fa4510x, k7427, 10946, and fa4611x, sold for use on various passenger vehicles listed above. The ball joint on the control arm assembly can fail causing the ball stud to wear through the control arm housing resulting in noise and/or separation of the ball stud from the housing.
  federal-mogul will notify owners of record and replace the affected control arms free of charge. The safety recall began on january 28, 2011. Owners may contact federal-mogul at 1-877-489-6659.
  this recall only pertains to replacement control arm assemblies and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by chrysler llc.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 68282 [USA]: Separation of the ball stud from the socket of the ball joint housing would allow the control arm to collapse and the wheel to fold in causing loss of steering control, possibly resulting in a crash.
  Qualis automotive is recalling certain aftermarket ball joints sold for use on certain passenger vehicles. The socket may have been excessively hardened which could cause it to crack near the retaining ring groove allowing the ball stud to separate under impact load. The subject ball joints were sold as four part numbers, d10945, d10946, g10945, and g10946. The affected control arms, d10945 and d10946, are stamped with the following dates on the ball joints: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, and 116609. The g10945 and g10946 are the same part as the d10945 and d10946 respectively. They are labeled differently depending on the aftermarket customer.
  qualis automotive will replace the ball joints free of charge. The safety recall began on november 9, 2009. Owners may contact qualis automotive at 1-800-493-4128.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket ball joints and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by chrysler.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 85723 [USA]: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
  Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
  dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.In order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by dope, inc.The list can be found under "document search" located at the bottom of your screen. Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 46678 [USA]: Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
  Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987mza, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than dca7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The seal on master cylinder can fail and leak brake fluid.
  cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during april 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket cardone master cylinders and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the vehicles listed above.Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Safety belt cinching latch plate investigation as of 20021106

  There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.While conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).The information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.Further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
  

  Show Content

Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P0300 [2] Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
• P0301 [2] Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
• P0302 [2] Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
• P0303 [2] Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
• P0304 [2] Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected
• P0305 [1] Cylinder 5 Misfire Detected
• P0306 [1] Cylinder 6 Misfire Detected

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v338000 (air bags) however, the part needed to perform the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure the contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Cracks in the dashboard. Car doesn't sit in much direct sunlight. Appeared out of nowhere. I am concerned about safety issues regarding airbags. Also not aesthetically pleasing on otherwise nice interior. I do not take this vehicle on bumpy roads.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v338000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The internal water pump failed. This caused water to leak into the oil pan. The water got hot enough on a 600 miles trip from florida to mississippi that it boiled and caused the oil to turn into sludge (molasses like consistency). This caused a lack of lubrication of the dual camshafts which in turn burned up. End result was engine failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v338000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the part to do the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus coupe. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v338000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. A month ago, while driving an unknown rate of speed, the contact struck a deer and the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained pains to the right leg, right knee, and foot. A police report was not filed and the contact did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was not inspected to determine why the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer and the dealer were contacted for several months and the contact was unable to determine when the recall repair would be completed. The failure mileage was unknown.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v338000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The vin tool confirms parts not available.

My car has a bad noise and popping sound in the front end. I was turning out of my moms driveway when my front passenger tire collapsed in .. My upper ball joint broke . After my car was jacked up my lower a arm and ball joint was broke .. I replaced everything . A week later the driver side ball joint had to be replaced . My car still makes a aweful sound like something is about to brake . Should i replace every part in the front . Cause it dangerous for myself and my child .

My daughter pulled out of mcdonald's turning right and the left wheel collapsed under the vehicle. There was no accident and no one was injured. I had it towed to our house. I have read on line and found that it is a common problem. *js

Speaker in the back cargo area started smoking and caught fire and stereo shorted out. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while making a turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the steering wheel. In addition, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while driving and making a turn, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front driver side lower control arm and ball joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and two weeks later the clicking noise recurred. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the control arm was cracked. The control arm and ball joint was replaced for a second time and two weeks later the failure recurred for a third time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 191,300.

Grandaughter was returning home from college . Vehicle suddenly caught fire on highway between marble falls tex and burnet texas.. Her mother was following in another car and barely had time to rescue some of the personal items before entire car was engulfed in flames. Granddaughter barely escaped the vehicle without injury. She was able to get several pictures of the vehicle fire on her cell phone.. The fire begin either under the hood or under the front of the car and was completely engulfed in a matter of minutes.. Grandaughter and her mom was very distraught and terribly upset until fire dept from burnet arrived on the scene . They were called (911) by a passing motorist. The burned out vehicle was hauled in to burnet texas by advantage towing 512-756-7995. We have never received a recall from dodge about the possible fire hazards on this vehicle. *tr

I had smelled a burning smell in my car while i drive it. My husband had tried his best to find where the smell is coming from. We could not find it and now my radio doesn't work, the dome light don't work and the locks don't work. In order to lock my car i have to push the locks down. Can you please help me with what could be the possibility of what's wrong with my car? I haven't been driving it. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise from the dashboard as the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the air bag needed to be replaced. In addition, the horn and the cruise control failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 69,000. Updated 09/02/14*lj

Noticed slight gear slippage travelling 35-45mph. All fluids checked, at proper levels. A week later, engine 'jerked' when coming to complete stop, check eng light illuminated. Progressively worsened. Once engine warmed up, started hearing a 'whirring' noise from lower-middle area of engine. Stopped @ local repair shop, they checked fluids and vac hoses, noise stopped, but noticed coolant in reservoir side 3/4 full & boiling, temp gauge on dash 'normal'. Next day, while cold, i checked coolant level in reservoir (left side) still full, (hadn't flowed back thru system once cool). I added water to 'fill line', checked condition of pressure cap (looked fine), placed & tightened, started engine, let run a few minutes, loosened 'air bleeder' on top of coolant bleeder hsng. Then i slowly shifted thru all gears, w/foot on brake, let air bleed til solid stream of liquid and shut car off. Waited an hour, started up and drove. Ck eng lt= off. Fine for a few days, same issues started up again. Louder 'whirring', like a belt or band slipped. Irratic shifting, trans never failed. Ran both code tests on dashcluster=no dtcs. Jan 2014-drove to dodge dealership: disposition: replace mopar 41te trans. My lost wages / loss of veh use(dec/jan) + burden of a loan to replace the transmission = more than i paid in full to buy the car barely 6 months ago. Unfair to customers: ongoing computer and pcm/transmission failure since 1999. The 'oops' tech spec-correct trans fluid atf+4 how many damaged & failed transmissions? Refused to honor powertrain warranty!! And continued placing. Shame on all of the corporate executives & engineers that got rich from robbing the consumers. You were 'successful failures' mopar, chrysler-dodge-daimer-iacocca, etc. 90+ tsbs, no recalls. Class actions dismissed! Time for the consumers to prevail. Time for a california class action!! *tr

I got in my car to drive home and as soon as i started the car and turned the wheel just a little, i hear a popping sound coming from the steering wheel. The light on the dashboard came on stating "air bag". I have already had problems with the ball joints i had to replace myself and other issues with this car. Now i have a faulty air bag that is making noise every time i turn the wheel. I also found out i have no horn. It does not work since the air bag is faulty. I am not protected with an air bag and can not defend myself with my car horn...I need help! *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the rear driver side backing plate fractured and caused the wheels to seize. The vehicle taken to an independent mechanic. The technician verified the failure and stated that the backing plate, caliper, bracket, and parking brake shoes needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 50,000. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated while driving 30 mph the air bag light illuminated and began making a beeping noise. Approximately 60 seconds later the passenger side air bag deployed in the direction of the windshield. The windshield was cracked as well as damaging the dash board. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and an engineer was dispatched to inspect it. Over a month later the contact received a letter from the manufacturer stating they did not feel the failure was due to a manufacturer defect and would offer no assistance. The failure and current mileage was 140,000.

Trunk falls continually after staying in upright position for a few seconds or minutes. Everyone of my family has been injured since i bought the car 2 weeks ago. I now have a 6 inch diameter bruise on my arm from the latest incident. *tr

I have been hearing a terrible noise everytime i turn my 2002 dodge stratus. Often times i can't even turn the steering wheel. I have to get my car inspected and i found out that i have to have my front lower control arm/ball joint replaced because it failed. I also found out that this item was recalled. *tr

I have read about the known dodge 2.7 engine freeze issue and it happened to me. Please do something *tr

Plastic cover over driver door that controls the windows cracked and broke off causing the buttons to drop inside the door cavity. Went to dealer to get replacement part, told i had to order entire door cover as replacement for approx $800. Now the driver door will not close and latch shut. Attempted to move plastic part that would lock onto metal door frame, no luck. Unable to drive car if door will not close. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus se. The contact stated that when driving over a pothole at various speeds, the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal feeling. The contact investigated the vehicle and discovered that the engine bracket was fractured. The vehicle was then inspected by an independent mechanic who confirmed the failure and advised that the bracket would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on backorder. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

I was driving about 15 miles per hour and hit a slight indentation in the road where it have been newly paved. I heard a loud "thud" in the trunk of my car from the back driver's side. I pulled over and uncovered the wheel well and saw a hole where the strut mount should have been. I decided to take the car home and call a certified mechanic to fix this problem. While taking the car to the mechanic a couple days later, the passenger side made the same loud "thud". Within a few miles my car started filling up with smoke that smelled like burning rubber. While going around a small curve my shock came out and tore open my new tire. I had to get my car towed to the mechanic to get it fixed. What we found was a corroded piece of metal, which i later found out was my "strut mounts". I was also told that with my struts being almost nonexistent, and the tire blowing out that the actual frame of my car could very well be messed up too. The car is still being fixed due to the fact that the part that was needed was discontinued or something of that nature. (i did keep the corroded piece of metal that was once my strut mount.) *tr

The timing chain broke causing bent valves and the need to rework the top end of the engine. In doing research it was found out about the issues with the 2.7l v6 and the fact that this issue likely causes catastrophic engine failure. *tr

I purchased a 2002 dodge stratus r/t. The main problem that i am experiencing is: strong (dangerous) gas fumes are entering the cabin. It's been going on since feb 2009. I can smell the fumes almost all of the time while driving the vehicle. The smell is strong outside the vehicle even while it is parked with the engine running. I cannot drive my vehicle with the air conditioning or heat on because it sucks the gasoline fumes from the engine into the cabin. I've taken the vehicle to the dealership several time and they cannot find the source of the leak. Also i've had other mechanics look at this vehicle and they don't know how fix the problems. I cannot allow passengers to ride in my vehicle because i have concerns for their safety. I believe there is a safety defect (fire hazard/poisonous) and that someone really needs to look into this. I'm getting frequent headaches, weakness and dizziness and cannot afford to purchase a new car right now. *tr

Tl * the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle temperature increased. The contact shut off the vehicle and upon further inspection, found that the vehicle was leaking coolant. The vehicle was not repaired. The following day while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the contact was advised that the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 177,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the rear driver side ball joint fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the ball joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred over time with the remaining three ball joints detaching from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.

2002 dodge stratus rear strut mounting plates. Turning to powder seemed to be made of pre-cast aluminum, unpainted. Heard clanking sound thought the spare was loose after further investigation discovered driver side and passenger side mounting brackets were disintegrating this definitely should be a recall . *tr

I was driving to work on 4-30-2010 in my 2002 dodge stratus es sedan. I heard a strange metallic clunk from the rear of the car. Once i got to work i checked around the rear wheels and found that the driver/rear spring mount plate was totally corroded and a chunk was missing which caused the spring to slip (noise i heard). The other pass/rear side is just as bad. The aluminum mounts are totally corroded and flaking apart. I live in northern illinois so corrosion is a usual thing, but for parts to just flake away in chunks? This seems overtly dangerous and an engineering oversight. I need to get this fixed right away or who knows how the springs will fail and cause me to lose control. *tr

I have a 2002 dodge stratus se and when i put the key in it will not start. It will not even turn over. All the lights work, and the radio works, the lights don't dim when trying to start it, and when jump started it still does not work. The security light is staying on while key is turned on. A diagnostic computer was hooked up to it and it said there was nothing wrong with it. Suggestions say the security system has my car locked down. How can you disable the security system to get the car started. We have looked at fuses and we have disconnected and reconnected the battery cables. This is ridiculous and i am very disappointed in this car and the dealership that sold it to me. A while ago i had a different dodge stratus and never had problems with it... Is it just the 2002 edition or ???? It is very disappointing and aggravating. Also i just bought this car 2 months ago.... *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact was pulling into a parking lot at approximately 10 mph when he heard a loud noise outside the vehicle. The front control arm lower ball joint had fallen. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop but the vehicle had not been diagnosed when the complaint was filed. The contact called the dealership but was informed that he would have to be pay a diagnostic fee to have the vehicle inspected. The current and failure mileages were approximately 77,000.

I was driving my 2002 dodge stratus on the interstate when the engine dies. I coasted to the bottom of the exit ramp and attempted to start the car. All it would do is click. A call to aaa and the car was toed to the dealer. I call from the dealer later in the day revealed a seized engine. My husband confronted the dealer and asked to have the engine opened up for inspection. Sure enough large deposits of oil sludge. I asked the deal where we go from here and he said a replacement engine is $4900.00 after all the years of taking the car to the dealer for repairs and scheduled oil changes i must know replace the engine. How can chrysler not be aware of this problem with all the attention it is getting. *tr

Lower ball joint recall

Dodge stratus 2.7 liter trans replaced on 5-1-06 oil sludge engine failure on 1-2-10. *tr

2002 dodge stratus oil sludge issues - motor blown - *tr

While driving the car on a road trip (about 2 hours) the vehicle began smoking. After stopping the vehicle and opening the hood, the engine burst into flames. The car was a total loss. *tr

I own a dodge stratus (2002) that has an oil sludge problem. I had a mechanic look at it thinking it was a head gasket and was told that only the gasket would be like a band aid on the problem. He told me that the chrysler 2.7l engine is having "oil sludge" problems and that there is a class action lawsuit for this. I cannot junk this vehicle as i still owe several thousands of dollars. Also, i have been unable to use this vehicle for the past year and still have to pay my monthly bill. *tr

On my way to work one morning, the car stopped in the middle of the street. It was two blocks from the house. I had 2 neighbors push the car back to the house. I eventually took it to the mechanic, who told me the problem was the engine. He took out the parts trying to rebuild the engine and noticed there was sludge throughout the parts. He then told me it was not safe to try and clean it out, because there is no guarantee how far into the engine it had gone. I would have to purchase an whole new engine. He looked for engines but could only find those with high mileage. He was not sure if the engine would stand-up for long or eventually cause me to have to change it again. The car is still waiting for an engine. I have not been in a financial situation to afford it. I recently started to look again to get an idea of when i may be able to work on this again. I remember hearing there was an issue with the stratus' but when i called two local dealers for information, they told me they did not know anything about it. *tr

My steering all of a sudden got locked to the left and i almost ran into and other car. I went to a repair place and they told me it was my rack and pinion. I just got back from a trip and had no problems thank god but to go out all of a sudden. It scared me pretty bad i parked the car it is to dangerous to drive. *tr

I have had to replace control arms on my 2002 dodge stratus several times now. There is constant knocking under my car. I believe it is the same problem as all of the recalls that are with the dodge products; however, no recall has been issued for the dodge stratus 2002. *tr

On 9/3/08 i had brought my 2002 dodge stratus 2.7l v6 in for a coolant system flush. I was charged $129.95. Soon after, i smelled burning coolant, but the dealership had said it was just excess burning off. Two weeks later on 9/23/08, i was on rt 1 to out to my sister-in-laws in lancaster, pa, when my car overheated and had to shut it down on an off ramp. I got out of the car, and all the coolant was leaking out. I had it towed back to miller dodge, and they had informed me my water pump has failed and has to be replaced, along with the timing tensioner chain. It cost me $628.63. I had argued with the dodge dealership because they just did maintenance involving the water pump, and now it is dead. They said i would have to fight with chrysler about it. I found a bulletin on mycarstats.Com regarding my engine that the water pump appears to fail after a coolant flush is performed. The bulletin id # 0700202, mfg bulletin date: 20020204, and the nhtsa item # 629131. I called chrysler about it and they said they would not pay for it. I am still fighting that fight now, almost a year later. I feel that if the coolant flush damages the water pump, that it is a defect, and chrysler should pay for the cost of repairs. I do not feel i am getting any where with chrysler, and now i am reporting it, hopefully for some kind of solution. *tr

During daily driving my dodge stratus 2.7 motor failed. After taking to the mechanic, i was told it was cause by engine sludge and that the repair was going to cost me 4k. *tr

I have 2 large cracks in my dash, my car is well taken care of and does not sit in direct sunlight, one crack appeared over a year ago, i was driving and all of a sudden a loud cracking noise, now again the same thing only the newest crack is much larger and still getting bigger i also hear other cracking noise while driving so i imagine it is just matter of time before i have more cracks. I am concerned that this may cause safety issues. Dealer says nothing is covered to fix this problem. *tr

In the past eight months the check engine stays on. I had the computer code read and reset twice. After being reset the light returned within 1-2 days. The third time it came on the dealer said the car had a vacuum leak and replaced a cracked hose. On the second day after getting the cat back the check engine light popped back on and stayed on again. They say that there is no short to the sensor or light on the dash yet the light will not go off. A year ago the main computer died and had to be replaced. The car is a 2002 dodge stratus with only 37,000 miles on it. The dealer is stumped, i am out several hundred dollars , and the problem remains. The car has been well maintained. *tr

2.7l engine failure. Tensioner for primary timing chain failed to extend. 2 o rings missing on tensioner . Oil sludge in engine. Oil passages almost plugged. *tr

Took my dodge stratus 2002 in and mechanic deemed rear struts bad. Ordered replacements. When arrived they had sent rear upper strut housing mr31114 instead of #4879072ad. When local chrysler dealer called it was stated that there was a backorder of over 8000 of these. I then called the 800 number and after 4 hrs of climbing the ladder was informed that this part was in fact backordered with currently that many cars awaiting this part and that it was being retooled and would be unavailable till late august. The issue is safety in that the rear upper strut housing if broken presents an issue for driver and vehicle safety and the number of cars needing what is not available is growing and the company has neither a recall or safety notice out nor in my conversations at least have any concerns or care about this. For many if this is your only vehicle you have limited options and many of these vehicles will be on the road in this condition of broken rear upper strut housings. What am i to do and what recourse is there? *tr 'information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(b)(6).'

Mopar agrees recall should be done on this part failure. 02 dodge stratus rear strut mounts. Strut mounting plates on vehicle are made of aluminum or some type of white metal and they have disintegrated into a powder like dust and the strut was detached. Mopar confirmed about 8553 backorders on 7/8/08 dealers and 8607 backorders as of 7/9/08 - i replaced part from a junkyard car, as this is the quickest way to get a car back on the road until supply is adequate on new parts with new design. Vehicles can be expected to be out of commission as this is a safety issue. Possibly for months with the current situation. *tr

2002 dodge stratus rear strut mounts. The top, rear, strut mounting plates on this vehicle are made of aluminum or some type of pot metal and they have completely corroded to the point of the struts not being attached to the body of the vehicle. As my wife was driving home from work the vehicle suddenly swerved to the left and she proceeded home at a very slow speed. Upon inspection the left rear strut mounting plate had completely disintegrated and the strut was not attached at all to the vehicle. I believe this is what caused the swerve. Upon checking with dealers and people on the internet i've found that this part has failed on thousands of cars. No parts are available and we were told by a dealer that, on average, there are 1800 requests per week for this part and a total of almost 8,000 on backorder this seems to me to be a safety defect and it is made worse by the fact that no parts are available. I would think there should be a safety recall on these as they could easily cause a wreck when they break free. *tr

Rear frame to suspension mount has broke. The shock inside the coil then was able to get lodged into the spring. This made the suspension stuck/immobile. The vehicle was 3-wheeling around corners on the way to the dealership. We were told the part was back-ordered to the factory and was not available at any other dealership across the us. Wait time for the new part is more than a month. I work for an automotive supplier. If its this hard to get a part, something more is wrong. How many others are suffering our fate. *tr

Noticed increased oil usage with no leaks although oil was changed every 3 months or 3000 miles. At approx. 122000 miles, engine threw a rod. Several dodge/chrysler mechanics stated this was due to "oil sludge" buildup, saying this is a very common problem with the 2.7l v6 engine regardless of the type of oil used or frequency of oil changes. *tr

Oil sludge caused catastrophic engine failure causing the engine to stop working on the ca-110s. *tr

The engine stop working and i replace the engine and it did the same thing. Its the 2.7l v6 engine that has been given people a lot of problems. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. While driving approximately 30 mph on a wet surface, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle hydroplaned. He rear ended the preceding vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact received a concussion. A police report was filed. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 60,000. The body shop informed the consumer the reason why the airbag did not deploy was because the sensors were mounted so low in the front and rear of the vehicle. Updated 05/30/08

Oil light started flickering most when i was applying the brake. The engine started knocking maybe 3 weeks after. I knew i was due for an oil change so i had one done yesterday that didn't stop the knocking. I take it to the dealer i brought the car to have it looked at and he told me it was the engine so last night as im driving the knocking got real loud and you could smell something burning. The oil light was flickering more. Before i knew it the car had completely shut down. *tr

My 2002 black dodge stratus rt has the clear coat coming off the top of it. The top of my car is almost white. *tr

One day after we purchased a 2002 dodge stratus from a private seller, the car died and had to be towed to a mechanic. He had it for 3 days but car started for him. 2 days later car died again so we towed it to a dodge dealer. He had it for 2 days and informed us the engine was shot due to oil sludge and a timing issue. It would need an engine replacement for $6100. We drove the car less than 20 miles, didn't make our first payment on a 3 year loan and have no car to drive. I still have a 10 year old dodge caravan, but was not aware of the defective 2.7l engine dodge knowing sold to consumers. Never buy another dodge. *tr

Dealer dragging feet on repair, even with us having purchased the extended warranty.*cn

Always changed the oil every 3,00 miles. And the engine seized. It knocked for less than a minute prior to total failure with the correct amount of oil in the engine. The public should be warned and anyone this has happened to should be reimbursed the amount to fix the problem through dodge. *tr

2002 dodge stratus began to hesitate and act like it was stalling driving a 10 mile commute. Wife pull over, opened the hood, but saw nothing wrong. Being only a couple miles from home she attempted to restart the car. The car would not start and didn't sound right. She called our mechanic and had the car towed to his business. He told us that after making several attempts to start the car that the engine seized. Both the water and oil were well within the normal operating range. The car has only 58,000 miles on it has been well cared far and driven by my overly cautious wife. As i have learned more about this engine i have found plenty of evidence online that the 2.7l v6 engine is probably one of the worst examples of faulty engineering in memory. This could have caused very serious problems, and chrysler should have been forced to recall this. This is an outrageous fraud upon the american public that also makes me think that nhtsa is not doing their job for the american people. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. While driving 40 mph, the contact heard a rattling noise in the engine compartment. A mechanic stated that the engine could explode if the vehicle is driven. The contact spoke with dodge and they stated that they were unaware of the failure. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 94,000.

We had taken our car in to the dodge dealer here in okeechobee. It was having a regular tune-up and misc other things done. The dealer had it for 2 days. Two days after i was taken my 70 year old father to his physical therapy class when the drivers seat back fell completely to the back seat in a laying down position. I was just proceeding out of my drive way. Thank god as if i was on the highway there could have been a fatal accident. I had not touched nothing on the seat mechanics before this happened. I called the dealer and nothing has been done about this as of yet. I knew there had to be someplace that would help me with this problem. Also that same car dealer ship rounded off the oil cap on the pan and they did fix that. The seat is still broken. I am not a large person nor is anybody that drives the vehicle so we still think it was either the mechanic at the car dealer ship or a faulty seat mechanism. This could have been a very dangerous incident had i not acted fast. *tr

While on 495 long island expressway the car made a load knocking sound and died. When towed to our mechanic he said it was engine failure. This happened in nov. 2007(the car was purchased new in august 2002), and there were no funds to fix it which has caused transportation/financial difficulties in regard to work from nov. 2007 until the present,june 2008. The daimler chrysler rep. Said they weren't responsible because we didn't bring the car to them for our oil changes. I just received an estimate to replace the engine with a jaspar engine for 4,500 to 5,000 dollars. *tr

Engine failure. *tr

I bought this car in january 2006. I was having problems with the car, little things kept going wrong. I have kept up on maintenance. 3 weeks ago my water pump went out. I picked up my car after the repair and the oil light was still on. Apparently when the water pump had failed, it was leaking coolant and such into the engine. Not to mention the sludge. Of course 2 days after picking up the car, the engine failed on the interstate with my 2 year old son in the car. It is still in the shop. I am having to have a brand new engine installed. *tr

I had my dodge stratus 2002 since summer of 2005. While going to work one morning, i thought i heard that the starter was going. I called and had the manufacturer's local inspection shop look at the car and they told me that the engine had blown out. If i recall the engine should be the last thing to die in a car. This vehicle is only five years old, regardless of mileage the engine should still be going. The manufacturer claimed that they couldn't help because i bought the car from another car dealer and not the manufacturer. This matter should be inspected. *jb

Oil light came on and the engine seized. Nothing has been done, the car is currently sitting untouched. *tr

Rear shock upper mount attacked by corrosion, vehicle only 4.5 years old and 60,500 miles. Un-painted pot metal like material broke up into multiple pieces without warning. One minute vehicle drove fine, hit a typical pavement expansion joint causing a light clunk to develop. Within two miles i pulled over to inspect because the hammering in the suspension got so bad. Found the rear shock absorber was no longer retained at the upper end. Vehicle could still be driven home gently but there was nothing retaining the coil spring to the body other than gravity. Both upper mounts were replaced with painted replacement parts from the dealer. The left rear mount had not failed yet, but corrosion was rapidly turning it into powder from the top down. *tr

Normal driving then the engine started clanking and quit. Service station said the 2.7 v6 is a terrible engine and need to be totally replaced. Called chrysler and they said they would not help me. It cost about $4000 to fix. Not sure what to do. Can't afford that there are thousands of complaints on www.Dontbuyone.Org with the same complaint.*ak

I have had the control arm replaced on this car twice on the same side within a two year period. Now i am having problems with the car it jerks when it gets up to 50 mph. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. The contact stated that there were two 3-inch cracks, and two 5-inch cracks in the dashboard. As of february 25, 2008, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls associated with the vehicle. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 70,740.

I have two large cracks that have appeared in the dash of my vehicle. I do not know how the cracks occurred, they just appeared. Because of the cracks, i'm afraid that in a crash the dash will fall apart and harm those individuals in the vehicle. At this point, nothing has been done to correct this problem.*jb

Started car, air bag light came on and passenger airbag deployed for no apparent reason. Broke windshield on passenger side of vehicle. Checked to see if there are any recalls none. Want to file complaint against chrysler corporation. *nm

Dash cover cracked and broken in several places. Raises airbag deployment (safety) and aesthetic (re-sale) issues. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated four times since purchase, the vehicle revved out of control while stopped. The brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle was shifted into neutral. The vehicle restarted and was taken to the dealership, who was unable to determine a problem. Updated 10/18/2006 - the irs time this happened the dealer noticed that the intake was very black and that the throttle was possibly sticking, causing the iac motor to overcompensate. *nm

Rear strut mount plates disintegrated turned to powder creating unsafe condition with rear suspension. Replaced strut and plates. Have pieces what is left of it. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated oil had leaked all over the engine. The dealership was contacted.

My daughter was driving the car on a residential street at about 25 mph. She hit a slight pot hole and hear a loud bang in the rear of the car. The car continued to make a sound like something was rolling around (banging) in the trunk. I took the car to the dealer and was told the rear strut plate mount disintegrated and was dangerous to drive without replacement. I was aware of another dodge stratus of same type and year with this exact same problem so i felt i should report it to you as did the other party. *jb

The front tie rod ends are both defective on my 2002 dodge stratus. The car has only 53000 miles on the odometer, all of which were normal driving miles. I do not feel that this part should fail after such a short amount of time. *jb

First complaint...On more than one occasion on wet roadways i would begin to slow down farther behind than normal for my stop or turn. Every single time my breaks locked up on me and i slid. A couple of times almost ended in a collision. I was involved in an accident dealing with a train. When i stopped the train hit the front end of my car. It pulled off my bumper, hood, radiator, coolant each landing at least 75 feet away. It also twisted my engine, transmission, bent my frame, and rear axle. All the while my battery blew up. Out of all of that my air bags did not deploy. *nm

Dashboard continues to crack in several places. This raises safety concerns in terms of frontal impact and air bag deployment. Vehicle was never in a crash that would cause cracks. *jb

I was driving at about 30 mph and drove over a slight depression in the pavement when i heard a loud bang from the passenger right rear. The loud banging sound continued as long as the car was driven. I noticed a compromise in the handling of the vehicle. I took the vehicle to a registered repair shop where i have been a customer for over twenty years. I was told not to drive the vehicle since the rear strut plate top mount had disintegrated due to the fact they were made out of aluminum. The driver rear strut mount was on the verge of breaking apart also. It appears that road salt probably contributed to this situation. The replacement mounts purchased from the dealer were not made of aluminum. The following repair/parts was performed: rear shock & or strut assembly (2), upper shock mount (2). *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 mph the vehicle made a knocking noise and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined a rod and crank bearings fractured causing damage to the underside of the engine. The engine will need to be replaced.

I drive a 2002 dodge stratus 4 door r/t and noticed a sound coming from the rear of car. I pulled over could not see anything and drove again. It still made a loud thump sound from the rear of car. Inspected car at home with proper tools, i found the rear strut mount on the left of car was broke in to 6 pieces. In sight of this i took the right rear strut mount off and found it to be broke into 2 piece with a 2 inch crack going across part of it. Ordered two new rear strut mounts to find out there has been a major part change. The old parts are aluminum and not painted and the revised parts are steel and are painted black. I called dodge's compliant line and was hung up on. Please note that 4 door r/t suspensions are not the same as all other 4 door stratus cars. Tires wore on the inner edges and the shocks were free to jump up and down since not attached to the car. *jb

My engine light stays on and oil light comes on after the oil has been changed. *tr

Dodge stratus 2002 2.7 motor failure at 80,000 due to sludge build up caused by water leaking into motor, poor engine design and manufacturer should of advised that this car needed aggressive oil changes with synthetic oil not fossil fuel based oil. Stranded wife on highway on christmas eve. Dealership will not repair due to poor maintenance. Car is still under warranty. Said that i did not do enough oil changes. Car was maintain to company specs. *nm

My car needs a new engine. It has ~42000 miles. The mechanics one from knoxville,tn where the engine died and the one in kenosha,wi where i had to have the car brought home, said the oil holes are to small to let sufficient oil thru the engine. The car is still sitting at the mechanics shop because i do not have $3000.00 to have it fixed. *nm

I drove to knoxville, tn. I went to a basket ball game. On the interstate the engine started knocking real terribly. I called my mom and she said to check the oil in the morning. I did it was at a perfect level.(i had got the oil changed about a week before this trip.) i had the car towed to a maintenance shop. They said the oil holes are to small to let sufficient oil through to the engine and that the oil was like gummy at the bottom of the engine(how would any one know that) and it ruins your engine. I had another maintenance shop check my car at home in wi. They said the same thing the mechanic said in tn. The car needs a new engine. The car is in my drive way because i have no money to put a new engine in the car. My mom was good enough to drive to tn and rent a uhaul with a trailer and bring my car back. I don't only need at least $3000 for engine i also owe my mom $700 for the towing. *nm

02/2005 - during normal commute hours, i noticed my transmission slipping during acceleration. Took it into the dealership (63,067 odometer), they said that the transmission cooler lines were leaking and both hoses needed to be replaced.( i park my car in the same spot at work and at home, and hadn't noticed any leakage) i was assured that although there were no spots, that should fix the problem along with a flush, clean, and conditioner. Unfortunately, those parts weren't covered under my extended warranty.($406.62 in repairs) nothing was listed or mentioned about any other parts that needed to be replaced. 11/2005 - on my way to work, the transmission starts slipping again and went out on me. This time i'm being told i need a front pump, valve body, and torque converter ($2,900 in repairs). With 81,000+ miles on the car, and now out of warranty, i'm being told there is nothing they can do about it. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35mph on a winding road, curving right, the steering wheel jerked and the vehicle turned left. The brakes seemed stiff when applied. The vehicle hit a fence and the driver sustained severe injuries. The airbags did not deploy, although seat belts were worn. A police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance agency, but no determination was made as to why the airbags failed to deploy. However, the insurance agency did determine the accident may have been cause by a steering or brake problem.

The automatic transmission failed at 59,000 miles on my 2002 dodge stratus. The vehicle started to make a popping sound under the hood on the drivers side. The sound was intermittent for about 3 months. On september 22, 2005, the vehicle began to make a loud whistling sound and started to shift hard and/or delay shift. I took the vehicle to a repair shop and it was diagnosed with a hard part transmission failure. The total cost of repair was $2100.00 and the vehicle went out of warranty at 50,000 miles. *jb

Left front axle came apart while driving. The previous month the right front axle came off while driving. Lower control arm on both sides were replaced. *nm

Water outlet erupted and caused vehicle to run hot. Also, the eruption knocked a slight dent in the hood. The part was ordered from the mfr and replaced the next day. *nm

Fax fwd ltr on behalf of constituent , re 2002 dodge stratus that blew up because of steering fluid leakage. *ts the manfacture denied any responsibilty for the faulure. A year later the consumer received a recall regarding the high pressure power steering hose, 06v001000. *nm

My 2002 dodge stratus coupe has faulty starts. This problem has occurred several times, i have had it towed to the dealers twice before. There was one occasion when it didn't start, then hours later all of a sudden it did. The first time i took the vehicle to the dealers, they said it was a problem with a large evaporation leak. The second time, the dealership couldn't figure out the problem , kept the car for 4 days, then told me the car started on its own. This last time the car died when i was reversing out of a parking space. I tried to restart it many times with no luck, i had it towed to the dealership again, which at first they couldn't figure out the problem, now they are telling me its a problem with the psm connection to the fuel pump. But something happened while they tried to fix it which caused a shortage , then they realized it was "defective wiring". The mechanics at the dealership are now taking my car apart and trying to replace all the faulty wiring. But there is another issue, i have service receipts showing "won't start, drivability concern" dating back from 6/13/02 , 14 months prior to my purchasing the new vehicle. *jb

Dt: 2002 dodge stratus. The problem was a broken upper rear right ball joint. While driving in a parking lot at 5 mph heard a noise , and the back end of the car settled down, upon inspection the rear right wheel was leaning towards the car. The car was not drivable, and had to have it towed. It has been fixed at the cost of $200. There were no recalls. Very dangerous situation if driving at highway speeds. No accidents. *ak *jb

While using the air conditioning, the blower motor will only work on high. Had the car serviced at the dealership in clarkston, mi and it was found that the resister on the blower motor was defective. Part was replaced under warranty in 2004. Issue occurred again in july of 2005. Warranty has expired and my husband replaced the resistor in july of 2005. Is this a high failure unit on the 2002 dodge stratus? *nm

Several months ago i began noticing that the transmission on the vehicle was not shifting down in a smooth manner. I went to the local dodge dealership and talked with the service manager, explained the problems i was experiencing and asked for advice on what to do. The service manager said that with the computer operated transmission, that the computer is a little slow and not to worry about it. Recently however the problem has been increasing in both frequency and severity. To the point when i am comming to a stop at a stop light or stop sign the vehicle surges forward as i come to a stop and it shifts to the lowest gear. If the trend continues i can see this either destroying the transmission or causing an accident as the surge pushes the vehicle forward. The service department at the local dealership refuses to diagnose the problem and contends that it is just a slow computer and will not cause any problems.

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 55 mph, the vehicle had an oil sludging problem, internal oil leaking and an increase of engine oil consumption by the engine. The manufacturer and dealership did not properly identify the problem and did not honor any warranty claims. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop who determined that the engine needed to be replaced because the damage was too extensive to fix. The vehicle was inoperative since the day of the incident.

Lower ball joint failure (separation) on right front of 2002 dodge stratus, pulling in to driveway, under normal driving conditions. *ak

While drivingin inclement weather the windshield wipers would come on and off on its own. The driver noticed that the windshield wipers would pop up and stay in the upright position. The driver drove to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed determined that the windshield wiper motor needed to be replaced. *ak

I was just pulling out of my driveway going less than 5 mph when i heard what sounded like a gunshot. I put my foot on the brake and looked over my right shoulder and saw nothing. I paused approx. 5 seconds before deciding to pull forward and to the side of the road to investigate. I took my foot off the brake and as the car began to roll forward there was a tremendous explosion and the passenger airbag deployed, shattering my windshield. I have asthma and have been having significant breathing problems since the occurrence.*ak

Transmission solenoid leaking along with transmission hose lines. Solonoid was covered in warranty. Hose lines and clamps were not. Car had only 60k. Book specifies transmission service at 100k. I contend that the clamps used on the lines are not able to adjust to the aging hose and cannot last the recommended service time. Adjustable clamps were employed to correct the issue.*ak

In or around october 2004 i took my car in for it's 30,000 checkup. I have a 2002 dodge stratus. I told the service technician that i had a "thud" in the front in of my car. He told me that it was my "front suspenssion". It was fixed, but was not noted on my invoice. A while later i felt the same "thud" everytime i turned the corner or turned my steering wheel to the left. Sometime in january my check engine light came on. Well, i took it to the dealership to find out what was going on with my 2002 vehicle. Now, mind you, i paid my car off 10 months after i purchased it from dodge. Anyway, not only did i feel that i shouldn't have to pay for the diagnostic but i also feel that car is too new for the "rack & penion" and my "evap system" to go out. They talked me into buying another car this past weekend,april 9, 2005 but decided to return the car on april 11, 2005. They didn't even want to compensate me for my car being a "lemon" as the salesperson deemed my car to be except for trade my car for $6,000.00 and have payments, again, of $275.74 for 71 months. I don't think that's fair. For one, my car is paid off and two my car is too new for it to have these kind of problems. I want to know if there's been any recalls or problems on the 2002 dodge stratus'. *ak

While driving to work a bolt broke on my upper control arm. My tire was on a 45 degree angle. Very dangerous. Took to place i bought car to get under extended warranty. Warranty place refused to fix i am fighting it. I paid out of my pocket.*ak

Transmission cooler hoses cracked causing leak of transmission oil. Hoses had to be replaced at owner expense. Old part is available. *jb

Car hesitated to go into gear, next day, just driving down the road and it stops pulling. The transmission went completely out,right in the middle of an intersection!Hauled it to a garage, the transmission is completely shot. Will cost $1200.00 to $1500.00 to replace. If someone was in heavy traffic when this happened this would be extremely dangerous! From what i have been reading this is a very common problem in these vehicles. It is a 2002 dodge stratus se.I will have to borrow the money to have it fixed, as so many people have from what i have read about these and many other dodge vehicles. *jb

I bought my 2002 dodge stratus in october of 2004. The dealership told me there was still the factory warranty on it but failed to tell me it expired in one week. It was at this one week mark i took my car in for a ticking noise to three different places, two of them dodge dealers and they told me there was no problem. As the noise got worse, i took the car back to a dealership and they told me my timing chain was going out and could ruin my whole engine at any time. The cost of repair was $800. I had to fight with chrysler that a car this new should not have this problem before they agreed to pay half. I have also had to recently replace my starter october 2006 after the fuse blowing three times of which i had to have my car towed to a mechanic in addition to paying for repairs. I hate this car!!!!!! *jb

1st occurree was shortly after purchasing the vehicle. Engine light came on, needed new egr valve. After full inspection of vehicle on a very bright day i found slices in side walls of two tires and the door panel drivers side was broken. Car brought to dealer, said to have ordered parts and replaced tires. Tires not replaced. Few weeks later, front tire blow out. Major ordeal with dealer and warranty company to be re-imbursed. Shortly after that car became very sluggish, check engine light came on and an odor or burning rubber was present. Brought vehicle to dealer was informed the soleinoid to transmission was cligged andwas replaced at my cost. Two weekes later the entire transmission went vehicle had 58,000 miles. Had vehicle towed to a dealer close by to have repairs completed, place of purchase dealer stated noone works on our vehicles. Car transported and transmission replaced. Next after transmission was replaced, same problem occurred and vehicle became disabled, results a speed control sensor in transmission was replaced at my cost out of pocket. Again just yesterday, vehicle became disabled, towed to dealer now awaiting disposition. *ak

I was driving along the road and the rear drivers side upper ball joint separated and the car started swaying. Luckily i was on a side road where the speed limit was 30 mph and nothing serious happened, but if i had been traveling down the interstate or other major highway my family and i could have been seriously hurt or even killed. I had the car repaired at darlings auto sales in ellsworth maine they have the exact date it happened and repair info if you need it. They contacted chrysler to see if it was covered or not. I am not sure if they did or not as i purchased extended warranty when i purchased the car ( it is a 2002 dodge stratus) the car had just over 36000 miles when this happened. I wouldn't have thought much about it but i was watching tv and they was showing the dodge durango and dakota having the same thing happening. *jb

Clock spring failure...Airbag lite is on is the 1st sign of the problem. *ak

I was in a car accident. I rear ended the suv in front of me. The front of my car is smashed pretty bad. My air bag didn't deflate. I believe that is a very serious saftey hazard. *ak

While driving at 35 mph consumer heard a noise coming from the engine. Suddenly the engine stalled. Vehicle was towed to an independent repair sho, and mechanic determined engine needed to be replaced. Dealership was notified. *ak

Consumer complained about a transmission problem. While stepping on the accelerator pedal transmission did not goe into gear. Consumer heard a whining sound, then vehicle popped, and went into gear. However, the whining sound did not not stop. *ak

Engine light came on 9/15/04, took it to dealer on 9/16/04 and was informed the transmission was bad and needed replaced. My car at the time of faliure had 43,125 miles on and that is it, there was no prior warning or knowledge of the transmission going bad, i have had the car serviced just as the manual says to and there was no warning. The consequences of this is it cost me $1325 dollars to have the transmission re-built. The entire transmission had to be re-built.*a

I recently purchased a used 2002 dodge stratus se. I purchased this car with 35,000 miles and everything appeared in order. Suddenly one day a loud clicking noise started coming from the driver's side front wheel when the brakes were applied. I brought the vehicle in for a brake inspection for the clicking noise and was told that the driver's side rear roter was warped. I explained that the noise was emanating from the front end. The repair shop stated that the noise originated in the rear roters and traveled through the frame to the front end.The rear roters were recut. A few days later the noise returned. I called the repair shop back and related that the noise was still coming from the front end. I was told that this shop has seen numerous stratus's and many have this same problem. The repair shop does not know what the problem is and to take it to a dealership. Additionally,after the clicking noise was discovered i expirienced the brakes locking up twice. The abs does not seem to be working. The vehicle is out of warrenty now and the dodge dealership i spoke with stated that they could fix the clicking noise and the abs problem for $1500.00 a search of your data base revealed numerous complaints concerning a similiar front end noise and abs failure. If there are so many complaints concerning this vehicle's system then why isn't a recall being initiated. Or does it take a fatality to get this problem addressed.*ak

I am submitting a complaint on the paint of my vehicle. I have not checked with my warranty yet. I live in a warm climate the car is 2 years old the paint should not be peeling.*ak

While parked, the vehicle engage into drive or reverse. *ak the knob was extremely sensitive and the least little touch and or bump would change the gears. *sc *jb

While driving console light went out. Only the odometer was digital. A diagnostic test was performed, but no failure code was found. Dealership nor factory representative could identify what was causing this to occur. The vehicle could not pass state inspection until this problem was corrected. *ak

I took my stratus into the dealership for its free oil change. While driving there my "brake" idiot light flickered on a few times when stopping. I asked the dealer to look into this. *ak the dealer told me that the cause was excessive brake wear. At 26000 miles all 4 pads are shot and both front rotors are worn. Chrysler will do nothing about this. I have owned over 8 cars and usually get about 60,000 miles or so out of a set of brakes. I called midas and they said that they have dont a lot of brake jobs on dodge stratus vehicles in my area.

When driving at low speeds, there was a wrapping noise in the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, who indicated that the brake pads and rotors had worn prematurely. The parts will be replaced. *jb

While braking at 60 mph consumer was forced off the road due to the front passenger wheel locking up. Consumer had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

Odometer will not register, it was inoperable, could not get the vehicle inspected. *ak

Driving 35 mph, another vehicle caught in front of the consumer. This caused the consumer to t-bone the vehicle on the passenger side door. The consumer stated that, both frontal air bags did not deploy upon impact. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership for inspection. *la

I am concerned with a few things on my 2002 dodge stratus se 4 door. One, i feel that the abs system on my car did not work properly. I had to do an emergency stop with my car in which my wheels locked up and the car proceeded to "launch forward" at least 10 feet even though my foot was still on the brake pedal.There were no skid marks. I ended up hitting a woman in front of me who had jacked up. Please keep in mind that i was only traveling at about 25 mph having just come through a light. In addition to that, even though i was wearing my seatbelt, i still hit the dashboard with my knee and the steering wheel with my chin. Normally when i come to a stop at a stop sign my seat belt gets tighter when i step on the brakes and i have trouble leaning forward to look both ways, it seems like that is how it is supposed to work. Also, my airbags never deployed. I am very concerned about these issues. I love my car but i am now afraid to drive it especially with my children in it. What happens if i have to do an emergency stop because of a child running out in the street 20 feet from where i am. Will my car stop then. I know cars don't stop on a dime but i feel at the rate of speed i was traveling and the conditions of the road, i should have never hit that woman. What do i do? *ak

While driving at 20 mph automatic transmission failed. *ak

Transmission is leaking about 1qt of fluid per week. Only 15,000. Miles on the vehicle. *ak

I went to start the car, it made a horrible ticking noise. After several attempts it finally started. It did this two times. *jb

I brought car to dealership before warranty ended for transmission work. The said they fixed it but 17,000 miles later transmission went completely out. Dealer says it is now my problem to get fixed. *nm

Engine failed at 54,800 miles on my 2002 dodge stratus se. Car was taken to the dealer for a slight engine knock. Car had no problem starting. We left the car there for them to diagnose the problem. They called and said that i needed to replace the engine (2.7l dohc 24 valve v-6) at no cost to me that it was under warranty. We agreed and 3 day's later they called and told me that the warranty was canceled and would not tell me why. I gave them all my maintenance records. When we arrived to pick up our car, the service advisor told us that the car may not start because it had been sitting there for 2 weeks. That's bull... He then told us that the car had jumped time and that they would put it back in time for us and split the cost. We agreed yet again and left the car there. He then called us again and said that the car didn't jump time, but that there was so much engine sludge built up that it was starving the car for oil. And that's why it wont start. But the car had no problem starting and running before we dropped it off just a little engine knock at idle. Please help me... Thank you. *jb

Acorn nuts securing aluminum windshield wiper arms to their splines loosen up. Spline holes in wiper arms "strip",causing loss of wiper function. Wiper motor and linkage appear to function normally. No apparent use of locking devices (lock washer, loctite, etc.) to keep nuts tight. *cb

Had parked vehicle. Noticed flames coming from under the hood near the engine compartment. Fire dept called and arrived to put out flames. Cause of fire has not been determined by fire dept. *ak

Ther is a definite noise in the right front coil spring area. It only shows up on uneven or rough surface roads. The dealer keeps insisting there is nothing wrong with the front end. Of course all of the roads they test drive it on are smooth. They won't let me take a tech on a drive in my area.

The check engine/transmission light keeps coming on. I brought it in once they replaced a hose. A few days later it came back on we brought it to a differant shop they reset it and blamed me for it. Stating that i leave my car run when i put gas in it and that is why it comes on. Well the light came back on and we are working on making a 3rd appointment to get it fixed. If its doing all of this now while still under warranty what happens after the warranty!?

Service engine soon light keeps coming on. Car was running at extremely high rpms at times. Gas mileage was significantly lower than in the past. Dodge stated originally that the problem was the spark plugs. Replaced all spark plugs. Light came back on two weeks later. They then stated it was a problem with the pulley on the end of the crank shaft that was causing the engine to misfire and trigger the light to come on. After 10 additional days in the shop, they replaced the part. Today the light came on again and as of now are unsure what the problem is. Today is the 18th day it has been in the shop in the past 6 weeks. *la

When brakes were applied consumer would hear a loud noise coming from the brake rotors. Mechanic indicated noise was due to rotors wearing out prematurely. *ak

While driving and accerlerating, car starts to jerk / hesitate - poor gas mileage - tac flutters and engine revs up while car is park or in neutral. *la

I have had a problem with my speedometer. I have found that when i start my stratus the speedometer looks like it is racing to 90 or so and then back again. I have had the car in the dodge dealer about five times for this but they don't see a problem. This has been going on for about a year or so and happens a couple of times a week. *la

While driving at 35 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a head on collision with a parked vehicle. Consumer was not wearing a seat belt, and air bags did not deploy. A citation was presented to the consumer by the police. There were no injuries to the consumer.*ak

My car makes a loud clicking/grinding noise while applying the brakes and turning. I have had the steering rack replaced, the upper and lower control arms replaced twice, the ball joints replaced twice, the control arm bracket replaced, the sway bars replaced. The noise stopped after the bracket was replaced but came back after a month. This car has been in seven times with no resolve.*ak

Within one week of purchase the consumer had to have a new transmission installed. Now the brake lights illuminated when the vehicle made turns. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the consumer was told that they will not look at it because the vehicle was not under warranty. The consumer wants to know what she can do. *nlm

The headlight continously blew out while driving. The dealershp replaced the light bulb, but could not identify what was causing the problem. The consumer took the head light assmembly apart and noticed that the wiring system had melted. *jb

The brakes on my wifes 2002 dodge stratus had failed twice, brake pedal was at floor and car did not stop. Both times the road conditions were clear. Had dealership inspect and they found no problems with the brakes or with the master brake cylinder and gave the braking system a clean bill of health. The brakes have failed once more since taking car to dealership (this is all within a three week period). Fortunalty no accient has occured. Per service departement the only remedy is to leave car at dealership to have them drive on a regular basis to see if brakes fail again.

The vehicle was sold without the lower seat belt anchor. Consumer feels this would be an unsafe vehicle for a child passenger. Please provide any further information. Ph

I am so dissatisfied with my 2002 dodge stratus se. Ever since i bought my car in jan 2003, i have had more problems with this car than any other. My car leaks fluids constantly, my breaks don't work when applied, my car hesitates in all weather circumstances, my windshield makes a crackling noise, my doors squeak along with my trunk lid. Not to mention that i get anywhere from 10-15 miles per gallon for gas. I drive for about 40 min and half of my gas is gone!!! This vehicle is a hazard to the road and anyone or thing it comes in contact with :-( i never recommend my car to anyone and am ashamed to say it's mine. Dodge is definately one dealer that i wil never ever ever buy another car from!!!!! *ak

When consumer is making a turn, the vehicles' steering wheels makes a loud noise. Vehicle was serviced by a dealership who indicated that the power steering was leaking fuel, and parts are on back other, cause this is a common problem.

While driving and when accelerating vehicle starts to jerk/hesitate. While at a light the rpms surge between 1000 and 3000 rpms or while sitting in park. *la

2002 stratus makes loud noise when turning vehicle and going across road bumps at same time. Our drive has a 6 in sloped curb that when pulling out of, or pulling into, is a constant source of this noise. Dealer service tech went on test ride with me heard the noise and could not find source. He wanted to keep car for several days to determine problem. *jb

Drivng approx 40mph when engine just shut off like it ran out of gas (full tank-only 25 miles on that tank used). Would not restart, sounded like it wanted to catch, but couldn't. Towed to dealer-nothing found. 8 hours later, car idling in driveway when it sputtered and died. Restarted after a few minutes, taken to dealer, nothing found. Nlm

While driving and when accelerating vehicle starts to jerk/hesitate and accelerate which may cause an accident.*ak

Brakes failed while applyed at 55 mph, brake pedal went to the floor, and caused a vehicle crash. Dealer notified. *ak the vehicle flipped over three times ejecting the passenger and injuring the driver critically. The air bag failed to deploy during the accident. The vehicle had cruise control and seat belt problem and experienced a tire blew out. *yh

Consumer noticed both rear rims and front passenger side rim were bent at 4000 miles. Dealer refused to replace them under warranty.*ak left door clicks when opening. *tt

My 2002 dodge stratus se's 2.7 litre v6 200hp engine completely failed. The mechanic at the first shop said my timing belt was bad, and that my engine, even though maintained was sludged. My vehicle is currently being held at a dealership for possible repair. They said that for $5850 i can have a new engine with a 12,000 mile, or 12 month warranty- i am not shelling out near $6000 for a new engine when it has a 12,000 mile warranty.*ak

Defective timing belt tension. Ph

Problems with brake equipment on 2000 dodge stratus.*mr during high humidity, the brakes made a grind noise and squealed. *ts. The dealer told the consumer it was due to normal wear and to wash the brakes the next time the car was washed, the consumer complied, however it did not resolve the problem. *jb

Consumer states while driving at normal speed vehicle is jerking. *ak

The vehicle experienced a problem with the transmission. Please provide further details.................. *jb

Consumer called complaining having problems with the passenger rear seat belts. The belts fail to retract after releasing buckles due to the lock mechanism breaking. The dealership was notified. Please provide any additional information. *nm