NHTSA Complaint #10003094 — 1998 DODGE STRATUS

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS AND LIKE MANY OTHERS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING. I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS IN JULY 2002. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR AND IT WOULD ONLY COST ME $200. AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. ALSO, THE LEAK WAS NOT THAT BAD. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE $200 WOULD BE THE COST WHEN I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE. WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT JAN 20, 2003 BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS STARTING TO GET WORSE, I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON IF THIS $200 COST WAS STILL IN EFFECT. HE SAID HE CHECKED ON IT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS. AFTER I DROPPED OFF THE CAR, I GOT A CALL LATER IN THE MORNING TELLING ME IT WOULD COST ME FULL PRICE. MY ISSUE IS THAT SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 98 STRATUS WHY HASN'T CHRYSLER (DODGE) BEEN MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE REALIZED THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE THEY CHANGED THE HEADGASKET PART APPROXIMATELY NOV 1998 IN PRODUCTION AND REPLACEMENTS.