NHTSA Complaint #725170 — 1997 DODGE STRATUS

EXHAUST MANIFOLD - UPON DEALER REPLACING DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO TAKING TO DEALER ANOTHER GARAGE HAD DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR OVERHEATING TO BE FROM A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER FEELS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALER UPON REMOVAL OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OR DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED BY OVERHEATING FROM THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLITY AND REFUSED TO CONTACT DODGE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. THEY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO RE-INSTALL THE CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. STEERING RACK - THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WE THEREFORE PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. WE FEEL THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK