NHTSA Complaint #740893 — 1999 DODGE STRATUS

THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES IS THAT THEY DO NOT STOP THE CAR. IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WON'T DISENGAGE. IT MAY NOT REALLY BE A DISENGAGEMENT PROBLEM BUT THE BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN GOOD AT STOPPING THE CAR. WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR NOSEDIVES BUT FEELS LIKE IT WON'T STOP. IT IS LIKE YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT AND STAND ON THE BRAKES. THE FEEL IS LIKE THE OLD BRAKES THAT HAD HEAT BUILD UP. YOU WOULD GET THAT OUTGASSING THAT WOULD RESIST PEDAL PRESSURE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS AND FINALLY AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO DRIVE A PICK UP TRUCK AND THOSE BRAKES WORK MUCH BETTER. I BELEIVE THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT WITH THE BRAKES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THERE IS A FRAME PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE HOW A LESS THAN 10 MPH ACCIDENT COULD CRUSH THE HOOD AND THE FRONT END TO OVER 2600 BUCKS OF DAMAGE. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR I HIT EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF CHIPS IN THE PAINT ON THE BUMPER. *AK