NHTSA Complaint #770454 — 1997 DODGE STRATUS

THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE CAR HAVE GONE OUT TWICE, ONCE AT 37,000 MILES AND NOW AT 65,000 MILES. NOW THE DODGE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE TIMING BELT PULLEY HAS LOCKED UP AND HAS SHREDDED THE BELT AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME THAT THE PULLEYS NEVER GO OUT AT THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. HOWEVER, I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER 1997 STRATUS OWNERS. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD GASKETS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO WENT OUT ON THE CAR, I WONDER IF THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL LEAKING ON IT FROM THE BLOWN HEADS. THIS PART IS STILL UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BUT WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER 80,000 MILES? I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY DODGE HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? MAYBE THEY ARE WAITING ON A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE TIMING BELT FAILURE, OR FROM FIRES CAUSED BY THE OIL DRIPPING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS EVERY 30,000 MILES AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRADE THE CAR BECAUSE I OWE WHAT THE CAR RETAILS FOR. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL HELP THOSE OF US WHO WERE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUY THIS LEMON BEFORE LOTS OF DEATHS OCCUR. IF DODGE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US. I THINK A CLASS ACTON LAW SUIT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE. DT