1996 DODGE STRATUS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIMING BELT/TENSIONER, MY CAR WAS BUILT OUTSIDE OF THE BUILD DATE FOR RECALL. CHRYSLER HAS CHANGED THE PARTS FOR THE GASKETS SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH IT. SOUNDS LIKE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS IN ORDER!

OIL LEAKAGE FROM HEAD GASKET.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & IT STARTED LEAKING OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC LEAK CAME FROM TOP OF ENGINE TO WIRES. HAD IT REPAIRED. STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHEN ENGINE BLEW OUT. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT ENGINE HEAD GALLEY PLUG BLEW OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF OIL. NEEDED TO REPLACE ENGINE HEAD GALLEY PLUGS & HEAD GASKETS. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CREATING FIRE HAZARD.

I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE HEAD GASKET TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES NOW. I AM TAKING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL THE DEALER KEEPS DOING IS PUTTING ANOTHER HEAD GASKET ON AND CHARGING ME MY $50 DEDUCTABLE. THIS IS GETTING VERY TIRING. MY BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY IN 1997 AFTER THE FACTORY RE-CALL HAD BEEN PREFORMED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD PUT THE SEAL IN WRONG. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE HEAD GASKET, NUMBER 4, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CV BOOT NEEDED REPLACED. DURRING THE REPAIR THE AXEL JUST FELL APART. SAME TIME THE TRANSMISSION PUMP NEEDED REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED REPLACED AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. AND IT STILL LEAKS FROM THE SAME SPOT THE REAR LEFT OF THE ENGINE.

OIL PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. MJS

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE ROD BLEW, CRACKING THE CYLINDER WALL, AND RESULTING IN A FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TIMING BELT AND IDLER PULLEY TENSIONER FAILED. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

ENGINE GASKET FAILURE - MASSIVE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL ON TOP OF ENGINE,CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. *AK *ML

EXPERIENCING CONTINUED MALFUNTION OF HEADGASKET. CALLED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SENT CERTIFIED LETTER...NEVER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. CURRENTLY ADDING 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE ENGINE. HAVE HAD SERVICE EMPLOYEE SAY HE'S SEEN SEVERAL OF THEM...BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKEN TO SEVERAL AREA MECHANICS AND WERE TOLD ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE/ADVICE/PROPOSED SOLUTION OTHER THAN "REPAIR WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $1,000). HAVE HAD OTHER STRATUS OWNERS SAY ENCOUNTERING SAME..."IF YOU PUSH...THEY WILL FIX" HAVE TRIED....NO RESPONSE. WILL TRY AGAIN TO CONTACT CHRYSLER DIRECT. CAN YOU HELP. *AK

TRANSMISSION: AUTO WAS PARKED, BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. AUTO WOULD HAVE TO BE STOPPED AND RESTATRED TO PROCEDD A FEW HUNDRED FEET. CALLED FOR TOW. CYL. HEAD: AUTO LEAKED OIL, WENT TO DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS CYL. HEAD, BUT I NEVER SAW THE PROBLEM. TIE RODS: NOISE IN FRONT END. TIE RODS WERE READY TO FALL OFF. STILL A NOISE; MAYBE STABILIZER BARS OR BALL JOINT. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST CHRYSLER PRODUCT--- AND THE LAST! NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT DEALER DID RESPOND. *AK

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD/OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY,CAUSING DAMAGE TO HEAD GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD . VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL # 96V00600 .

ENGINE HEAD\VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT. DEALER AND MAUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED. INFORMED OXYGEN SENSOR WAS CAUSING LIGHT TO COME ON. OIL HAD STARTED LEAKING OUT OF ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKETS, WHICH COVERED OXYGEN SENSOR, HAD BURNED THE OIL. CAN SMELL IT WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED. THE MECHANIC DID ALL THE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL WAS BROKEN AND WAS LEAKING OIL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE, REPLACEMENT FAILED ALSO RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS

HEAD GASKET REPLACED, REPLACEMENT FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. MJS

THE MAIN HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL UNTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL, EMITS A BURNING SMELL FROM OIL FALLING ONTO HOT ENGINE.

HEAD GASKETS LEAK OIL IN PUDDLES. DEALER /MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL ESTABLISHED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE, THERE IS LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE USES ALOT OF OIL. THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD'NT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE AND WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE, THE OIL KEPT GOING DOWN DUE TO A LEAK. WHEN DRIVING THE OIL WILL LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE. *AK

SEVERE OIL LEAK. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET FAILURE, BUT WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR REPAIRS. LEAKING 1-2 QUARTS PER 250 MILES. *AK

EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK;-TOOK TO DEALER. NEEDED HEAD GASKET REPLACED. STILL LEAKING OIL WHEN I PICKED IT UP. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING OIL. MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE CHRYSLER RECALL THESE ITEM.

REPORTED OIL LEAK, LEAK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, DISSASSEMBLY OF ENGINE ALSO REVEALED CRACK IN THE SHOCK BLOCK ( BOTTOM HALF OF ENGINE BLOCK NEAR CYLINDER #3). *AK

REPORTED A OIL LEAK TO DEALER AND HAD INSPECTED BY THEM,WAS TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET,INFORMED DEALER TO GO AHEAD AND FIX BUT WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT GET PARTS.CALLED CHRYSLER CORP. INFORMED THEM OF TROUBLE AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE PART,THEY ARE HAVING VENDOR PROBLEMS.ASKED WHEN A POSSIBLE SOLUTION WOULD BE AVAILABLE,NONE GIVEN.VOICED CONCERN THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ON HOT EXHAUST,TOLD BY THEM THAT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM.WHEN I ASKED FOR ANOTHER WAY TO RESOLVE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OTHER AVENUES,ASKED ABOUT FILEING COMPLAINT WITH YOU THEY SAID THEY "WOULDN'T ADVISE IT"

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DROPING OIL, UP TO A QUATER EVERY OTHER DAY. A MECHANIC HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT AN OIL LEAK CAME FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GALLERY PLUG BECAUSE IT WA S NOT SEALED PROPERLY. *AK

REAR RATTLE DUE TO BAFFLE IN GAS TANK BEING LOOSE AND MAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL.

IN BOTH REPORTED PROBLEMS (HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL) NEARLY ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL IN THE VEHICLE LEAKED ONTO OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE/ROAD OR THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAM SEAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHILE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET DID NOT. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET CHRYSLER TO HELP OUT WITH REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND PULLEY FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO TOTALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

OIL LEAK CAUSE BY DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. NOT ENOUGH MILE ON THE CAR FOR IT TO BECOME DISABLED. *AK

OIL LEAK, DEALER CONFIRMED HEAD GASKET, SAID CHRYSLER KNOWS OF PROBLEM AND OFFERING TO COVER WITH A $100 DEDUCTIBLE, PLUS I HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR A RENTAL CAR. THEN THE CAM SENSOR GOES OUT, ANOTHER $185.00 TO DEALER. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND OIL LEAK COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAM SENSOR TO GO OUT. 3 WEEKS PRIOR THEY HAD PERFORMED A RECAL ON THE PCM MODULE, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE CAM SENSOR. THEY ARE SAYING TOTALLY UNRELATED.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. CHRYSLER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS, BUT CONSUMER FEELS THEY SHOULD COVER ALL OF IT. DEALER SAID NEW GASKET WAS BEING DESIGNED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. DISCOVERED AT 33K MILES ON CAR. LEAK ISOLATED DOWN TO HEAD GASKET. HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT NO CHARGE( UNDER WARRANTY). NOTED OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE SAME PRODUCT LINE. DEALER MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE IS A KNOW DEFICIENCY IN THE HEAD GASKETS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. RECOMMEND CHRYSLER INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE NEED FOR RECALL. NOT SURE WHETHER THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR NOT , BUT LEAKING OIL IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SEVERE OIL LEAK ON BACKSIDE OF ENGINE NEAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE RECALLED OIL GALLEY PLUG IN THE HEAD BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD. HAD TO HAVE HEAD GASKET REPLACED, CAM SEALS, CAM SENSOR AND VARIOUS OTHER GASKETS. WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THESE ENGINES DUMP OIL, BUT CHRYSLER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. ONE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED 7 IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, A GOODYEAR SHOP TOLD US THAT THEY SAW 5 IN ONE WEEK THAT HAD COME IN FOR OTHER REASONS AND THEY HAD TO SEND THEM TO THE DEALER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS. WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPLACED AND CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. HEAD GASKETS DO NOT JUST GO BAD ON NEW CARS. TO PUT THE FINAL NAIL IN OUR COFFIN....

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. GASKET IS ON BACKORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. *AK

OIL LEAKS FROM LEFT REAR ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED LEAKING CAMSHAFT.

OIL LIGHT CAME ON DURING RIGHT TURNS. FOUND OIL TANK TO BE DRY. NOTICED OIL BEING SPRAYED OUT OF ENGINE BLOCK. PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND NO KNOWN CAUSE. DEALER FOUND FAULTY HEADGASKET. REPLACED HEADGASKET 12/23/98. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AS OF 1/4/99. PLEASE EXPLAIN. BULLETIN NOTICED FOR 2.4 ENGINE. NOT 2.0. OWNER EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED!

LEAKING ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL COULD CAUSE CONSUMER TO BLOW THE ENGINE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION.

INFORMED OF HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL WHILE IT WAS IN FOR ONE OF THE MANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR. AT THE TIME THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT NOTICEABLE UNDER THE CAR, BUT SINCE THEN HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY WORSE. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE ON MY CAR AS WELL AS ANY OF THE NUMEROUS OTHER CARS I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT. IF THIS PROBLEM IS AS WIDE SPREAD AS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS INDICATE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOT ME.

I WENT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD AN OIL LEAK. I THAN WENT TO MY LOCAL GARAGE TO MAKE AN APPOINTTMENT. I THAN DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE HEAD GASKET. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CALLED PETER KOTCH (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) AND WAS INFORMED THAT I DID NOT PURCHASE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. I THAN CALLED THE CHRYSLER CORP 800 NUMBER. I TALKED WITH A REPRESENATIVE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP. BUT, HE DID INFORM ME OF SEVERAL SAFTY RECALLS FOR THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE WENT SEARCHING INTO THE WEB SIGHTS FOR RECALLS. THERE WAS A RECALL 1/97 FOR A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS I HAVE NOW. I AM NOT...