1996 DODGE STRATUS Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS HAVING THE RECALL FOR THE TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK CHECKED OUT ON HER 1996 DODGE STRATUS.*MR THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THEY DID NOT MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL CHECKS. WHEN THE CONSUMER JUST SHOWED UP AT THE DEALER THEY WERE ALWAYS TOO BUSY TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. *NM

LTR FM JOVAN MATHEWS (TX) RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 1996 DODGE STRATUS AND ASKING DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO INITIATE A RECALL. *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRIC CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET, AND POOR DRIVE ABILITY. THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, A/C COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, AND A HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATED,WARM UP SAG, HESITATION, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR MALFUNCTION, INSIDE LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, LATE/HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR, AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC *JB

MY NAME IS [XXX], AND I AM A TWENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD FATHER OF THREE WHO IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TODAY BECAUSE I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN# [XXX]). THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING CONSISTS OF AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS THAT MALFUNCTION, TRANSMISSION TROUBLES, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION PRIDES ITSELF AS REPRESENTING VALUE, QUALITY, DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY, BUT I CANT SEEM TO SEE THAT AS A TRUE STATEMENT WITH ALL OF MY CURRENT PROBLEMS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ONE GIVEN TIME SO I DECIDED TO RESEARCH MY DIFFICULTIES ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. I FEEL THAT DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REPAIRS...

OWNER OF 1996 DODGE STRATUS, A CERTIFIED LEMON WITH REPEATED HEAD-GASKET LEAKS/TRANSMISSION LEAKS. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR HEAD GASKET LEAKAGE AND TWICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY PULLED OUT AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THEN, REINSTALLED IT. NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE UNDER CAR. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

I OWN TWO DODGE STRATUS. ONE TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP DAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES TO THE RADIATOR HAD LOOSENED UP. THE CAR HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. NOW MY OTHER STRATUS HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION LEAK. SAME PROBLEM!! I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTER DEFECT!!*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO ME DEFECTIVE AND NOW NEITHER THE WARRANTY COMPANY OR THE DEALSHIP WANTS TO HANDLE IT.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. MECHANIC FOUND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE, CHRYSLER AGREED TO PAY 2/3 OF COST. *SLC.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEN, TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK

HAVE REPLACED BEARINGS, BALL JOINTS, HEAD GASKETS AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION ON 1996 STRATUS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED BY MECHANIC. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

1) TRANSMISSION LEAK DUE TO CRACK IN CASE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS CRACK DUE TO DAMAGED DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER. DESCRIBED AS MOUNTING PIN BROKE OR WORKED LOOSE, ALLOWING PLAY IN DIFFERENTIAL, BANGING AGAINST CASE. 2) FAULTY STARTER MOTOR CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF FUSE. FUSE WOULD BLOW IMMEDIATELY UPON IGNITION ATTEMPT. 3) CONSTANT OIL LEAK FROM REAR OF ENGINE. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET SEAL. 4) TRUNK LID OFTEN WILL NOT LATCH.

CAR MADE NOCKING NOISE WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING. SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE ENGINE OR TAKE IT OUT IN FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. HE WROTE A NOTE AND SAID THAT IF THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE THAT HE WOULD REPAIR THE CAR IF IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. NOW THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS IN TO LOW OF A GEAR. ALSO I HAVE LOST A LOT OF POWER.*AK

CAR JERKS WHEN PUTTING IN PARK AND STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING SOUND. CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS, AND DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PART FOR VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 80 HEARD A LOUD BREAKING NOISE, CAR WAS SMOKING. PULLED OVER, WENT TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, AND VEHICLE WON'T HOLD IN PARK. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE. TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND IS FUNCTIONING, BUT DOES NOT "FEEL" THE WAY IT SHOULD. *AK *ML

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FOR A 1996 DODGE STRATUS I HAVE ALREADY HAD A HEAD GASKET ($600.00) AND A TRANSMISSION REPLACED. NEED HELP WITH ANY RECALLS ON THESE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION. *AK

THE SMALL PIN THAT HOLDS THE LARGER PIN FOR THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED ALLOWING THE LARGER PIN TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSING AND PUT A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING.

VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE EVERY RECALL, CONSUMER PAID COST OF FAILED ENGINE HEAD GASKET, ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO IMPROPER TIMING BELT INSTALLATION. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 50MPH ON INTERSTATE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO PARK TRANSMISSION BLEW UP AND CAR LOCKED UP. PREGNANT PASSSENGER SUFFERED WIPLASH ETC. DODGE CONDUCTED INVESTIGATION (# 5804935) STATED THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE. NOTE: INCIDENT OCCURED DAYS BEFORE NOTIFICATION OF SHIFTER RECALL. LETTER SENT BY DODGE STATING THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS, REFUSES TO RELEASE FULL REPORT CLAIMING PROPRIATORY INFO. CONSUMER AGAIN HAD TO PAY FOR FULL COST OF REPAIR, NEW TRANS. $ 1,700. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A CHATTERING NOISE. EVENTUALLY CONSUMER LOSES DRIVE GEAR. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE CAR WAS SUDDENLY TO LOSE POWER WHILE ON A FREEWAY. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTED IN COMPLETE LOSS OF FLUID. MJS

CAR IS PRESENTLY AT CROWN DODGE@ PHONE # IS 281-556-6400 ROBERT

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MODULE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

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.

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISES AS IT SWITCHES GEARS. THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER AS VEHICLE GETS OLDER. DEALER CANT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *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

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT INITIALLY ENGAGE WHEN STARTING CAR IN THE MORNING. TRANSMISIION WOULD SLIP AND EVENTUALLY KICK INTO GEAR. CAR OUT OF 3 YEAR WARRANTY. DEALER STATED THAT TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD , INTERIOR SEALS WERE LEAKING. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT. MANUFACTURER PICKED UP 70 % OF COST. WHEN DISCUSSING IMPACT OF PRIOR SYSTEM FAILURES ON THIS CAR (BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, REPLACED BRAKE SYSTEMS) DEALER SUGGESTED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD. *AK

THERE WAS A SHUDDER TYPE SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, THE CAR LOST POWER, BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR LOCKED IN DRIVE AND COULD NOT BE PUT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO GEAR.

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM THE FRONT SEAL OF THE TRANNY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DODGE DEALERSHIP'S GARAGE IN ENGLAND (WHERE I LIVE WORKING FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT SEAL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS (THE SEAL) AND LABOR. THEN WHEN THE CAR WAS READY TO PICK UP THEY INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WAS PAYING FOR PARTS, INCUDING A NEW PUMP THAT THAEY FELT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED OUT AND I WOULD PAY FOR THE LABOR. I PAID 195.00 POUNDS WICH IS EQUIVELANT TO AROUND 350.00 DOLLARS. WHEN I TOK THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE I NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE COMMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. SO I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY RUDLEY TOOK MY CAR AND WENT AROUND THE BLOCK TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER. WHEN HE CAME BACK...

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTERNALLY. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST IS TO CONSUMER. *AK

FRONT PUMP SEAL LEAKING IN TRANSMISSION.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO ANY GEAR DIRECTLY UPON STARTING VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES, TRANSMISSION WON'T UPSHIFT INTO 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT AUTO TRANS. MALFUNCTION, WHEN CHANGING GEAR ABRUPTLY, DECELERATING FROM 60-20MPH, NO PRIOR WARNING. TT