1997 DODGE STRATUS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. SHE NOTICED OIL LEAKING AFTER THE CRASH. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT A NEW HEAD GASKET WAS NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. AT 27,000 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT AND PULLEYS. AT 39,000 THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THEY FOUND THAT ONE COIL WAS SHORTED, THE PCM WAS BAD, THE TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE, THE RELAY, AND THE PLUG WIRE. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. LATER AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE THE TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME, THE HEAD GASKET AND PACKAGE, THE PLUG AND PLUG WIRES, AND THE SPARK PLUGS WERE ALSO REPLACED. CURRENTLY AT 89,000 THE TIMING BELT AND HEAD GASKET...

WHILE HAVING THE HEATER CORE REPAIRED DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS ISSUE. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL INTO ENGINE. ALL NORMAL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN CONDUCTED REGULARLY. AT ONLY 80K MILES, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING!! THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED ONLY MINIMAL ASSISTANCE. THIS NEEDS TO BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL! PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH A RESPONSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OIL LEAKED FROM THE HEAD GASKET WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH OIL OFTEN. *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS USING AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF OIL, AND WAS LOSING PRESSURE IN THE MOTOR. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED THE MOTOR ONCE ,AND THE HEAD GASKETS ONCE. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT AROUND 70,000 MILES. NOW THE CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN AND THERE APPEARS TO BE OIL IN THE COOLANT, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE RESURFACED AGAIN. GIVEN THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LOGGED BY CONSUMERS ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS, THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. *LA

ENGINE EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. *AK

OIL LEAKS FROM HEAD GASKET IN 97 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 - SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM! WHEN WILL CHRYSLER OWN UP TO IT? PAID $700 FOR REPAIR.*AK

HEAD GASKET REPLACED AT 65K MILES. CHRYSLER PAID FOR PART.

ENGINE WILL CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT. ALSO, OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING.. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A MASSIVE OIL LEAK AND DEVOLPING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE IS LOOSING APPROXIMATELY 1-2 QUARTS A DAY. THE VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES INTO DRIVING AND THE OIL IS BURNING OFF THE MOTOR. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET IS FAULTY POSSIBLY DUE TO THE STYLE OR THE MATERIAL; AFFECTING THE SURROUNDING PARTS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB

VEHICLE WAS GOING 50MPH WHEN THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. IMTERNITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL RESTART. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT VEHICLE HAS STALLED. ALSO, VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL CAUSED BY TIME BELT PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROBIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STALLED LOSING ALL POWER. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED TIMING BELT AND PULLEY. TIMING BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ALSO HAD COMPUTER REPLACED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER HAS TO FILL VEHICLE WITH OIL 3 TIMES A WEEK TO KEEP VEHICLE GOING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND LOSE OIL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAD TO FILL MY OIL EVERY WEEK, MY OIL STICK WASNT EVEN READING THE OIL, THATS HOW BAD MY LEAK WAS I THEN TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN AND TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GUY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" ON HEAD GASKETS. MY TIMING BELT BROKE GOING 70MPH ON I-40 IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AT DUSK IN THE TENNESSEE/NC BORDER. AND B4 I LEFT FOR THE TRIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. HAD TO PAY 300$ TOWING BILL CAUSE IT WAS "OK" TO DRIVE! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN...I UNDERSTAND THERE CAN BE PROBLEMS WITH ANY CAR...BUT WHEN THEY CHARGE US THE CONSUMER TO FIX THERE MISTAKES MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 70,000 MILES. COST 750.00 TO REPAIR. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET ANY COMPENSATION FROM CHRYSLER FOR THIS? *AK

HEADGASKET HAS OIL LEAKAGE. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE MUST USE FOUR QUARTS OF OIL TO FUNCTION. ALSO, VEHICLE SMOKES, AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED. *YH

HEADGASKET IS LEAKING. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE NOTED THAT GASKET HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.*AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHCILE WAS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT CAR WAS ASSEMBLED WITH A PAPER THIN GASKET.*AK *YH

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND HEADGASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING OIL

POWER STEERING WENT OUT (65 MPH ON CURVE HOSE CAME OFF, HEAD GASKET REPLACED, STEERING GEAR REPLACED, NEW RACK WAS INSTALLED, REPLACED UP-STREM OXGEN SENSOR, POWER STEERING LEAK, DEALER COULD NOT FIND LEAK.

ENGINE DEVELOPED SERIOUS OIL LEAK. REFERRED TO DEALER. ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW AND THAT CAMSHAFT OIL SEAL FAILED. ADVISED THAT ENGINE IS MAKING SOUND INDICITIVE OF INTERNAL COMPONENT FAILURE. DEALER INSISTS HEAD GASKET AND CAM SHAFT OIL SEAL AND OTHER DAMAGE UNRELATED. CURRENTLY AWAITING ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR, POSSIBLE COMPLETE ENGINE OVERHAUL.*AK

VEHICLE DEVELOPED OIL LEAK. DIAGNOSED AS HEAD GASKET LEAK. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR. THERE SEEMS TO BE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE YET THE MANUFACTURER APPEARS TO BE IGNORING THE PROB LEM (APPARENT DESIGN/MANUFACTURER FLAW). WHY IS CHRYSLER CORP. NOT BEING FORCED TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? IF THEIR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE IS ONE OF WE DONT CARE,WHICH IS WHAT I HEAR BY READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEAD GAS KETS AND THEIR FAILURE TO COVER THE REPAIR, MAYBE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BOYCOTT TH EIR PRODUCTS. I KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS. QUAL ITY SEEMS TO BE A THING OF THE PAST WITH THEM. I JUST HOPE THAT ONE DAY MANAGEME NTS FAMILY MEMBERS GET STUCK SOMEWHERE IN ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS LIKE THE I DID. MAYBE THEYLL START CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AND...

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. BALL JOINT REPLACED./ REAR OIL SEAL REPLACED.*AK

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ONCE AT THE DEALER. THE NEXT TIME I NOTICED THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING, WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF A RECURRING HEAD GASKET FAILURE, THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THANK YOU FOR LETTING OUR VOICE BE HEARD!*AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT, LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND CRACKING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER IS INSPECTING AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE REAR SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LEAK, TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WERE $1600 DEALER STATED COLD WEATHER PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN DAMAGE. *TT

CONSUMER INFORMED BY INDEPENDENT SERVICE AGENT THAT VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET WAS BAD AND THAT THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE.*AK

I HAVE HAD TWO HEAD GASKETS REPLACED IN A 6000 MILE SPAN I AM MAD. *AK

$800 HEAD GASKET REPAIR PLUS $300 TO REPLACE PARTS IT DAMAGED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL WAS ON GROUND THAT CAME UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 22000 MILES BEFORE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE. NLM

HEADGASKET FAILED, DODGE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK FOR SAME PROBLEM TWICE. GASKETS WAS CONSISTENTLY LEAKING. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER $500.00 FOR REPAIR.*AK

HEAD GASKET - HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO (2) HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LEAKS IN THREE YEARS. FIRST ONE COST A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 AND THE SECOND ONE WILL COST ME $250, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT DODGE HAS ISSUED TECH BULLETINS TO ADDRESS INSTALLATION PROBLEMS. DODGE DID THE GOOD WILL BIT IN BOTH CASES BY SUPPOSEDLY SPLITTING THE COST 50/50. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT CONSUMERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH HEFTY FEES FOR INFERIOR/FAULTY DESIGNS. BRAKES - APPARENTLY THE DESIGN OF THE CALIPERS INCLUDES A CYLINDER MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. THIS PLASTIC IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT OF NORMAL BRAKING OPERATIONS AND WILL NOT CONTRACT PROPERLY WHEN COOLED DOWN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CALIPER STICKS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION WHICH CASUSES THE DISC PAD TO STAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR, THUS WEARING DOWN THE PAD PREMATURELY AND CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS....

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE OF AN OIL LEAK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MY REPAIR BILL TOTALS $1400 AND CHRYSLER IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF IT WERE STILL UNDER 50,000 MILES THEN THEY WOULD HAVE PROVIDED 'SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE'. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND SURELY THERE ARE ENOUGH INCIDENTS TO SUPPORT A MANDATORY RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES.

A HEAD GASKET FAILURE DUE TO A LOSS OF OIL BLOWING OUT OF THE MANIFOLD DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

MY FIRST HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED 03/26/1998. HERE IT IS THREE YEARS LATER AND IT GOES AGAIN? A CALL WAS PLACED TO CHRYSLER ON 02/28/2001, AND THEY EVEN STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND A NEW ONE SHOULD DO THE TRICK. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A SECOND HEAD GASKET, WHEN THE VERY FIRST ONE SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. TODAY, I AM SENDING A REGISTERED LETTER TO CHRYSLER AS WELL.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE

DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET.*AK

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR TIMING GEAR BELT PULLEY SYSTEM. CAR ENGINE WINDED REALLY LOUD. ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL, FOAMY WHIT RESIDUE FORMED AROUND INSIDE OF OIL CAP. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT MAY BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACE ALMOST 4 TIMES. *AK

THE HEADGASKET BLEW OUT AND THE REPAIRMAN SAID TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN AND HEARD ABOUT ALOT OF THE STRATUS' BLOWING THE HEADGASKET AS I AM LOOKING ON YOUR WEBSITE I SEE THAT HE IS CORRECT THERE ARE ALOT OF CASES OF BLOWING THE HEADGASKET. WAS THERE A RECALL IS THE DEALER GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GO WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I AM JUST GLAD NOTHING MAJOR HAPPENED WHILE MYTWO-YR OLD WAS PRESENT IN THE CAR. I WAS TOLD I HAD A CRACK IN THE HEAD CYLINDER WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A CAR I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE SHOULD BUY ! *AK

WHILE TRAVELING HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL ON TO EXHUST RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK INDEPENDENT MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL ON TO THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF ENGINE. BUT THE DEALER DID NOT BELIEVE THE STATEMENT. *YH

I PUT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3,000 MILES. TODAY, WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE VEHICLES. MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN OCTOBER, BUT I AM HEARING THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE WARNOCK TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *MJS