1997 DODGE STRATUS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

COOLANT WAS GETTING INTO OIL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 2.4L ENGINE HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER CHECKED OIL AND NOTICED OIL WAS LOW. TECHNICIAN STATED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN OIL LEAKAGE, THE OIL INDICATOR NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *MJS

TIMING BELT SNAPPED AT 15000 MILES. *MJS

'HEAD GASKET' - WE BOUGHT A NEW 1997 DODGE STRATUS IN MARCH OF 1997. AT 20,718 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED BADLY. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET IT FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY) WHILE THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FINE UNTIL 72,000 MILES - AT THAT POINT IT FAILED AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. 'HEADRESTS' - ON OUR 1997 DODGE STRATUS THE ADJUSTABLE HEADRESTS HAVE BROKEN - THE PADDED HEADREST BREAKS FREE FROM THE METAL POSTS HOLDING IT TO THE CHAIR. WE HAD THE PASSENGER HEADREST REPLACED - IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY BREAK FROM THE PRESSURE OF ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME - THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY.

APPARANTLY ALL DODGE STRATUS HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I GUESS DODGE WILL SELL YOU A CHEAP CAR AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BY CHARGING YOU A FORTUNE TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. *AK

THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE ON DRIVEWAY . CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

LEAKY HEAD GASKET-CHYLR "FEELS NO RESPONSIBILTY" TO ASSUME LIABILITY W/OBVIOUS DEFECT. *AK

A FAN BELT WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A BAD LEAK COMING FROM CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL IN ENGINE. *SLC

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL IN ENGINE. *SLC

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 53,000 MILES CAUSING A LOSS OF COOLANT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND FILLED COOLING SYSTEM WITH COOLANT/WATER. TOOK TO NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIR; WAITING FOR ESTIMATE OF COST AS OF 10/5/00. IDLER PULLY FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF DRIVABILITY AT 43,000 MILES. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE SHOP FOR $350.00. SEEMS TOO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONANTS TO BE FAILING. *AK

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING PROBLEMS INCLUDING ROUGH IDLE, IDLE RPM CYCLING, SURGING, BUCKING, HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPMS ON DECELERATION, PROBLEMS PERSIST AFTER THREE VISITS TO DEALER. *ET

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

I TOOK MY STRATUS TO A FRIEND MECHANIC FOR WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A SIMPLE OIL LEAK, HE ADVISED IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEONS AND STRATUS. SHOULD CHRYSLER PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IF IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? I DO THINK SO.

LEAKING HEAD GASKET AND MAP SENSOR. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING PROFUSELY AT 31,000 MILES. MY WARRENTY IS OVER AND WANT INFORMATION ON HOW TO GAIN A REPLACEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART IN THE STRATUS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE? *AK

EXHAUST MANIFOLD - UPON DEALER REPLACING DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO TAKING TO DEALER ANOTHER GARAGE HAD DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR OVERHEATING TO BE FROM A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT CRACK IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. OWNER FEELS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALER UPON REMOVAL OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OR DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CAUSED BY OVERHEATING FROM THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLITY AND REFUSED TO CONTACT DODGE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. THEY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO RE-INSTALL THE CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES COMING INTO THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. STEERING RACK - THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE. WHEN WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WE...

EINGINE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. GASKET IS BEING REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AT 61,000 MILES OIL STARTED LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKET. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO USE MORE FUEL/ STALL, AND ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED 3 TIMES, CONSUME BELIEVES THIS IS EXCESSIVE AND IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AND SPILLED OIL. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE . THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WILL ADD MOR INFORMATION.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, LEAKING OIL FROM THE REAR PART OF THE HEAD

MY HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITH 84,000 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND 2 DODGE DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST DODGE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 6 WEEKS THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AFTER THE HEADGASKET WAS REPLACED. BASICALLY THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TIMING BELT. AFTER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX IT. PLUS I HAD TO PAY FOR A COMPUTER,WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE MONEY WAS NON REFUNDABLE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DODGE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM SAYING IT WAS ELECTRICAL. I HAD TO PAY OVER 450 DOLLARS FOR THAT. THE TOTAL I PAID WAS OVER 1200 DOLLARS. I THINK ITS PRETTY BAD THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULND NOT EVEN FIX IT! IT SEEMS...

THE ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AROUND THE GASKET. APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN SET AT THE DEALER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE IS LOSING ANTI-FREEZE. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO LEAKAGE FROM THE RADIATOR. WILL HAVE AN INSPECTIONS PERFORMED AT ENGINE APPOINTMENT. *AK

VALVE COVER GASKET FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. YH

TIMING BELT AND CASING BROKE. YH

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AT RATE OF 1 QUART PER 3,000 MILES. DAIMLERCHRYSLER CONTACTED BUT KEPT DETAILS REGARDING SCOPE OF FAILURES A SECRET. THEY OFFERED TO SPLIT REPAIR COSTS 50-50 WITH ME (MY PORTION TO EXCEED $300). CONTACTED A NUMBER OF DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITIES, ALL OF WHICH CONFIRMED LARGE NUMBERS OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL AND ENGINE LINES. AFTER SEEING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME SUBJECT ON THIS SITE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN EITHER GASKET DESIGN OR MATERIAL AND WARRANTS A RECALL TO REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. VEHICLE COSTS TOO MUCH ($20,000) TO ALLOW THIS TYPE OF A FAILURE TO CONTINUE. I CURRENTLY OWN 2 CHRYSLER BUILT VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DAIMLERCHRYSLER PRODUCT, EVER. *AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALLOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART. CHRYSLER GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ON THE PHONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE NEW HEAD GASKET IS A NEW DESIGN MEANING THAT THE ORIGINAL IS DEFECTIVE. I REALIZE THAT I HAVE ALLOT OF MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. IF HEAD GASKET WERE TO FAIL COMPLETELY, OIL COULD GET ONTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND START A FIRE. *AK *ML

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 30,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT GOING OUT OF WARRANTY SOON AND NOTICED PEOPLE WITH SIMULAR PROBLEMS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM IT HAPPENING WHEN THE WARRENTY IS UP. *AK

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ONGOING BODY IDLE VIBRATION

TIMING BEL/ PULLEY BEARING FAILED, CAUSING PULLEY TO BREAK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 17,000 MILES OF FIRST REPLACEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AT 51,000 MILES. SPOKE TO MECHANIC THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE GASKET. I HAVE THE GASKET IF THE NHTSA WISHES TO INSPECT. SPOKE TO DODGE THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STRATUS BUT IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY.*AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED CAR USED AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 44,000 MILES. NOW AT 61,000 MILES IT HAS BLOWN OUT AGAIN. DEALER ISN'T GOING TO REPLACE IT, BUT MANUFACTURER WANTS THE CONSUMER TO GET THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT IT. *AK *ML

ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AT 43000 MILES. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT. *AK

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAKS PREMATURELY... WILL CONTACT CHRYSLER. *AK

I FOUND OUT YESTERDAY MY HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING AFTER DOING ALOT OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF STRATUS VEHICLES, AND NEON'S AND HOPE DODGE WILL BE FORCED TO BACK THERE PROBLEMS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING SEVERE OIL LEAK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE DUE TO A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

OIL IS LEAKING AROUND THE SEAL, AND HEAD GASKETS. I CALLED AROUND TO GET ESTIMATES ON GETTING THE CAR FIXED, AND WAS TOLD THAT HUNDREDS OF DODGE STRATUS HAS HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM. AND IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $900.00, TO $1000.00 TO BE FIXED.

BAD OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. $600 QUOTED PRICE. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO BE REPLACED ($5200), AS PER DEALER SERVICE CENTER IN REDLANDS, CA. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS OIL LEAK DUE TO A GASKET FAILURE. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE A "SILENT RECALL" FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $1,000! WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE DATABASE OF REPORTED FAILURES I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *AK

ENGINE PULLEY THAT HOLDS THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF DRIVING. *AK

IDLE BEARING FAILED WEARING OUT TIMING BELT WITHIN 42,000 MILES. COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

REAR SEAT BELT. ENGINE--CYLINDER HEAD GASKET.