1998 DODGE STRATUS Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

1998 2.7 V-6 ENGINE IN DODGE STRATUS VEHICLE. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON COST OF REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD BY MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS ENGINE HAS FAILED IN THIS SAME MANNER FOR ALL OF THE VEHICLES. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000-5000 MILES, MORE OFTEN THAT SUGGESTED BY THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES TO CHANGE IT EVERY 7500 MILES OR 6 MONTHS WHICH EVERY COMES FIRST. MOST OF THE REPAIR PLACES THAT I SPOKE TO SAID THAT THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. *TR

BOUGHT A CAR WITH A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED WITH MILEAGE OF LESS THAN 35,000. GASKET WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE BY DEALERSHIP. *NM

1998 DODGE STRATUS DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE, JUST HOPE THE ENGINE WILL NOT CATCH FIRE. *NM

RE FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON 1998 CHRYSLER DODGE STRATUS. *BF THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSED OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT AT LEAST 1 QUART EVERY OTHER DAY AND EVEN THEN THE OIL BARELY REGISTER ON THE DIPSTICK. *NM

ENGINE HEADGASKET FAILURE. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L AND A YEAR AGO WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 75000 MILES. I CONTACTED DODGE RECALL CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED FOR REPAIR QUOTES AND IT CAN RANGE FROM 600 TO 800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *AK

NAR 03/17/2003 THE HEAD GASKET WERE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED PREMATURELY IN THE 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HE BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 300.00 FROM THE DEALER. *CB *JB

HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL AT ABOUT 70,000 TO 80,000 MILES AND CAUSES EXTREME FIRE HAZARD ALL OVER ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, ON AND OFF, INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL 1998 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 ENGINE WITH ONLY 41,000 MILES. FIRE HAZARD.N *AK

MY 1998 DODGE STRATUS IS LEAKING OIL TO THE TUNE OF 2 QUARTS EVERY 7-10 DAYS. 2 MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND BOTH FEEL IT IS AT THE VERY LEAST A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLE REAR SEAL? BOTH HAVE TOLD ME IT WILL NEED ABOUT $20 IN PARTS BUT COST IN EXCESS OF $800 TO FIX. I FEEL THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME NOW AND THOUGH IT STARTED SLOW AT FIRST, IT HAS NOW BECOME A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT THIS IS REALLY A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER EVEN REDESIGNED THE HEAD GASKET BECAUSE OF IT BUT HAS OFFERED NO RECALL OR ASSISTANCE TO THE OWNERS THAT BOUGHT THE CARS ON GOOD FAITH. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

I JUST BOUGHT A 98 STRATUS WITH 36000 MILES. THE FIRST DAY THE WEATHER TURNED COLD AND I STARTED IT, A HUGE OIL LEAK DEVELOPED. THE HEAD GASKET IS OUT. WHERE CAN I SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT? *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL STAINS ON DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER HE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. *AK

1998 DODGE STRATUS 2.4L ENGINE AUTOMATIC 1. THE ENGINE IS SEVERLY LEAKING OIL. TWO MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND BOTH SAID IT NEEDS A NEW HEAD GASKET. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT. UPON RESEARCH, THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE GASKET TYPE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM! 2. TRUNK LATCH SEEMS TO HAVE A STICKING PROBLEM. THIS TOO SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *LA

I'VE STARTED EXPERIENCING BOTH HEAD GASKET LEAKS AS WELL AS AIR CONDITION ISSUES. I HAVE PAID OUT OVER $2,500 COMBINED OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. NOW, I READ THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS.*AK

ENGINE HEAD CASKET IS BLOWN, CAUSING MAJOR OIL LEAKAGE. *NLM

I HAVE A 2.4 LITER 4-CYLINDER DODGE STRATUS THAT HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK. I'VE OBTAINED SEVERAL ESTIMATES RANGING FROM $700-$950 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WILL NOT ISSUE ANY TYPE OF RECALL FOR THIS CAR OR MANY OTHER MODELS LIKE THE BREEZE, NEON, AVENGER AND CIRRUS. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME YET THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY NOR HAVE THEY ATTEMPTED TO REDESIGN THESE ENGINES SO THE HEAD GASKETS DON'T LEAK. WHEN YOU PUT AN ALUMINUM HEAD ON A CAST-IRON BLOCK, THERE WILL BE LEAKS. THE TWO DIFFERENT METALS HAVE TOO MANY DIFFERENCES IN HOW THEY REACT TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES. AS LONG AS THESE METALS ARE PAIRED TOGETHER (AND THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC KEEPS BUYING THIS ILL-THOUGHT-OUT DESIGN) THERE WILL BE LEAKS. *JB

ENGINE HEAD CASKET BLEW OUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

"THE FAMOUS HEAD GASKET FAILURE THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TOUCH". YES, I HAVE A 98 DODGE STRATUS THAT IS LEAKING AT THE HEAD GASKET. I HAD TO BUY ONE OF THOSE FLAT PANS TO CATCH THE OIL IN WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. MY 2 YEAR OLD GOT OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY AND DECIDED TO PLAY IN THE USED OIL. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? HAVING TO KEEP A PAN OF DIRTY OIL UNDER A CAR? I DRAIN IT ONCE A WEEK AND GET AT LEAST 1 QUART. (AND HAVE TO PAY TO DISPOSE OF IT) COME ON HERE! SO, ON TOP OF THE FIRE HAZARD (HOT OIL ON A HOT CATALYST), NOW WE HAVE POISONING ISSUES WITH OUR CHILDREN. IS ANYBODY GOING TO HELP US, OR SHOULD WE JUST START THE WHOLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? I AM SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE TO...

THE VEHICLE LOST OIL, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE TUBE AND CLAMP. *JB

I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 MECHANICS THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET LEAK. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 37,250 MILES. THE REPAIR COST IS 7-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS. I AM RETIRED, ON A FIXED INCOME AND FEEL CHRYSLER CORPORATION SHOULD REPAIR THIS DEFECT.*JB

OIL LEAK IN MY 1998 DODGE STRATUS AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. *JB

1998 STRATUS, 78000 MILES, LEAKS OIL BADLY. STARTED ABOUT 76000 AND HAS WORSENED. HOPE THIS CAN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED.JB

THE ENGINE/HEAD GASKET HAD AN OIL LEAK. SCC *JB

HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. OIL IN THE COOLANT. ALL HOSES AND RADIATOR CAP HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 62000

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS AND LIKE MANY OTHERS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING. I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS IN JULY 2002. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR AND IT WOULD ONLY COST ME $200. AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. ALSO, THE LEAK WAS NOT THAT BAD. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE $200 WOULD BE THE COST WHEN I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE. WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT JAN 20, 2003 BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS STARTING TO GET WORSE, I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON IF THIS $200 COST WAS STILL IN EFFECT. HE SAID HE CHECKED ON IT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS. AFTER I DROPPED OFF THE CAR, I GOT A CALL LATER IN THE MORNING TELLING ME IT WOULD COST ME FULL...

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHILE DRIVING FULL SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. THE ENGINE STALLED AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS AND DODGE STATES THE PARTS ARE NOT IN PRODUCTION AND UNAVAILABLE UNTIL A LATER UNKNOWN DATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PART IS BEING REMANUFACTURED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEW PART HASN'T BEEN PRODUCED YET. THERE IS NOT A DATE SET FOR WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. DODGE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE IMPROVED IT FOR REPLACEMENT. WHY WAS MY SAFETY PUT AT RISK FOR A PART THEY KNEW WAS A PROBLEM?

HEAD GASKET HAS BUSTED. IT'S LEAKING FUEL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT COULD START A FIRE. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800 TO FIX. IT REQUIRES ME TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN IT WEEKLY.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. ALSO STATED THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR WEB SITE WHERE THERE IS MORE THEN 40 COMPLAINTS.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS PHONE CALL. MR

WHEN CHECKING THE OIL, CONSUMER STATES THE OIL READING KEPT DECREASING RAPIDLY. CONSUMER TOOK TO DODGE, DODGE SAYS THE GASKET IS TOO THIN AND IS CAUSING A LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL, BUT HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. APPARENTLY A COMMON AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE YEAR CAR. DT

OIL LEAK UNDER ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO CAR.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND OIL STAINS UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INDICATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AKCONSUMER SPOKE TO A DODGE REPRESENTATIVE WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JG

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $800 TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SURROUNDING THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL OF THE EXPENSE.*AK

HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ORIGINALLY IN NOV 00 AND WAS REPLACED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN THE NEXT 6-8 MONTH PERIOD. I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN EARLIERS THIS YEAR AND AM PREPARING TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE 5TH TIME.*AK

MY HEAD GASKET HASN'T TOTALLY BLOWN YET BUT MY CAR IS GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. I'VE HAD THE GASKET COVER REPLACED AND NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES INSTALLED. OIL STILL COMING OUT . I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR BUT NOT THROUGH THE DEALER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT 16000 MILES. ALBANY DODGE SAID THAT THEY COULD RESURFACE THEM FOR $90 A PIECE. I BELIEVE THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MESSED UP AT THAT TIME.*AK

MARCH 2002 NOTICED OIL LEAKAGE. HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED. THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE EVEN 60000 MILES ON IT. SECONDLY, THE CAR STARTING JUST THIS SUMMER HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. THE TEMPERATURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN RUNNING ON HIGH. IT STALLS ONLY WHEN I'M AT A STOP OR IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC TRYING TO SHIFT FROM FIRST. I HAVE A STANDARD, THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIPPING, AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT USER ERROR. THIS JUST STARTED STALLING THIS SUMMER. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. BUT IT STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN THE TEMP. REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES.*AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. *AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT 71000 MILES, HOWEVER IT NOW IS LEAKING AGAIN AT 107000 MILES. I HAVE HAD SO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS STRATUS, SUCH AS FAILED BRAKE LINE, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, CONTINUAL MISFIRE ON THE ENGINE WHEN THE AC IS TURNED ON AND REQUIRES A DOWNSHIFT, FAILED RACK AND PINION SYSTEM, LEAKING CAM POSITION SENSOR, FAILED TIE ROD ENDS, LEAKING OIL PAN, CONTINUAL OIL LEAKS AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BY DEALERSHIP TO STOP LEAKS, ETC.*AK

HEAD GASKET LEAKED OIL AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO CAR. THERE WAS SUDDENLY A BIG OIL PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE WHICH IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT (HEAD GASKET WAS REDESIGNED BY CHRYSLER SINCE 98) BUT THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR REPAIR.*JB

VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND A DEALER. BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DEALERSHIP REPLACED SENSOR INSIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*AK

A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF A FAILED HEAD GASKET IN 10/2000. MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE AROUND 42,000. REPLACEMENT GASKET (DODGE REPLACEMENT AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN # 09-08-99 INSTALLED BY DODGE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS) FAILED IN 3/2002 AFTER 21,000 MILES. *AK

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKETS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL, I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL PLACES TO GET ESTIMATES I FOUND THAT EVERY MACHANIC WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFFORD. ALSO, SINCE I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN LEAKING I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM.*AK

THE HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON THESE CARS PRE-MATURELY AND OIL LEAKS FROM THE ENGINE SPRAYING OIL MIST ONTO THE CATALITIC CONVERTER WICH COULD IN TURN START THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE CALLED THE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RECALL LINE AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON MAKING THIS PROBLEM CORRECT FOR THE CONSUMER. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET HAVE RANGED BETWEEN 700 AND 800 DOLLARS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR FREE IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN MATERIAL/WORKMANSHIP THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO CARS NORMALLY AND A FIRE HAZARD FROM THE OIL MIST CONTACTING THE VERY HOT CATALITIC CONVERTER. PLEASE HELP US. *AK

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL, LEAK IS EXTREMELY BAD. VEHICLE HAS TO BE REFILLED WITH TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK