2000 DODGE STRATUS Suspension Problems

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SIDE ROAD AT AROUND 25MPG, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL MADE A POP SOUND AND ABRUPTLY STOPPED. WHEN MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE SHE SAW THAT THE WHEEL WAS FOLDED UNDER THE CAR. SHE HAD IT TOWED AND WE LEARNED THE TIE-ROD CONTROL ARM FAILED AND BROKE THE SHAFT. THANK GOD SHE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE PAID 1200.00 DOLLARS TO GET HER BACK ON THE ROAD AND 4 MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW MAKING A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. NOW I LEARN THAT IT SEEMS THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS! OH, AND THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND WILL COST 500.00 TO FIX.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLUID COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN OR WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,100.

AFTER AN ABRUPT STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING ABILITY WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED. I WENT HOME IMMEDIATELY FEARING FOR MY SAFETY. AFTER AN INSPECTION UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN MY DRIVEWAY. LOOKING MORE CLOSELY I FOUND THE LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD WORN A SPOT ON THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS COMBINED WITH CORROSION HAD CAUSED THE LINE TO RUPTURE. IT LOOKS AS IF THE FACTORY WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS A SOFT 3" PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER TUBING OVER THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WHERE IT CONTACTED THE HYDRAULIC LINE. THIS FOAM RUBBER MAY HAVE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION BY TRAPPING WATER BETWEEN IT AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. JUDGING BY THE AMOUNT OF RUST STUCK TO THE FOAM RUBBER I WOULD SAY THIS IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT....

I HAVE MY AUTOMOBILE ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, EVERY 6-8 MONTHS, (OIL, TUNE UP,...)OIL SLUDGE BAKING IN ENGINE BLOCK-CYLINDER AT 50,000 AND AGAIN 114000. CORROSION BUILD UP & GUNK IN CYLINDER BLOCK, COILS & SPARK PLUG CORROSION CAUSING BAD-STRONG ORDER IN AUTOMOBILE AND SPUTTERING, POOR EMISSION. TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM TIME TO TIME AT 25,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 114000, WITH LEAKS WHICH WE CAN SMELL VERY STRONG IN AUTOMOBILE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE LOCKAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN NORMAL-AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 MILES. CONSTANTLY HAVING TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPAIR ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIFE WARRANTY ON BREAKS. REPAIRER STATES ITS THE AUTOMOBILE. SAFETY BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH PROPERLY AND HAS UNLATCHED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE IM DRIVING WITH MY SON, (6 YRS OLD). DRIVERS BELT ALSO UNLATCHES FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THE CAR TENS TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE HAD THIS AUTO ALIGNED AS WELL AS,...

VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS. ALSO, BLOWER MOTOR ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. *JB