15 of the 776 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Stratus are about the equipment — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 11,565 miles.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT
MY CAR HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED AND A FEW OTHER THINGS ON IT. BUT I CAN SMELL BURNING OIL FROM SOME WERE AND THE LIGHT IS ON FOR THE OIL. I ONLY DRIVE SHORT DISTANCES BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE. NOT ONLY THAT IT WELL MAYBE ONLY GO ABOUT 2 MILES BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN. THEN I HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN TO START IT AND GET IT BACK HOME.
NHTSA complaint #10288908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10052043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THREE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE VEHICLE HAD A PERPETUAL OIL LEAK AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SHE HAD TO SEEK HELP FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD SO MUCH OIL LEAKING OUT, THE CONSUMER PLACED OIL IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF GAS. CHRYSLER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID, ALSO THE FRONT SEAL BEGAN TO LEAK AS WELL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MISSING OUT, SPUTTERED, AND THE STARTER WAS INTERMITTENT DUE TO A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED A REFUND OF REPAIRS. OTHER REPAIRS WERE AS FOLLOWED: THE AIR COMPRESSOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, STARTER, REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET THREE TIMES, ONCE AT 11565K MILES AND SECOND AT 20495K MILES AND AGAIN AT 69000K MILES. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10037844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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 DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSED BY SHODDY PARTS AND QUALITY. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, AC COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. I AM IN DYER NEED OF A EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, HEAD GASKET. ALSO, I AM EXPERIENCING STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE & BOTTOMING OUT ON POTHOLE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATS IN TRAFFIC &/OR A/C BECOMES INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION & DRIVEWAY DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, INSIDE LIGHTS WORK IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC, LATE OR HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS , FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM FRONT BETWEEN 50 & 70 MPH , MUSTY ODOR AND DEFROSTER FAILS TO CLEAR GLASS. AS IT APPEARS I NEED A LOT OF WORK AND BEING LOW INCOME I NEED HELP.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10033411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
IT ALL BEGAN WHEN WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 1996 DODGE STRATUS IN OCT 1995. THE CAR GAVE US LITTLE IF ANY TROUBLE THE FIRST YEAR. THE SECOND YEAR AND EVERY YEAR SINCE IT HAS BEEN A#1 HEADACHE. THE SECOND YEAR ALONE THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES. THE REPAIRS WERE MAJOR ONES AS WELL AS MINOR ONES INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF AIR COMPRESSOR ON AIR CONDITIONER, STARTER, REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET TWICE ONCE AT 11565 MILES SECOND AT 20495 MILES AND GUESS WHAT NOW AT 69000 MILES.THANK GOODNESS THE FIRST TWO WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL AS GOOD OLD CHRYSLER. I WAS TOLD BY CHRYSLER I COULD ALWAYS BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ANFD THEY WOULD OPEN A COMPLAINT FILE ON ME SO THAT IF ANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURED, I COULD CONTACT THEM. WELL I HAVE CONTACTED THEM BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. TALK ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE HUH!!!!! I AM NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT ANSWER. I THINK CHRYSLER HAS TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CORRECT THIS AT NO COST. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM
NHTSA complaint #10000430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #741441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CAR IS PRESENTLY AT CROWN DODGE@ PHONE # IS 281-556-6400 ROBERT
NHTSA complaint #713275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER/ BRAKES AND ENGINE ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER WII LATER DESCRIBE THE PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #847256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #707246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE AIR CONDITIONING KNOB GETS STUCK AND ALL THE AIR CONDITIONING GETS OUT AT THE WINDSHIELD OUTLET WHICH MAKES IT CLOUDY FROM THE INTERIOR AND REDUCES VISIBILITY TO ALMOST 20%. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF IN ORDER TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #706708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #543800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING FAILS TO COOL VEHICLE UNLESS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #539422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
FRONT SPEAKERS ARE TOO WEAK SO BALANCE FOR RADIO CANNOT BE ACHIEVED.
NHTSA complaint #539422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #525584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.