1998 Dodge Stratus engine problems

ENGINE

FIRST HORN WAS BLOWING OUT OF CONTROL, THAN THE ENGINE WE GOT IT FIXED, OR SO WE THOUGHT ,THAN GOT THE STARTER FIX DROVE IT 2 WEEKS AND NOW IT TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOTHING SO IT'S SITTING IN MY YARD NOT WORKING AND AM SICK OF IT SO FAR I HAVE PAID OUT OVER A GRAND AND THIS CAR DON'T WORK JUST WHY,OH GOD JUST WHY.I HAVE PAID SOME OF EVERYTHING YOU THINK OF ONE THAT CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWARDS SO MUCH STATE FARM WANTED TO CANCEL MY INSURANCE, OKAY LET'S BEGIN.STARTER REPLACED,EG ROAD VALVE SENSER,VALLEY + PIPE, IGNITION COIL,IGNITION RELAY,TEMPERATURE SENSER,IGNITION WIRE, ROTOR, INJECTOR, BRUSH, BEARING BALL, DECEMBER FRAME NOT TO MENTION THE LABOR MY GOD. AND NOW IT SITS IN MY YARD AM TIRED REALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10945788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

HAVING ISSUES WITH DASH AND HEADLIGHT DIMMING,ALSO RADIO GOES OFF AND LOOSES MEMORY,DOOR LOCKS WON'T WORK WHEN RADIO GOES OFF. BURNT OUT DEFOGGER RELAY AND POWER AMP FUSE WITH NO POWER AMP, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE HORN RELAY YET TAKING ALL THOSE RELAYS OUT AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. ALREADY CHECKED LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, THAT WAS POPPING AMP FUSE. FIXED THAT STILL HAPPENING. ALSO GOES THROUGH 1 QUART OF OIL A MONTH BUT NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR WHEN MOVED. ?????? HELP!!!!!! THE OIL PROBLEM SHOULD FALL UNDER HAZARDOUS METERIALS ACT IF ALL THESE CARS ARE DUMPING USED OIL ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

NHTSA complaint #10787527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10247729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WELL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY OIL PRESSURE SENSOR ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY, IT SEEMS LIKE I REPLACE IT EVER 6 MONTHS OR SO, IT HAS BEEN LEAKING OUT OF THE ELECTRICAL END OF THE SENSOR BUT NEVER LEAKS OUT OF THE THREADED END THAT GOES INTO THE BLOCK, IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BLOW UP MY MOTOR THAT LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT IS JUST BECOMING A HUGE HASSLE THERE HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT IN THE PART, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH PARTS STORE I GO TOO THEY ALL END UP LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10244020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THROTTLE CABLE FRAYED AND STUCK IN CABLE HOUSING NOT LETTING THE ENGINE TO IDLE DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10218467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. ATTEMPTS TO FIND A REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. ALL SALVAGE YARDS THAT HAD ONE SAYS THAT THEIRS IS ALSO CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #10198542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT A CAR WITH A DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10154851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10146886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10128034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10107548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A STRATUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND I KNOW BUYER BEWARE. ANY HOW, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY GOT IT FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT IT FROM SAID THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND IT WASN'T A HEAD GASKET, BUT AN OIL PAN LEAK. ANYHOW, I BOUGHT IT(HOOK-LINE AND SINKER). WENT TO GET AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OTHERS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THAT. SO, I TOLD THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND GOT 300.00 BACK . THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP(GLADSTONE DODGE) HERE IN TOWN. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK, BUT ALSO SAID IT WAS MANY OTHER THING TO THE TUNE OF 2000.00, I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT JUST FOUND A HEAD GASKET LEAK AND A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS AND FIXED IT ALL FOR A 1000.00. WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET IS WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED? UNFORTUNATES, I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS TO THIS BUT WISH I DID.

NHTSA complaint #10102244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD FELL OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10103205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10096548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER HAD TO STOP TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DEALER FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. OIL HAD SPRAYED FROM THE FRONT END TO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10093988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1998 DODAGE STRATUS LEAKS OIL TO THE TUNE OF AT LEAST 1 QT EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE TO KEEP A CASE OF OIL IN MY TRUNK TO KEEP UP WITH THE LEAK. AND THEN IT STILL BARELY REGISTERS ON THE DIP STICK. I HAVE A LARGE OIL STAIN IN THE GRASS OF MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. IT HASN'T BLOWN (YET) BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE REST OF THE CAR FALLS TO PIECES. I EMAILED A COMPLAINT TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND I GOT A "WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR DISSATISFACTION". THAT WAS IT. I HAVE READ ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE THE RESPONSES TO THEM ARE? HAS ANYONE GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #10088683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE OVERFLOW.

NHTSA complaint #10087335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10079923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10078638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD BLEW A GASKET. MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT NO RECALL WAS ANTICIPATED FOR THAT PART.

NHTSA complaint #10079430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10011912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SLOW OIL LEAK, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO TURN ON LOW OIL INDACATOR ON THE DASH BOARD. I EVENTUALLY PUT A QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE.THEN I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.I WAS VERY ANGRY WHEN I HAD FOUND THAT OUT ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY 53,465 MILES ON THE CAR!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10069062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HEAD GASKET LEAKING, MILLAGE 69310,TOTAL COST $1003.

NHTSA complaint #10067676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10066352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10065536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MY DODGE STRATUS 98 HAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET WHICH CAN BLOW MY ENGINE - ACCORDING TO MY FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC. HE SAYS THAT MOST OF THESE MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS RECALL ONLY FOR 95-96 MODELS. IS THERE ANYTHING ON PROCESS TO EXTEND THE RECALL??? THE CAR IS WORTH $2,600 AND THE REPAIR WILL COST ME $2,000.

NHTSA complaint #10063614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10062275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10060666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.