19 of the
334 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Stratus are about the
steering — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
97,526 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT IGNITIED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V001000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) DEALT WITH THE 1999-2002 DODGE STRATUS AND NOT THE 1998 EVEN THOUGHT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED FOR THE SAME REASON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
NHTSA complaint #10408692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesCollinsville, IL
STEERING
POWER STEERING PRESSURE LINE LEAKING ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD FIRE RISK.
NHTSA complaint #10280230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suisun City, CAFire
STEERING
1998 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH POWER STEERING LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10230009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,000 milesSpringfield, OHFire
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CAR WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID SO WE KEPT ON ADDING MORE UNTIL WE COULD SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED(AROUND $350.00, NO SMALL FEE FOR A WORKING FAMILY!)THEN, THE SMOKING GOT WORSE UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE! I COULDN'T PUT IT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT IT OUT AND NOW THE CAR IS TOTALED! CAN WE STILL GET A RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10211184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springhill, FLFire
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CAR STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE THE OWNER OF THE STORE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AS EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IS BURNT.
NHTSA complaint #10147469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, ILFire
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DAUGHTER TURNED A CORNER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE PULLED OVER AS THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10143351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Owensville, MOCrash1 injured
STEERING
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS BINDING. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS KEPT AT CORRECT LEVELS. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING DIFFICULTIES FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A HILL AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SPEED WAS AROUND 55 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE STEERING OR THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM THE CRASH.*AK UPDATED 1/5/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #10142056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesRidgeley, WV
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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.
at 97,526 milesGrethel, KY
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
BRAKES, OUTER TIE ROD, BRAKE CALIPERS, ENGINE OIL INNER SEAL. BRAKE PADS, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS 20 TIMES EVERY 3 MONTHS AND THE BRAKE CALIBER ON THE RIGHT REAR THIS WILL MAKE THE 9TH TIME I AM RUNNING OUT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR THE FRONT BRAKES AND HUBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS AND CAN PROVE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON MY CAR COST OF OIL LEAK REPAIR WAS OVER $800.00 DOLLARS AND GUESS WHAT I WILL HAVE THE CAR PAID FOR THIS MONTH AND I AM STILL WORKING ON THE WHEELS AND BRAKES I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRAKES, AND THE ENGINE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING.
NHTSA complaint #10093468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesAnsonia, CT
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE TURNING A CORNER AT 10 MPH CONSUMER FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED SEVERELY. CONSUMER MADE ANOTHER TURN, AND THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER, AND CONSUMER CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, WERE THE CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10079594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,628 milesDefiance, OH
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
SINCE JULY 2003, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. 7/2003-LEFT TIE ROD, 8/2003 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING, 1/2004 RIGHT TIE ROD.
NHTSA complaint #10056277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyoming, MI
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING BOLTS ARE LOOSE, AND IT IS CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STEER VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8018809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lorain, OH
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE TURNING POWER STEERING MAKES NOISE, AND IS HARD TO TURN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8001650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Akron, NY
STEERING:LINKAGES
WE WERE TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATES THAT TIE RODS WERE PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT AND BACK, LEFT AND ROD TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
NHTSA complaint #755356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING FROM LANE TO LANE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHECKED IT. HAD NOTICED RIGHT TIE ROD HAD CAME LOOSE. HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT. LATER, WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE & VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HUSBAND NOTICED LEFT TIE ROD HAD CAME APART, CAUSING WHEELS TO FACE ONE ANOTHER. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #870393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Grove, IA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STEERING RACK AND PINION GEAR TOGETHER BROKE OFF. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #551805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Pablo, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT THE RUBBER BOOT IS TOO SMALL THAT IT WON'T SLIDE OVER THE COUPLING MECHANISM TO KEEP SOMETHING FROM GETTING INTO IT. THE FACTORY ISSUED FLOOR MAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE TURN COUPLING, AND DRIVER COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. AVOIDED A NEAR MISS. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #855182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Robinson, IL
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
FLOOR MAT STARTED MOVING WHILE MAKING A TURN. STEERING LOCKED BECAUSE FLOOR MAT WAS JAMMED AROUND THE COLUMN DUE TO STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM NOT BEING COVERED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED IT WAS DESIGN OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #834723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blue Bell, PA
STEERING:COLUMN
FLOOR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. INDICATOR IS LOCATED ON DASHBOARD & NOT SHOWING WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL TILTS WHERE IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OF THE INDICATOR.
NHTSA complaint #833765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.