12 of the
193 complaints about the 2002 Dodge Stratus are about the
braking system — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
26,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BACKING PLATE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE, CALIPER, BRACKET, AND PARKING BRAKE SHOES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10508284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesOAK View, CACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ON A WINDING ROAD, CURVING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE VEHICLE TURNED LEFT. THE BRAKES SEEMED STIFF WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HIT A FENCE AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE WORN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY, BUT NO DETERMINATION WAS MADE AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE AGENCY DID DETERMINE THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A STEERING OR BRAKE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10152598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,900 milesWest Chicago, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH 35,000 MILES AND EVERYTHING APPEARED IN ORDER. SUDDENLY ONE DAY A LOUD CLICKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION FOR THE CLICKING NOISE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR ROTER WAS WARPED. I EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS EMANATING FROM THE FRONT END. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE NOISE ORIGINATED IN THE REAR ROTERS AND TRAVELED THROUGH THE FRAME TO THE FRONT END.THE REAR ROTERS WERE RECUT. A FEW DAYS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. I CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP BACK AND RELATED THAT THE NOISE WAS STILL COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SHOP HAS SEEN NUMEROUS STRATUS'S AND MANY HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY,AFTER THE CLICKING NOISE WAS DISCOVERED I EXPIRIENCED THE BRAKES LOCKING UP TWICE. THE ABS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY NOW AND THE DODGE DEALERSHIP I SPOKE WITH STATED THAT THEY COULD FIX THE CLICKING NOISE AND THE ABS PROBLEM FOR $1500.00 A SEARCH OF YOUR DATA BASE REVEALED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A SIMILIAR FRONT END NOISE AND ABS FAILURE. IF THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE'S SYSTEM THEN WHY ISN'T A RECALL BEING INITIATED. OR DOES IT TAKE A FATALITY TO GET THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10098248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesCorona, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I TOOK MY STRATUS INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS FREE OIL CHANGE. WHILE DRIVING THERE MY "BRAKE" IDIOT LIGHT FLICKERED ON A FEW TIMES WHEN STOPPING. I ASKED THE DEALER TO LOOK INTO THIS. *AK THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAUSE WAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR. AT 26000 MILES ALL 4 PADS ARE SHOT AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS ARE WORN. CHRYSLER WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE OWNED OVER 8 CARS AND USUALLY GET ABOUT 60,000 MILES OR SO OUT OF A SET OF BRAKES. I CALLED MIDAS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE DONT A LOT OF BRAKE JOBS ON DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES IN MY AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10073071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesEuless, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A WRAPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN PREMATURELY. THE PARTS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10073790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesEuless, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A WRAPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN PREMATURELY. THE PARTS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10073790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chepachet, RICrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I AM CONCERNED WITH A FEW THINGS ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE 4 DOOR. ONE, I FEEL THAT THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CAR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH MY CAR IN WHICH MY WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO "LAUNCH FORWARD" AT LEAST 10 FEET EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS. I ENDED UP HITTING A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME WHO HAD JACKED UP. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH HAVING JUST COME THROUGH A LIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I STILL HIT THE DASHBOARD WITH MY KNEE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHIN. NORMALLY WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY SEAT BELT GETS TIGHTER WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES AND I HAVE TROUBLE LEANING FORWARD TO LOOK BOTH WAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. ALSO, MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I LOVE MY CAR BUT I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP BECAUSE OF A CHILD RUNNING OUT IN THE STREET 20 FEET FROM WHERE I AM. WILL MY CAR STOP THEN. I KNOW CARS DON'T STOP ON A DIME BUT I FEEL AT THE RATE OF SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HIT THAT WOMAN. WHAT DO I DO?
NHTSA complaint #10060357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elyria, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. MECHANIC INDICATED NOISE WAS DUE TO ROTORS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #10038153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 21,000 milesRockledge, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2000 DODGE STRATUS.*MR DURING HIGH HUMIDITY, THE BRAKES MADE A GRIND NOISE AND SQUEALED. *TS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TO WASH THE BRAKES THE NEXT TIME THE CAR WAS WASHED, THE CONSUMER COMPLIED, HOWEVER IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10029618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,600 milesGoffstown, NH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY CAR MAKES A LOUD CLICKING/GRINDING NOISE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING. I HAVE HAD THE STEERING RACK REPLACED, THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED TWICE, THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWICE, THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET REPLACED, THE SWAY BARS REPLACED. THE NOISE STOPPED AFTER THE BRACKET WAS REPLACED BUT CAME BACK AFTER A MONTH. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVEN TIMES WITH NO RESOLVE.
NHTSA complaint #10025289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,300 milesMilford, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON MY WIFES 2002 DODGE STRATUS HAD FAILED TWICE, BRAKE PEDAL WAS AT FLOOR AND CAR DID NOT STOP. BOTH TIMES THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. HAD DEALERSHIP INSPECT AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR WITH THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND GAVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ONCE MORE SINCE TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP (THIS IS ALL WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD). FORTUNALTY NO ACCIENT HAS OCCURED. PER SERVICE DEPARTEMENT THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO LEAVE CAR AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DRIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SEE IF BRAKES FAIL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10008013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES FAILED WHILE APPLYED AT 55 MPH, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES EJECTING THE PASSENGER AND INJURING THE DRIVER CRITICALLY. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL AND SEAT BELT PROBLEM AND EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLEW OUT.
NHTSA complaint #8012838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.