2003 Dodge Stratus engine problems

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,037. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11279840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ONLY HAD MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS NOW. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT, EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BUT I STILL DID MAINTENANCE WORK ON IT ANYWAYS. I BARELY DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I'M A STAY AT HOME MOM SO I DON'T REALLY PUT MILES ON MY CAR. NOW MY CAR IS SUFFERING PROBLEMS FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ONE EVENING AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED OUT OF NOWHERE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND THEN WENT TO A MECHANIC AND PRETTY MUCH MY ENGINE IS SUFFERING. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT 2.7 ENGINES ARE VERY CRAPPY AND DOESN'T LAST LONG. I WISH I WOULD'VE KNEW THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND MADE BETTER. NOW I'M OUT OF A CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10917307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE CAR ONE ONCE MOVING AND THEN I STOP, AND PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND GIVE IT A LITTLE GAS, AND THE VEHICLE ROCKS AND SHAKES, AND I WAS PARK, AND PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE AND GAVE IT A LITTE GAS AND IT ROCK AND SHAKES. I DID JUST HAVE NEW SPARK PLUGS PUT ON OLD PLUGS AND WIRES, AND A NEW FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE

NHTSA complaint #10907015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR "CHUGGED" AND THEN STALLED. IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I PASSED THROUGH TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8-10 SINCE IT'S FIRST OCCURRENCE. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS IN A DRIVE-THRU WAITING FOR SERVICE AND THE CAR "SPUTTERED" AND THEN STALLED. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10512942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS AND IT SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE OF ITS 2.7 LITER ENGINE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR DOES NOT RUN DUE TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10328994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ABNORMAL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,000. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS 2.7L WITH SIX CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10253979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED CAUSING THE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10152303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAKING NOISE AND CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT I COMES FROM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10135903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAKING NOISE AND CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT I COMES FROM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10135903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

RELIABLE MECHANICS REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS ONLY 47,200 MILES ON IT.MECHANICS STATE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND IT IS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE, RANGING FROM $3,000 AND UP, SOON. AS I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING, I HAVE SEEN THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH OUR OIL CHANGES, AND FEEL THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THESE ENGINES JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. DODGE WILL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR CARELESSNESS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE OR SOME FAMILY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #10111826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10032998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.