1996 Dodge Stratus engine problems

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Engine, Visibility · 167,000 miles · IA

R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, I'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will have radiator fixed soon. Muffler fell off, can't afford a new one. Needs new spark plugs, can't afford that either. Needs manifold gasket, can't afford that either. Needs oil pan gasket, can't afford that either. Needs new wipers, can't afford that either.

Filed Oct 19, 2009 · Engine · OK

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.

Filed Jun 19, 2009 · Engine, Transmission · 193,000 miles · MI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge stratus. While the vehicle was parked at a gas station, the contact was informed that her vehicle was smoking under the hood. She was able to take the vehicle to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine compartment suffered a melt down. A report was filed with the manufacturer, but they would not assist. The current and failure mileages were 193,000. Updated 8/7/09 *cn the PCM and power shifter were faulty. Updated 08/11/09.

Filed May 4, 2009 · Brakes, Engine · 100,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge stratus. The contact purchased the vehicle and noticed that the motor was not mounted down and was missing two screws. The motor jerks back and forth so severely that it seems as if the engine will fall out of the vehicle. In addition, the timing chain, fuel pump, ignition coil, serpentine belt, and muffler are failing. New brakes and struts are also needed. The contact did not discover these issues until after the vehicle was purchased. Two days later, the vehicle would not start and had to be towed back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jan 20, 2007 · Engine · NC

I have a 1996 dodge stratus and the head gasket leaks like crazy. I asked the dealer to take a look at this and they said it was a default in design from daimler chrysler. I asked if they could give me any information on a recall or how much it would cost to repair it. The dealer quoted me $2500!! Unbelievable! Especially if it is a defect from manufacturing and design. I need my "only" means of transportation fixed! Recalls need to be done on this car for the head gasket leakage.

Filed Oct 24, 2006 · Engine · 132,232 miles · MI

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 MPH on normal road conditions, the oil light illuminated and the front end of the vehicle started to smoke. An independent mechanic examined the vehicle and determined that the head oil galley plugs needed to plugged in or replaced. The contact called the dealer and manufacturer, who determined that the repairs were not covered under the federal safety agency recall #96v006000 regarding engine and engine cooling :engine:gasoline due to the VIN. The vehicle was unable to be driven, no repairs have been made. Updated 11/30/2006 - the manufacturer refused to repair the vehicle under recall.

Filed Oct 19, 2006 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MI

One of the oil galley plugs on the 2.4l engine of our daughter's 1996 dodge stratus came out, and the car spewed most of its oil out into the engine compartment. Chrysler had a recall (#671) on these back in 1995 as several fires occurred. Our VIN fell within the range of vins affected, but we were told it was not part of the recall. The recall ended with cars manufactured oct. 13, 1995 and our car (we were told) was manufactured oct. 14th. The fix as of that date was a change to the cylinder head machining and the plug thickness. Obviously, either our engine is one from before the change was fully implemented, or the change was not a cure all, as the plug on ours came out. Their solution for affected engines was a bracket that bolts on to retain the plugs, but no one at the 1-800 number nor at the dealership could tell me if it would fit or work on our engine with the supposed machining changes. Parts and labor will likely be only around $100, but they will not cover the repair even with the proximity of recall date to our manufacture date, the fact that our car had the same problem as cars that were recalled, and this being a safety issue. Hope they are 100% correct that our car should not have been included in the recall, seems like a risk on their part to not cover this.

Filed Nov 11, 2005 · Engine · 167,000 miles · VA · fire

I own a 96 dodge stratus, I purchased it year of 97. I received numerous recalls on this vechicle since the day of purchased. I followed up on each recall that I received. As time went on I had numerous problems with this vehicle. Over the years I aways believe in chrysler products to be safe and sound.I feel that it's been truly unfair too loyal consumers such as myself many others. I don't understand why a company such as chrysler and engineers would engineered a product like the dodge stratus with so many defects. On saturday november 5, 2005 I went to pay a bill about five to ten miles away from home. Return home, park the car, lock the doors went into my apartment. About ten minutes later a neighborhood boy knock on my door and said your gold car is on fire. I ran outside to see, yes it was my car on fire! Fire was coming from underneath the hood. I called the fire department, they arrive about ten minutes later to put the fire out. The fireman had to break the hood latch to get into the engine area to put out the fire. The fire destroy my motor and hood. Thank god myself or my kids wasn't in the car! I'm truly sadden that this have to happen to me and my family I'm single parent with no transportation. After the investigation of the cause of fire it was determine that the oil gallery plug was faulty. My insurance coverage wouldn't coverage it.

Filed Mar 1, 2005 · Engine · 58,000 miles · FL

Head gasket leaking at 58,000 miles. Chrysler refuses to fix even though there is a design flaw. I have seen over 100 posts online about other that have this problem.

Filed Feb 1, 2005 · Engine · GA · fire

On 12/18/1997 I purchased a 1996 dodge stratus at a buy here pay here lot that went out of business. Within 6 months of owning the vehicle I was backing out of a sloped driveway. I felt a bump and kept driving. Before I could reach the end of the street my oil lamp came on. I stopped at the gas station check the oil and discovered I needed oil. I put oil in the car and got on the interstate. My car all of a sudden stopped pulling. After the car was towed to the shop the dealership informed me that the oil pan had a hole in it and most likely got it during the bump. I had to get a new motor for the car which a $500 deductible had to be paid by me and the other $3600 was paid by allstate(my insurance company). Last year in late april the same thing happened again and the car hasn't been repaired since or of course driven. The second time the car started smoking and someone called the fire department. I then had the car towed home.