Drove home from work. Parked car in private lot. Approxamately ten minutes later. Neighborhood kids notified me that the car was smoking. Upon responding. I noticed that the car had flames coming from underneath engine and hood area. Called fire department. The fire department stated that it was an electrical fire. Car was totaled. The power steering hose ( part # 4764-347a / 0777c/ 25517 df 3251 3/8" id # 03067f1) ruptured and leaked onto the exhaust pipe manifold and ignited the power steering fluid stating the fire. I personally noted the smell of power steering fluid coming from vehicle.
1997 Dodge Stratus electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 31 of 31, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While the vehicle was parked it caught on fire. The consumer called the fire department to extinguish the fire. No injuries reported. *ak prior to the fire, the consumer stated a mechanic worked on the vehicle and stated the vehicle had an electrical leaked.
While turning the vehicle off the key could not be remove from the ignition switch. This caused the vehicle to continue running.
Consumer stated while vehicle was parked for 35 minutes it caught on fire.
Vehicle was parked, had not been driven in approximately 4 hrs, vehicle caught on fire while parked. Apparently started on drivers side dash and spread to the drivers door.
While driving oil light came on and vehicle stalled losing all power. Took vehicleto dealer, and dealer replaced timing belt and pulley. Timing belt has been replaced twice. Also had computer replaced.
Engine started smelling like burnt rubber, also started smoking, hearing electrical popping noise and then engine started burning with the glow of flames coming from under and out of the engine hood compartment. My children and I jumped out of the car crying and very excited, truamatized by the sole fact of maybe getting burned up in the car or blown up. I then , without haste, went to my apt. And dialed the police at "911" and was dispatched over to the fire department. After, approximately 10 mins., the fire department arrived and extinghised the fire and made their report and speaking with me about the turn of events prior to the fire.
The head gasket failed twice resulting in engine and transmission pump failure. Nlm
Ins. Adjusted unable to detect cause of fire which burned my car to the ground. Total loss!! Took fire dept 35 minutes to arrive. Nothing left but the shell! Car was parked and turned off!
Consumer's brother started vehicle up to drive vehicle over to consumer's house. In process of driving, smoke coming from underneath. Consumer smelled the smoke. Backseat started to evaporate. Everything that was inside off vehicle was demolished. *ak the clogged exhaust system caused the engine to blow out.
My head gasket blew out with 84,000 miles. Car is only 3 years old. I owned it for 2 years. I took it to a mechanic and 2 dodge dealerships. The first dodge dealership had my car for over 6 weeks they could not fix it after the headgasket was replaced. Basically the head gasket was replaced along with timing belt. After that the car would not start. The dealership could not fix it. Plus I had to pay for a computer,which did not fix the problem. The money was non refundable. The car was taken to a second dodge dealership in which they had it for about 5 weeks. They fixed the problem saying it was electrical. I had to pay over 450 dollars for that. The total I paid was over 1200 dollars. I think its pretty bad that the dealership coulnd not even fix it! It seems to run all right now. Ive read how a lot of theses dodge models I.e. 2.4 liter engines have a major corrosion problem that the dodge company fails to tell anybody about or even try to fix it. I had to pay out of my own pocket.
While filling fuel tank a fire commenced from fuel filler neck. Local fire department arrived to extinguish fire. Cause of fire believed to be static electricity. Dealer/manufacturer were not contacted at this time.
Upon being struck in the left front wheel well, near the battery, my car bursted into flames. The vehicle continued to travel another 200 feet desipite various methods of application of the brakes. I then deployed the emergency brake. The vehicle didn't stop until the power cut off and the finally died.
While car was parked in a parking lot, apprx 30 min's when someone noticed the car was on fire. The fire dept was called and a tech from the place I was at went out with a fire ext. And put out the fire. Fire dept arrived and determined that the fire was started in a door panel swith (pwr door lock or pwr mirror switch) car was towed to scully motor and I calle d chrysler, they did a though investigation and found the fault to be in the pwr mirror switch. They have been great and have assummed responsibility for totaling my car and doing a complete buy back which is in the process. My concern is for the safty of others who may not have the good fotune I had of not being in the car since it burnt up at a fast pace. Hope this helps others, thanks karen.
This is the second manufacture defect within the last 2 months, I have been stranded twice
Lost turn signal, radio, and rear window defroster functionality simultaneously. Functionality returned after ignition was turned off and car was restarted. Dealership said that they couldn't do anything because there was no failed part, but that it sounded like a glitch in the body controller. Chrysler referred me back to the dealer saying that nothing would be done unless the part were shown to be defective. My concern is that nobody seems to be willing to share what systems are affected by the body controller and what the potential consequences could be if it fails.
The moving steering shaft between the steering wheel and floor of the passenger compartment is exposed. A clamp on the steering shaft caught the floor mat and made it almost impossible to steer the car. I talked to the dealer and was told all stratus are made this way. The steering shaft needs a shield. If chrysler doesn't fix this, I may sell the car. I have had numerous other problems, including timing belts/iginition key/ head rests/body, electric mirrors,etc.. This may be the last straw. I am a mechanical engineer with 20 years experience and I have worked on cars since grade school. A design flaw like this borders on criminal!!! If there is an accident caused by this design, I would be glad to testify. It would be an open and shut case!!! I would appreciate a reply to this message if possible.
Parked vehicle in garage and went into the house, about 5 minutes later heard a loud noise, went out to the garage and flames were coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Had to pull the vehicle from the garage into the open. Called the fire department and they put fire out. Fireman stated that it was an electrical fire, and the vehicle was totaled.
A short at plug to starter caused blowing of fuse.
When driving at highway speed 50-55 MPH, upon taking foot off the accelerator the engine speed does not return to normal idle, and hangs up at 1800 rpms. The dealer is aware of the problem, but has not been corrected. The service manager stated that it may be a problem with the computer chip.
Had pulled into parking area; then turned off lights & then ignition; lights failed to go off; have a 90 second delay timer which did not work; will be taken to dealer to check out electrical problem.
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