While driving oil leaked from the head gasket without warning. The consumer had to refill the vehicle with oil often.
1997 Dodge Stratus engine complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 158, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1997 dodge stratus 2.4l has a blown head gasket. The car has 119000 miles and my repair technician says that this problem should really not occur at this point. The car has leaked oil since about 60,000 miles.
Vehicle overheated. Mechanic determined that engine head gasket was the cause of the overheating problem. Oil was leaking through the seals.
Head gasket failed at approx. 72,000 miles. It seems like this is a common problem in dodge stratus and dodge neon based on all the complaints I have read on the internet. I would like dodge/chrysler to take some responsibility for the problem, as I was told they are aware a problem exists and have since change the style of gasket used.
I had nothing but major problem with my dodge stratus it's only a 1997 with 86,582. I bought it used with 23,000 in january of 1999 from a car dealer. I have spent $2,335.30 in repairs in 2002&2003 in may & june of 2003 I spent $1,678.31 & $656.99 in july 2002 starting with brakes being contamied ,water pump ,radiator replaced,and it's being driven locally never been out of this state. I feel this is a lemon car because of the major repairs and the mileage is only 74,153 when I started having repairs and keep having major repairs totally $2,400 only had it 3 1/2 yrs. I filed a report with the lemon law in washington state.
Consumer noticed that vehicle was using an exorbitant amount of oil, and was losing pressure in the motor. A independent mechanic found that the head gasket blew out. Consumer replaced the motor once ,and the head gaskets once.
1997 dodge stratus 2.0 sohc motor, blown head gasket, broken power steering pump, egr valve stopped working, leaks alot of oil out of camshaft position sensor, heater core ruptured, heater hose ruptured also, oil pressure sending unit stopped working .
Head gasket blew and had to be replaced about around 70,000 miles. Now the car is overheating again and there appears to be oil in the coolant, leading me to believe that similar problems have resurfaced again. Given the tremendous number of similar complaints logged by consumers on this website and others, the company should take immediate action.
Engine exploded while parked in shopping center parking lot.
Oil leaks from head gasket in 97 dodge stratus 2.4 - seems to be a common problem! When will chrysler own up to it? Paid $700 for repair.
As my '97 dodge stratus es (2.4l) approaches 58,000 mi, it appears to be self-destructing, of course the engine is leaking oil (1 qt/week) at the infamous head gasket, cooling system is fouled (heater quit, flush+clean didn't solve) , and I just got a check engine light on my to work! I have been a chrysler customer for decades, but having a car that runs fine for 55k and then dies by 60k will make me buy foreign how many complaints about the oil leaks will it take to get a recall? (I hope I add to this count) maybe if I get the next stage, an engine fire, at least the insurance might help pay for my toyota...
Head gasket failed at 58k miles, caused oil leak,like so many other 1997 dodge stratus with four cylinder engine, 2.4l.
Vehicle is leaking oil and the oil light continue to stay on. Dealer states the vehicle's head gasket has malfunctioned. Please provide additional information. Ph
Head gasket oil leak lower control arms ball joints tie rods
Head gasket replaced at 65k miles. Chrysler paid for part.
The head gaskets on the car have gone out twice, once at 37,000 miles and now at 65,000 miles. Now the dodge dealer is saying that the timing belt pulley has locked up and has shredded the belt and the exhaust manifold is cracked. The service department has told me that the pulleys never go out at this low of mileage. However, I have read numerous complaints about the same thing happening to other 1997 stratus owners. I have also read the numerous complaints about the head gaskets. The catalytic converter also went out on the car, I wonder if this was due to the oil leaking on it from the blown heads. This part is still under the emissions warranty, but what if it happens again after 80,000 miles? I cannot imagine why dodge has not recalled these vehicles when so many people have had the same problem? Maybe they are waiting on a certain number of deaths from the loss of vehicle control due to the timing belt failure, or from fires caused by the oil dripping on the catalytic converter. I can not afford to replace the head gaskets every 30,000 miles and I can't afford to trade the car because I owe what the car retails for. I hope someone will help those of us who were unfortunate enough to buy this lemon before lots of deaths occur. If dodge doesn't want to help us. I think a class acton law suit would be very appropriate. Dt
Blown head gasket massive oil leak. Dt
Engine will continuously overheat. Also, oil and transmission fluid was leaking.. Contacted dealer, and the dealer could not find cause of problem.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Vehicle has a massive oil leak and devolping a loud knocking sound. The vehicle is loosing approximately 1-2 quarts a day. The vehicle is overheating within 5-10 minutes into driving and the oil is burning off the motor. The independent mechanic stated the head gasket is faulty possibly due to the style or the material; affecting the surrounding parts. The dealer was notified of the problem. Please provide more information.
Vehicle was going 50mph when the oil light illuminated and vehicle stalled. Imternittently vehicle will restart. This was second time that vehicle has stalled. Also, vehicle is leaking oil caused by time belt problems. Please probide more information.
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.
Car was leaking about 1/2 quart per week; local shop put dye in oil system to find leak at valve cover. Several other stratus owners have had this problem; ours cost nearly $200. This is the most second-most frustrating car we have ever owned (the first was a used lecar). After so much satisfaction with our 1990 spirit, we are so displeased that when we replace this car, we will not even consider a chrysler product.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Head gasket failed.
Vehicle is leaking oil. Consumer has to fill vehicle with oil 3 times a week to keep vehicle going. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.
While starting vehicle it started to smoke and lose oil. Vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and was informed of a blown head gasket. Dealer/manufacturer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
The oil leak has been ongoing since I purchased the car and I took it several times to the dealer as well as other mechanics to determine the problem. I was told that it was just the oil pan leaking and not to worry about it. Now I find out that the head gasket needs to be replaced at a cost of over $600.00. The vehicle isn't even paid for yet. I also had to replace the alternator this past fall. I also had a clunking noise in the front end whenever I turned and after searching the web I find that there was a recall on the ball joint for this year and model. I don't remember getting a notice about that and shouldn't the dealer have thought about that recall notice when I had my car in repeatedly for this problem and they couldn't seem to find out what was wrong? Instead they replaced the bearings and tierod ends. I am getting really frustrated with daimler chrysler over this vehicle. After all the reported complaints just on this website and you know there are more out there, chrysler should stand behind their products and at a minimum do a 50-50 for replacement of these defective parts. You can bet I won't be buying another chyrsler product.
Head gasket blew at 70,000 miles. Cost 750.00 to repair. After researching, I have found many other people have had the same problem and chrysler knows of the problem but does not want to acknowledge it. Is there any way to get any compensation from chrysler for this?
I had to fill my oil every week, my oil stick wasnt even reading the oil, thats how bad my leak was I then took it to an independent technician and told it was a head gasket problem. I then took it to another guy and was told there was a "silent recall" on head gaskets. My timing belt broke going 70mph on I-40 in the middle of nowhere at dusk in the tennessee/nc border. And b4 I left for the trip they told me it was ok to drive. Had to pay 300$ towing bill cause it was "ok" to drive! I will never buy another dodge again...I understand there can be problems with any car...but when they charge us the consumer to fix there mistakes makes no sense at all.
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