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1997 Dodge Stratus engine complaints

Page 3 of 6: complaints 41 to 70 of 158, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 1997 Dodge Stratus engine problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Jan 11, 2002 · Engine · MD

Headgasket has oil leakage. Upon driving vehicle must use four quarts of oil to function. Also, vehicle smokes, and engine light illuminates on dash. Took vehicle to dealer. *ak the serpentine belt was cracked.

Filed Jan 4, 2002 · Engine · TX

Headgasket is leaking. Please add further information.

Filed Dec 31, 2001 · Engine · KS

Vehicle is leaking oil. When taken to the dealer, he noted that gasket had a manufacturer's defect, and needed to be changed.

Filed Dec 20, 2001 · Engine · IA

Head gasket is leaking oil and antifreeze. Please provide more information.

Filed Dec 11, 2001 · Engine · KS

Vehcile was leaking oil. Consumer took vehicle to dealer, and they stated that car was assembled with a paper thin gasket.*ak

Filed Nov 30, 2001 · Engine · MN

I have a 1997 dodge stratus that I took in for overheating they replaced the thermostat, flushed the radiator, and replaced a belt. Then three days later my car was still overheating so I brought it in again and this time the head gasket was blown due to oil leaking and the exhaust manifold was cracked. This was not cheap to fix all of this and prior to this happening I had to pay $650 to get brakes in front and back, roters, and replace the hydraulics in the rear brakes. Both tie rods have broke also in the past two years. So overall I have had to stick a lot of money in to a fairly new vehicle. I don't expect to replace this much stuff on vehicle unless it is 10 years or older. I would like to contact chrysler to see if they would provide any help. I see by the other complaints listed that the head gasket seems to be a common problem.

Filed Oct 30, 2001 · Engine · GA

Exhaust manifold cracked and headgasket had to be replaced due to leaking oil

Filed Aug 21, 2001 · Engine · IN

Vehicle developed oil leak. Diagnosed as head gasket leak. Warranty will not cover repair. There seems to be hundreds of complaints pertaining to this issue yet the manufacturer appears to be ignoring the prob lem (apparent design/manufacturer flaw). Why is chrysler corp. Not being forced to address and resolve this issue? If their position on this issue is one of we dont care,which is what I hear by reading all the complaints about head gas kets and their failure to cover the repair, maybe the public needs to boycott th eir products. I know that I will never own another one of their products. Qual ity seems to be a thing of the past with them. I just hope that one day manageme nts family members get stuck somewhere in one of their products like the I did. Maybe theyll start caring about the people that buy their products and keep th em in business. I can only hope.

Filed Aug 21, 2001 · Engine · OH

Engine developed serious oil leak. Referred to dealer. Advised that head gasket blew and that camshaft oil seal failed. Advised that engine is making sound indicitive of internal component failure. Dealer insists head gasket and cam shaft oil seal and other damage unrelated. Currently awaiting estimate for repair, possible complete engine overhaul.

Filed Jul 31, 2001 · Engine, Suspension · VA

Head gasket blew at 60,000 miles. Ball joint replaced./ rear oil seal replaced.

Filed Jul 18, 2001 · Engine · TX

Head gasket was replaced once at the dealer. The next time I noticed the head gasket leaking, we were out of warranty. Therefore due to the high cost of a recurring head gasket failure, the problem still exist. Thank you for letting our voice be heard!

Filed Jul 17, 2001 · Engine · MN

Head gaskets blewout, leaking coolant onto engine and cracking the exhaust manifold. Dealer is inspecting and will repair vehicle. *ak consumer adds that the rear seal needed to be replaced due to the leak, total cost of repairs were $1600 dealer stated cold weather played a major part in damage.

Filed Jul 9, 2001 · Engine · WV

Consumer informed by independent service agent that vehicle's head gasket was bad and that this had been an ongoing problem with this make and model of vehicle.

Filed Jun 19, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · PR

Consumer states brake system failed on three occassions, and were replaced by dealer.

Filed Jun 19, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · PR

Consumer states brake system failed on three occassions, and were replaced by dealer.

Filed Jun 18, 2001 · Engine · CA

I have had two head gaskets replaced in a 6000 mile span I am mad.

Filed Jun 11, 2001 · Engine, Steering · MO

Power steering went out (65 MPH on curve hose came off, head gasket replaced, steering gear replaced, new rack was installed, replaced up-strem oxgen sensor, power steering leak, dealer could not find leak.

Filed Jun 2, 2001 · Engine · NY

$800 head gasket repair plus $300 to replace parts it damaged.

Filed Jun 1, 2001 · Engine · AZ

Consumer noticed that oil was on ground that came underneath vehicle. Head gasket blew at 22000 miles before. Dealership was aware of problem.

Filed May 22, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · PR · fire

Brake system failed and the engine caught on fire. Possible due to malfunctioning of the brakes or engine leak may have been the cause.

Filed May 5, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · VA

The head gasket failed twice resulting in engine and transmission pump failure. Nlm

Filed Apr 24, 2001 · Engine · MA

Consumer started to notice oil on ground, and oil gauge went down to gauges.

Filed Apr 11, 2001 · Engine · KS

Headgasket failed, dodge dealer informed consumer this is a known problem.

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Engine · OH

Consumer has taken vehicle back for same problem twice. Gaskets was consistently leaking. Dealer charged consumer $500.00 for repair.

Filed Mar 23, 2001 · Engine · GA

A head gasket failure due to a loss of oil blowing out of the manifold dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed consumer vehicle was not covered under a recall. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

Filed Mar 18, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · TX

Head gasket - have had to replace two (2) head gaskets due to leaks in three years. First one cost a deductible of $500 and the second one will cost me $250, although I know that dodge has issued tech bulletins to address installation problems. Dodge did the good will bit in both cases by supposedly splitting the cost 50/50. This is an outrage that consumers are required to pay such hefty fees for inferior/faulty designs. Brakes - apparently the design of the calipers includes a cylinder made of some type of plastic. This plastic is not able to withstand the heat of normal braking operations and will not contract properly when cooled down. Because of this the caliper sticks in an extended position which casuses the disc pad to stay in constant contact with the rotor, thus wearing down the pad prematurely and causing possible damage to the rotors. This cost me $559 the first time and since then I have simply been changing the pads earlier than necessary to prevent further damage to the rotor. Although this has not resulted in an accident, I believe it could (or has to others?) cause an accident/fatality on an extended trip.

Filed Mar 14, 2001 · Engine · GA

I took my car in for service because of an oil leak and was told that it was a faulty head gasket. My repair bill totals $1400 and chrysler is saying that they will do nothing about it. If it were still under 50,000 miles then they would have provided 'some type of assistance'. I would like to know when something is going to be done about this. It has been a major problem for quite some time now and surely there are enough incidents to support a mandatory recall of these vehicles.

Filed Mar 12, 2001 · Engine · MD

Vehicle was brought in for timing gear belt pulley system. Car engine winded really loud. Engine head gasket was blown and leaking oil, foamy whit residue formed around inside of oil cap. Dealer told consumer that may be a manufacturer's defect. Gasket has been replace almost 4 times.

Filed Mar 3, 2001 · Engine · NY

My first head gasket was replaced 03/26/1998. Here it is three years later and it goes again? A call was placed to chrysler on 02/28/2001, and they even stated that the head gaskets are bad and a new one should do the trick. Why should I have to pay for a second head gasket, when the very first one should have lasted the life of the car. This is absolutely ridiculous. Today, I am sending a registered letter to chrysler as well.

Filed Feb 28, 2001 · Engine · MD

Daimler-chrysler has refused to reimburse me for the replacement of a faulty head gasket.

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