I was driving my 2002 dodge stratus on the interstate when the engine dies. I coasted to the bottom of the exit ramp and attempted to start the car. All it would do is click. A call to aaa and the car was toed to the dealer. I call from the dealer later in the day revealed a seized engine. My husband confronted the dealer and asked to have the engine opened up for inspection. Sure enough large deposits of oil sludge. I asked the deal where we go from here and he said a replacement engine is $4900.00 after all the years of taking the car to the dealer for repairs and scheduled oil changes I must know replace the engine. How can chrysler not be aware of this problem with all the attention it is getting.
2002 Dodge Stratus engine complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 51, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2002 dodge stratus oil sludge issues - motor blown -
On 9/3/08 I had brought my 2002 dodge stratus 2.7l v6 in for a coolant system flush. I was charged $129.95. Soon after, I smelled burning coolant, but the dealership had said it was just excess burning off. Two weeks later on 9/23/08, I was on rt 1 to out to my sister-in-laws in lancaster, pa, when my car overheated and had to shut it down on an off ramp. I got out of the car, and all the coolant was leaking out. I had it towed back to miller dodge, and they had informed me my water pump has failed and has to be replaced, along with the timing tensioner chain. It cost me $628.63. I had argued with the dodge dealership because they just did maintenance involving the water pump, and now it is dead. They said I would have to fight with chrysler about it. I found a bulletin on mycarstats.com regarding my engine that the water pump appears to fail after a coolant flush is performed. The bulletin id # 0700202, mfg bulletin date: 20020204, and the federal safety agency item # 629131. I called chrysler about it and they said they would not pay for it. I am still fighting that fight now, almost a year later. I feel that if the coolant flush damages the water pump, that it is a defect, and chrysler should pay for the cost of repairs. I do not feel I am getting any where with chrysler, and now I am reporting it, hopefully for some kind of solution.
While driving the car on a road trip (about 2 hours) the vehicle began smoking. After stopping the vehicle and opening the hood, the engine burst into flames. The car was a total loss.
Noticed increased oil usage with no leaks although oil was changed every 3 months or 3000 miles. At approx. 122000 miles, engine threw a rod. Several dodge/chrysler mechanics stated this was due to "oil sludge" buildup, saying this is a very common problem with the 2.7l v6 engine regardless of the type of oil used or frequency of oil changes.
During daily driving my dodge stratus 2.7 motor failed. After taking to the mechanic, I was told it was cause by engine sludge and that the repair was going to cost me 4k.
2.7l engine failure. Tensioner for primary timing chain failed to extend. 2 o rings missing on tensioner . Oil sludge in engine. Oil passages almost plugged.
Oil sludge caused catastrophic engine failure causing the engine to stop working on the ca-110s.
While on 495 long island expressway the car made a load knocking sound and died. When towed to our mechanic he said it was engine failure. This happened in nov. 2007(the car was purchased new in august 2002), and there were no funds to fix it which has caused transportation/financial difficulties in regard to work from nov. 2007 until the present,june 2008. The daimler chrysler rep. Said they weren't responsible because we didn't bring the car to them for our oil changes. I just received an estimate to replace the engine with a jaspar engine for 4,500 to 5,000 dollars.
The engine stop working and I replace the engine and it did the same thing. Its the 2.7l v6 engine that has been given people a lot of problems.
Oil light came on and the engine seized. Nothing has been done, the car is currently sitting untouched.
Oil light started flickering most when I was applying the brake. The engine started knocking maybe 3 weeks after. I knew I was due for an oil change so I had one done yesterday that didn't stop the knocking. I take it to the dealer I brought the car to have it looked at and he told me it was the engine so last night as im driving the knocking got real loud and you could smell something burning. The oil light was flickering more. Before I knew it the car had completely shut down.
Always changed the oil every 3,00 miles. And the engine seized. It knocked for less than a minute prior to total failure with the correct amount of oil in the engine. The public should be warned and anyone this has happened to should be reimbursed the amount to fix the problem through dodge.
My engine light stays on and oil light comes on after the oil has been changed.
One day after we purchased a 2002 dodge stratus from a private seller, the car died and had to be towed to a mechanic. He had it for 3 days but car started for him. 2 days later car died again so we towed it to a dodge dealer. He had it for 2 days and informed us the engine was shot due to oil sludge and a timing issue. It would need an engine replacement for $6100. We drove the car less than 20 miles, didn't make our first payment on a 3 year loan and have no car to drive. I still have a 10 year old dodge caravan, but was not aware of the defective 2.7l engine dodge knowing sold to consumers. Never buy another dodge.
Dealer dragging feet on repair, even with us having purchased the extended warranty.
2002 dodge stratus began to hesitate and act like it was stalling driving a 10 mile commute. Wife pull over, opened the hood, but saw nothing wrong. Being only a couple miles from home she attempted to restart the car. The car would not start and didn't sound right. She called our mechanic and had the car towed to his business. He told us that after making several attempts to start the car that the engine seized. Both the water and oil were well within the normal operating range. The car has only 58,000 miles on it has been well cared far and driven by my overly cautious wife. As I have learned more about this engine I have found plenty of evidence online that the 2.7l v6 engine is probably one of the worst examples of faulty engineering in memory. This could have caused very serious problems, and chrysler should have been forced to recall this. This is an outrageous fraud upon the american public that also makes me think that the federal safety agency is not doing their job for the american people.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. While driving 40 MPH, the contact heard a rattling noise in the engine compartment. A mechanic stated that the engine could explode if the vehicle is driven. The contact spoke with dodge and they stated that they were unaware of the failure. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 94,000.
Engine failure.
I bought this car in january 2006. I was having problems with the car, little things kept going wrong. I have kept up on maintenance. 3 weeks ago my water pump went out. I picked up my car after the repair and the oil light was still on. Apparently when the water pump had failed, it was leaking coolant and such into the engine. Not to mention the sludge. Of course 2 days after picking up the car, the engine failed on the interstate with my 2 year old son in the car. It is still in the shop. I am having to have a brand new engine installed.
I had my dodge stratus 2002 since summer of 2005. While going to work one morning, I thought I heard that the starter was going. I called and had the manufacturer's local inspection shop look at the car and they told me that the engine had blown out. If I recall the engine should be the last thing to die in a car. This vehicle is only five years old, regardless of mileage the engine should still be going. The manufacturer claimed that they couldn't help because I bought the car from another car dealer and not the manufacturer. This matter should be inspected.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 dodge stratus. While driving 20 MPH, a knocking noise was heard coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle failed and was towed. The contact was told that this is a very common failure due to sludge build up in the engine. The entire engine had to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.
Normal driving then the engine started clanking and quit. Service station said the 2.7 v6 is a terrible engine and need to be totally replaced. Called chrysler and they said they would not help me. It cost about $4000 to fix. Not sure what to do. Can't afford that there are thousands of complaints on www.dontbuyone.org with the same complaint.
I bought my 2002 dodge stratus in october of 2004. The dealership told me there was still the factory warranty on it but failed to tell me it expired in one week. It was at this one week mark I took my car in for a ticking noise to three different places, two of them dodge dealers and they told me there was no problem. As the noise got worse, I took the car back to a dealership and they told me my timing chain was going out and could ruin my whole engine at any time. The cost of repair was $800. I had to fight with chrysler that a car this new should not have this problem before they agreed to pay half. I have also had to recently replace my starter october 2006 after the fuse blowing three times of which I had to have my car towed to a mechanic in addition to paying for repairs. I hate this car!!!!!!
Dt*: the contact stated four times since purchase, the vehicle revved out of control while stopped. The brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle was shifted into neutral. The vehicle restarted and was taken to the dealership, who was unable to determine a problem. Updated 10/18/2006 - the irs time this happened the dealer noticed that the intake was very black and that the throttle was possibly sticking, causing the iac motor to overcompensate.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 55 MPH, the vehicle had an oil sludging problem, internal oil leaking and an increase of engine oil consumption by the engine. The manufacturer and dealership did not properly identify the problem and did not honor any warranty claims. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop who determined that the engine needed to be replaced because the damage was too extensive to fix. The vehicle was inoperative since the day of the incident.
Dt*: the contact stated oil had leaked all over the engine. The dealership was contacted.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 MPH the vehicle made a knocking noise and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined a rod and crank bearings fractured causing damage to the underside of the engine. The engine will need to be replaced.
I drove to knoxville, tn. I went to a basket ball game. On the interstate the engine started knocking real terribly. I called my mom and she said to check the oil in the morning. I did it was at a perfect level.(I had got the oil changed about a week before this trip.) I had the car towed to a maintenance shop. They said the oil holes are to small to let sufficient oil through to the engine and that the oil was like gummy at the bottom of the engine(how would any one know that) and it ruins your engine. I had another maintenance shop check my car at home in wi. They said the same thing the mechanic said in tn. The car needs a new engine. The car is in my drive way because I have no money to put a new engine in the car. My mom was good enough to drive to tn and rent a uhaul with a trailer and bring my car back. I don't only need at least $3000 for engine I also owe my mom $700 for the towing.
My car needs a new engine. It has ~42000 miles. The mechanics one from knoxville,tn where the engine died and the one in kenosha,wi where I had to have the car brought home, said the oil holes are to small to let sufficient oil thru the engine. The car is still sitting at the mechanics shop because I do not have $3000.00 to have it fixed.
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