Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge stratus. While at an intersection, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle jerked and lost power without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road. Once the vehicle was turned off and restarted, it resumed normal operation. Also, when the vehicle struck a bump in the road, it veered to the right intermittently. An independent mechanic replaced the starter; however, the failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,037. The VIN was unknown.
Dodge Stratus jerking problems
43 of the 2,653 owner complaints about the Dodge Stratus describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 1996 model year.
- owner complaints
- 43
- worst model year
- 1996
- typical mileage
- 53,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Hesitation 5Stalling 4Slipping 4Loss of power 3Ball joint 3Engine failure 2Check engine light 2Adaptive cruise 2
What owners say
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 dodge stratus. While making a right turn, the steering wheel jerked and locked. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a pole and damaged the front end. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that only the passenger side air bag deployed. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right knee and had a seizure that required medical attention. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a state matter. The failure mileage was unavailable.
While driving my 2003 dodge stratus, I was in the process of turning and I heard a kind of snap and then I felt and heard a grinding in my steering wheel. For about a week whenever I had to make a turn there was this noise list a spring was caught and almost would get caught and I would have to quickly jerk the steering wheel so it wouldn't get stuck and keep me from turning. My airbag light came on and stays on, so it won,t deploy in an accident, my horn doesn't work, and I lost function of my speed control. I was told this is my clockspring. This faulty clockspring was recalled in many dodge vehicles but has yet to be recalled in my vehicle. See safety recall no. B24 (11/01/2002) for 1998 dodge vehicles but dodge continued to use these faulty clocksprings that in fact should have a lifetime warranty.
Noticed slight gear slippage travelling 35-45mph. All fluids checked, at proper levels. A week later, engine 'jerked' when coming to complete stop, check eng light illuminated. Progressively worsened. Once engine warmed up, started hearing a 'whirring' noise from lower-middle area of engine. Stopped @ local repair shop, they checked fluids and vac hoses, noise stopped, but noticed coolant in reservoir side 3/4 full & boiling, temp gauge on dash 'normal'. Next day, while cold, I checked coolant level in reservoir (left side) still full, (hadn't flowed back thru system once cool). I added water to 'fill line', checked condition of pressure cap (looked fine), placed & tightened, started engine, let run a few minutes, loosened 'air bleeder' on top of coolant bleeder hsng. Then I slowly shifted thru all gears, w/foot on brake, let air bleed til solid stream of liquid and shut car off. Waited an hour, started up and drove. Ck eng lt= off. Fine for a few days, same issues started up again. Louder 'whirring', like a belt or band slipped. Irratic shifting, trans never failed. Ran both code tests on dashcluster=no dtcs. Jan 2014-drove to dodge dealership: disposition: replace mopar 41te trans. My lost wages / loss of veh use(dec/jan) + burden of a loan to replace the transmission = more than I paid in full to buy the car barely 6 months ago. Unfair to customers: ongoing computer and PCM/transmission failure since 1999. The 'oops' tech spec-correct trans fluid atf+4 how many damaged & failed transmissions? Refused to honor powertrain warranty!! And continued placing. Shame on all of the corporate executives & engineers that got rich from robbing the consumers. You were 'successful failures' mopar, chrysler-dodge-daimer-iacocca, etc. 90+ tsbs, no recalls. Class actions dismissed! Time for the consumers to prevail. Time for a california class action!!
When going on the brakes the car jerks.
2000 dodge stratus, had a leakage in the fuel line, in june 2009 and had it repaired, than transmission was going out, needed a new engine, car wouldn't go past 50mph without jerking and still was a gas-hogger, cost more to fix the car so had to have it salvaged couldn't afford the repairs, and my friend also had a dodge stratus same year and had the same problem I did and she also had to salvaged her car.
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.
2004 dodge stratus with rear end problems. Consumer had the resonator replaced, and then was told the rear struts needed to be replaced. When her dad was replacing the struts they broke into pieces because of all of the corrosion. *kb the consumer stated when she purchased the vehicle, there was a minor problem with the horn. The consumer stated she thinks there may be a problem with the transmission. As the vehicle changes gears, it will not change smoothly and ends up jerking back and forth as she tries to increase speed. The consumer stated the only way to stop it, is to take her foot off the accelerator and then accelerate through to the next gear
When my fuel goes below 3/4 of a tank, it dies on me. It starts to jerk like its shifting hard, then looses power. When I try to start it back up, it turns over but doesn't act like its getting any fuel. Then the battery goes dead. If I get gas and fill it back up it runs fine. I have spent many hrs broke down on the hwy. I was never in an accident.
I have had the control arm replaced on this car twice on the same side within a two year period. Now I am having problems with the car it jerks when it gets up to 50 MPH.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
- Risk
- Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on june 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 04V021000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A hose manufacturing process allowed the reinforcement yard to breach the inner layer of some automatic transmission hoses weakening the inner wall which could result in leakage of the automatic transmission fluid.
- Risk
- Fluid leakage from the cooler hoses can cause transaxle driveability problems and smoke if the oil contacts the front exhaust pipe.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transaxle oil cooler hoses. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 01V011002 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
- Risk
- If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
Recall number 98V183000 · Recall details
Questions about the Dodge Stratus jerking
Which Dodge Stratus years have jerking or lurching problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1996 (8 complaints), 2002 (7 complaints) and 2001 (5 complaints).
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