1998 Dodge STRATUS: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 86,000+ MILES THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET OIL LEAK. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND THE ASSOCIATED TSB(09-05-98). WHEN I NOTICED THE LEAK, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN TOWN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF THE REPAIR. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, BUT GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR $800. NEXT, I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IN DETROIT, MI.([phone removed]). I WAS TOLD POLITELY THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000001 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET HAS BUSTED. IT'S LEAKING FUEL ALL OVER THE EXHAUST. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT COULD START A FIRE. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $800 TO FIX. IT REQUIRES ME TO PUT A QUART OF OIL IN IT WEEKLY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000979 at NHTSA ↗

MASSIVE OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET THERE IS A CONSISTANT PROBLEM WITH THE 98 (AND OTHER YEARS) DODGE STRATUS ENGINES. THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL MASSIVELY. WHE YOU ARE DRIVING IT SPLATTERS DOWN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, LANDING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE EXHAUST PIPES AND MUFFLER. I HAVE NO FIRES OF YET, BUT WE HAVE RESTRICTED USE TO SHORT TRIPS. HERE IS A LINK TO A MESSAGE BAORD WITH SIMILAR PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS. HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/CHRYSLER/8.HTML

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002799 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS AND LIKE MANY OTHERS THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING. I WAS TOLD ABOUT THIS IN JULY 2002. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR AND IT WOULD ONLY COST ME $200. AT THE TIME I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. ALSO, THE LEAK WAS NOT THAT BAD. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE $200 WOULD BE THE COST WHEN I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE. WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT JAN 20, 2003 BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS STARTING TO GET WORSE, I ASKED THE SERV…

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003094 at NHTSA ↗

AT APPROX 60,000 MILES MY 1998 DODGE STRATUS, DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AT THE HEAD GASKET, A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND COVER THAT HAVE FAILED, A LEAKING WATER PUMP THAT NEEDS REPLACING. MY MECHANIC ESTIMATES $2150.00 TO REPLACE AND REPAIR ALL THESE ITEMS. TO TOP THIS OFF MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT IT WILL TAKE 2 TO 3 WEEKS TO GET THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND COVER BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG BACK ORDER ON THESE ITEMS. MEANWHILE I'M WITHOUT A CAR! BY REVEIWING THE COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB, I SEE THAT THIS VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET …

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003131 at NHTSA ↗

TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE WHILE DRIVING FULL SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. THE ENGINE STALLED AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS AND DODGE STATES THE PARTS ARE NOT IN PRODUCTION AND UNAVAILABLE UNTIL A LATER UNKNOWN DATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PART IS BEING REMANUFACTURED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEW PART HASN'T BEEN PRODUCED YET. THERE IS NOT A DATE SET FOR WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. DODGE OBVIOUSLY KNEW THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE IMPROVED IT FOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 83,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003145 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. OIL IN THE COOLANT. ALL HOSES AND RADIATOR CAP HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 62000

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003526 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THEY WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIES. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004208 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 6, 1998)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 1999-09-15 (September 15, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.

Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.