2000 DODGE STRATUS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

MY SON DROVE MY CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKED IT AT A RESTAURANT. HE WAS INFORMED WITHIN MINUTES THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPT. EXTINQUISHED AN ENGINE COMPATMENT FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. HAPPENED IN AKRON OHIO APPROX. NOV. 2011. *TR

Mileage: 157,000

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR A FRIEND WENT OUTSIDE AND SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD.SHE CALLED ME AND I RAN TO THE CAR AND I SEEN FIRE UNDER THE FRONT WHEEL'S. FRIENDS SPRAYED WATER ON THE HOOD AND I OPENED IT UP A LITTLE AND THEY SPRAYED THE FIRE AND PUT IT OUT. BY THIS TIME THE TOP OF THE MOTOR WAS BURNT BAD. EVERYTHING ON TOP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS CAUSED BY THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON THE POWERSTEERING. I FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A RECALL ON THE HOSE SO I CALLED DODGE CORP. AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE # AND TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER SO I DID. THEN THE CORP. OFFICE CALLED ME TODAY AND SAID IT'S BEEN TO LONG THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE LAST OWNER AND HUNG UP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR OCT.14 OF THIS YEAR AND THIS HAPPENED ON THE 31. HOW AM I TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 18 DAY'S. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND I THINK. THE COMPUTER CAN TELL YOU THE RECALL AND HOW TO GET IT FIXED; BUT YOU TRY TO FIND SOMEWHERE ON HERE ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE IS A RECALL AND IT DONE WHAT IT SAID IT WOULD DO AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL IT DID IT. I NEED HELP I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. I TOOK OUT A LOAN TO GET IT. *TR

2000 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE FIRE. AFTER PARKING THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, I BEGAN TO SMELL AND SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE CAR. DETERMINING THAT IT WAS ON FIRE, I BACKED IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY (LUCKILY THE DRIVEWAY WAS SLOPED) TO GET IT A WAY FROM THE HOUSE. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 189,000

MY SPARK PLUG JUST POPPED OUT OF THE SOCKET WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT STRIPPED THE THREADS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT THAT THE PLUG WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY ON CYLINDER #2, THIS TIME IT HAPPENED ON CYLINDER #3. I'M AFRAID THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO THE VEHICLE STILL SPRAYING THE GAS INTO THE CYLINDER AND THE SPARK PLUG WILL STILL FIRE IGNITING THE FUMES. *TR

Mileage: 181,135

I OWNED UNTIL LAST NIGHT A 2000 DODGE STRATUS, WELL NOW I AM ANOTHER FIRE VICTIM I GUESS. CAR WAS PARKED HAD IGNITION IN THE AUX POSITION TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE I WAS CLEANING UP OUR STORAGE AREA. GOT INTO CAR TO START IT UP AND BOOM. FIRST HEARD A POP FOLLOWED BY IMMEDIATE ENGULFING FIRE UNDER HOOD ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHOLE THING BURNT TO THE GROUND IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU NEED THEM. THANKS TERRI *TR

Mileage: 150,000

AFTER AN ABRUPT STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING ABILITY WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED. I WENT HOME IMMEDIATELY FEARING FOR MY SAFETY. AFTER AN INSPECTION UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID IN MY DRIVEWAY. LOOKING MORE CLOSELY I FOUND THE LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. IT APPEARS THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD WORN A SPOT ON THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS COMBINED WITH CORROSION HAD CAUSED THE LINE TO RUPTURE. IT LOOKS AS IF THE FACTORY WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS A SOFT 3" PIECE OF FOAM RUBBER TUBING OVER THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WHERE IT CONTACTED THE HYDRAULIC LINE. THIS FOAM RUBBER MAY HAVE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION BY TRAPPING WATER BETWEEN IT AND THE STEEL BRAKE LINE. JUDGING BY THE AMOUNT OF RUST STUCK TO THE FOAM RUBBER I WOULD SAY THIS IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT. CHRYSLER DEALERS AND THE MAIN OFFICE OFFERED NO RECOURSE. AFTER EXPERIENCING ALL THIS AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS FROM A VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, I CAN SAY THAT I WILL NEVER PAY FOR ANOTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE GIVES ME ONE, I MAY CONSIDER THE OFFER. P.S. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED: OIL PRESSURE SENDING SENSOR, TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSORS, FRONT WHEEL BEARING, RADIATOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, AN UNRESOLVED PULLING TO THE RIGHT NOT RESOLVED AFTER NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ETC. *JB

Mileage: 127,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 123,243.

Mileage: 123,243

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION AND PLAYING THE RADIO WHEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED , AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WA SINOPERABLE AND THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HER THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2006 THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY SAID WAS LEAKING NOR DID SHE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL 06V001000. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB

Mileage: 79,000

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I CUT THE CAR OFF. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD THE CAR CHECK FOR PROBLEM THE COMPUTERS AT SHOP STATED IT WAS THE 02 SENSOR. *NM

Mileage: 109,000

2000 DODGE STRATUS ENGINE FAILURE LOSS OF OIL TO LIFTERS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LOOSING OIL FROM MACHINING "FLASH" FROM MANUFACTURER OF ENGINE. *JB

Mileage: 102,000

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR. FIRST IN 3/13/2003 THEN IN 4/2004 BOTH TIMES FIRE DEPT WAS DISPATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REPORTED TO CHRYSLER. *JB

Mileage: 95,000

AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE LOCAL STORE, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE STORE. APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES LATER THE TAG NUMBER OF VEHICLE WAS ANNOUNCED OVER THE INTERCOM SYSTEM, STATING THAT THE OWNER NEED TO REPORT TO THE PARKING LOT IMMEDIATELY. I WENT TO THE PARKING LOT TO FIND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BROKEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE HOOD RELEASE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD APPEARED TO BE BURNED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO RALLYE DODGE IN OCALA FLORIDA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DOMINICK, ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT RALLYE DODGE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND THE CAR COULD BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF APPROX. $5000. BACK ON MARCH 16, 2005, I HAD TO REPLACE THE PCM AT THE SAME DEALER AT A COST OF $999.91. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER I AM OUT A $1000 COMPUTER AND A $5000 CAR. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? HOW AND WHEN WILL CHRYSLER BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THEIR VEHICLES? *JB

Mileage: 116,000

THE CONSUMER HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND IT PASSED THE EMISSION TEST FOR 2 YEARS THROUGH DEALER SHIP. THIS YEAR IT WILL NOT PASS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE .

I HAVE MY AUTOMOBILE ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, EVERY 6-8 MONTHS, (OIL, TUNE UP,...)OIL SLUDGE BAKING IN ENGINE BLOCK-CYLINDER AT 50,000 AND AGAIN 114000. CORROSION BUILD UP & GUNK IN CYLINDER BLOCK, COILS & SPARK PLUG CORROSION CAUSING BAD-STRONG ORDER IN AUTOMOBILE AND SPUTTERING, POOR EMISSION. TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM TIME TO TIME AT 25,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 114000, WITH LEAKS WHICH WE CAN SMELL VERY STRONG IN AUTOMOBILE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE LOCKAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN NORMAL-AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 MILES. CONSTANTLY HAVING TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPAIR ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIFE WARRANTY ON BREAKS. REPAIRER STATES ITS THE AUTOMOBILE. SAFETY BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH PROPERLY AND HAS UNLATCHED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE IM DRIVING WITH MY SON, (6 YRS OLD). DRIVERS BELT ALSO UNLATCHES FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THE CAR TENS TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE HAD THIS AUTO ALIGNED AS WELL AS, ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, BALANCING, ECT,...YET IT STILL DOES THIS TO DATE. BALL JOINTS, STRUTS WEARING OUT AT 25,000. I AM TIRED OF INVESTING SO MUCH IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. MORE THAN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE TO. I ALSO FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILE. SHOULD MY AUTOMOBILE CAUSE ANY SUDDEN FIRE DUE TO GUNK IN A HOT RUNNING ENGINE & TRANSMISSION, I WILL FILE A LAW SUIT. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPAIR MY AUTO AND REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL I HAVE PAID SIMPLY SO THAT MY SON AND I CAN FEEL & BE SAFE DRIVING IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *NM

Mileage: 50

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A STATE INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. CONSUMER HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. *AK THE STEERING RACK AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THE VALVE COVER GASKET HAD A SLIGHT LEAK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A LOOSE GAS CAP. *JB

Mileage: 62,444

CAR IS HAVING A MISFIRE OR SOME KIND OF FLUTTER WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR FLASHES DURING THIS OCCURRENCE.*AK

Mileage: 21,860

ON 10/22/2003 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL LEAK. DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. ON 10/26/2003, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND DETERMINED THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. *AK

Mileage: 100,595

THE BLOWER IN MY HEATING AND AIR SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING ONLY WORKING AT THE HIGHEST SETTING. I'VE HAD IT REPLACED TWICE NOW AND I'M GOING BACK FOR MY THIRD TIME. HOW MANY CO-PAYS AM I EXPECTED TO PAY. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. I NOTICED THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *LA

THE BLOWER IN MY HEATING AND AIR SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING ONLY WORKING AT THE HIGHEST SETTING. I'VE HAD IT REPLACED TWICE NOW AND I'M GOING BACK FOR MY THIRD TIME. HOW MANY CO-PAYS AM I EXPECTED TO PAY. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. I NOTICED THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *LA

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND THE TENTION PULLEY FELL OUT . ALSO, DRIVING AFTER IT WAS FIXED CAR DIED WHEN TURNING CORNER AND WILL NOT START. JUST BOUGHT 5 MONTHS AGO. *LA

Mileage: 71,000

COMPLAINT ABOUT ENGINE/OIL LIGHT SYSTEM. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DIED OUT WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. (THE OIL LIGHT HAD COME ON SECONDS BEFORE THE INCIDENT) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MOTOR WAS GONE. THE CONSUMER WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DARK SMOKE, KNOCKING, NOR DID THE OIL LIGHT COME ON. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A PAYMENT FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR COST. *SCC *JB

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER FAN SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SPEED, AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT COOL WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES--THIS CREATES A PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER SINCE I LIVE IN TEXAS AND THE SUMMERS ARE VERY HOT DOWN HERE. ALSO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL HAS JAMMED SEVER TIMES WHEN IT IS OPENED, PLASTIC CLIPS HOLDING DOOR WERE COMING OFF, THIS CAUSES THE DOOR TO JAM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

Mileage: 50,000

TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 3 TO 2 GEAR