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.

- East St Louis, IL, USA

I have a 1996 Dodge Stratus and the head gasket leaks like crazy. I asked the dealer to take a look at this and they said it was a default in design from daimler Chrysler. I asked if they could give me any information on a recall or how much it would cost to repair it. The dealer quoted me $2500!! unbelievable! especially if it is a defect from manufacturing and design. I need my "only" means of transportation fixed! recalls need to be done on this car for the head gasket leakage.

- Apex, NC, USA

One of the oil galley plugs on the 2.4L engine of our daughter's 1996 Dodge Stratus came out, and the car spewed most of its oil out into the engine compartment. Chrysler had a recall (#671) on these back in 1995 as several fires occurred. Our VIN fell within the range of vins affected, but we were told it was not part of the recall. The recall ended with cars manufactured Oct. 13, 1995 and our car (we were told) was manufactured Oct. 14th. The fix as of that date was a change to the cylinder head machining and the plug thickness. Obviously, either our engine is one from before the change was fully implemented, or the change was not a cure all, as the plug on ours came out. Their solution for affected engines was a bracket that bolts on to retain the plugs, but no one at the 1-800 number nor at the dealership could tell me if it would fit or work on our engine with the supposed machining changes. Parts and labor will likely be only around $100, but they will not cover the repair even with the proximity of recall date to our manufacture date, the fact that our car had the same problem as cars that were recalled, and this being a safety issue. Hope they are 100% correct that our car should not have been included in the recall, seems like a risk on their part to not cover this.

- Kentwood, MI, USA

I own a 96 Dodge Stratus, I purchased it year of 97. I received numerous recalls on this vechicle since the day of purchased. I followed up on each recall that I received. As time went on I had numerous problems with this vehicle. Over the years I aways believe in Chrysler products to be safe and sound.I feel that it's been truly unfair too loyal consumers such as myself many others. I don't understand why a company such as Chrysler and engineers would engineered a product like the Dodge Stratus with so many defects. On Saturday November 5, 2005 I went to pay a bill about five to ten miles away from home. Return home, park the car, lock the doors went into my apartment. About ten minutes later a neighborhood boy knock on my door and said your gold car is on fire. I ran outside to see, yes it was my car on fire! fire was coming from underneath the hood. I called the fire department, they arrive about ten minutes later to put the fire out. The fireman had to break the hood latch to get into the engine area to put out the fire. The fire destroy my motor and hood. Thank god myself or my kids wasn't in the car! I'm truly sadden that this have to happen to me and my family I'm single parent with no transportation. After the investigation of the cause of fire it was determine that the oil gallery plug was faulty. My insurance coverage wouldn't coverage it.

- Sandston, VA, USA

Head gasket leaking at 58,000 miles. Chrysler refuses to fix even though there is a design flaw. I have seen over 100 posts online about other that have this problem.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

On 12/18/1997 I purchased a 1996 Dodge Stratus at a buy here pay here lot that went out of business. Within 6 months of owning the vehicle I was backing out of a sloped driveway. I felt a bump and kept driving. Before I could reach the end of the street my oil lamp came on. I stopped at the gas station check the oil and discovered I needed oil. I put oil in the car and got on the interstate. My car all of a sudden stopped pulling. After the car was towed to the shop the dealership informed me that the oil pan had a hole in it and most likely got it during the bump. I had to get a new motor for the car which a $500 deductible had to be paid by me and the other $3600 was paid by allstate(my insurance company). Last year in late April the same thing happened again and the car hasn't been repaired since or of course driven. The second time the car started smoking and someone called the fire department. I then had the car towed home.

- Snellville, GA, USA

My mechanic stated that my engine is leaking oil from pretty much everywere, I have to add a quart of oil every 4 - 5 days. I have no interior lights, my odometer and tachometer do not function and display. My radio does not work, and now my brake lights aren't functioning. I checked and all of my fuses are fine. I can't afford the engine repairs for the oil. I have to get the electrical problem fixed. Chrysler should take care of these problems.

- Irwin, PA, USA

While backing out of the driveway, the driver noticed oil on the ground. Took to a mechanic and he said the gaskets, seals, etc., need replacing.

- Saltillo, MS, USA

Currently own a 1996 Dodge Stratus 4 cylinder, and it is sitting in my driveway and I am unable to use it, as the head gasket blew out of it, and will cost over $1500 do replace(and so I hear even if you do replace it, the head gasket will blow again shortly after due to the improper design of the engine)..this is so well known a problem, and I am disgusted to think that with our family being lifetime Dodge/Chrysler people, the company would ignore safety and allow this problem to continue in later models. What is it going to take to get some help here!!!! I am a poor mom of two children, one disabled, and thought that I was makng a good purchase with the Stratus. I currently cannot afford to have the vehicle fixed, and have been unable to get my disabled child to the doctor as I do not have reliable transportation......this is pathetic! please someone help!

- Oronoco, MN, USA

Head gasket oil leak, tie rods bad, tires replaced, brakes going bad, engine light on.

- Galesburg, IL, USA

Three head gasket was replaced three times. The consumer had experienced problems with the vehicle after one year of purchase. The consumer had been without the vehicle every other month. The vehicle had a perpetual oil leak and since the vehicle was no longer under warranty, she had to seek help from an independent mechanic. The vehicle had so much oil leaking out, the consumer placed oil in the vehicle instead of gas. Chrysler would not do anything. The vehicle had started to leak transmission fluid, also the front seal began to leak as well, the check engine light had come on, then the vehicle started missing out, sputtered, and the starter was intermittent due to a short. The consumer had requested a refund of repairs. Other repairs were as followed: The air compressor on the air conditioner, starter, replacement of the head gasket three times, once at 11565K miles and second at 20495K miles and again at 69000K miles.

- Hays, KS, USA

Owner of 1996 Dodge Stratus, a certified lemon with repeated head-gasket leaks/transmission leaks. I have had this vehicle repaired twice for head gasket leakage and twice for transmission problems.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

The vehicle had an oil leak, it was soon discovered the head gasket needed to be replaced.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

My 1996 Dodge Stratus has 37,000 miles. In February 2002 I took it to sears for an oil change. Also asking them to see where oil was leaking (noticed oil on concrete in garage). They said valve cover gasket so I got that fixed for about $72 all along thinking that there were not that many miles driven. And to bad the warranty had just expired. I think it was 5 years or 25,000 miles. Within the next 2 months oil was leaking again. Took it in and end up paying $702 because the head gasket was bad. The mechanic showed it to me and jokingly said isn't it funny how this can be so cheap that it almost was deteriorated and the warranty 5yrs is up. Even though I had not drove 25,000 miles yet. Well the final blow, on Oct 10,2002 I kept hearing a clunk when I made left or right turn. Took it to the rhoden Dodge. We were told that right & left tie rod ends were loose & sway bar links worn & loose(2 tie rods, & 2 ball joints) I asked them to perform an alignment and transmission flush, totaling $779 because what else will break. Well in Jan. 2003 the brakes were on medal another $190. I'm afraid to take it in to the garage. There is only 37,000 miles driven and I am hearing another noise when I turn left and right. When the brakes were fixed they told me they test drove it and heard nothing. Some how it seems that 5 yrs or 25,000 miles is telling me that I should have sold it before that because I think the company knew things would start happening. Is there anything you can do to help me. Please, this car is a lemon with only 37,000 miles.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The head gasket leaked oil onto the exhaust manifold.

- Fulton, NY, USA

While in motion, the vehicle's passenger compartment began to fill with smoke and the warning lights began to flash. While trying to come to a stop, consumer found that the brakes and power steering were inoperable. Consumer was able to stop the vehicle before the fire began in the engine compartment.

- Dallas, TX, USA

It all began when we purchased a brand new 1996 Dodge Stratus in Oct 1995. The car gave us little if any trouble the first year. The second year and every year since it has been a#1 headache. The second year alone the car was in the shop 17 times. The repairs were major ones as well as minor ones including replacement of air compressor on air conditioner, starter, replacement of head gasket twice once at 11565 miles second at 20495 miles and guess what now at 69000 miles.thank goodness the first two were covered under warranty. I filed a complaint within the warranty period with the dealership, the attorney general as well as good old Chrysler. I was told by Chrysler I could always buy an extended warranty anfd they would open a complaint file on me so that if any of the same problems occured, I could contact them. Well I have contacted them but they say they can't do anything. Talk about customer service huh!!!!! I am not willing to accept that answer. I think Chrysler has to admit there is a problem and correct this at no cost. There are too many people having the same problem I

- Hays, KS, USA

Mfr# 671 & NHTSA# 96 V 0006 000/engine: Consumer states that the vehicle leaking oil from the galley plug seal. Dealer contacted and informed that the vehicle VIN# was not cover under that recall. Nlm

- Fort Atkinson, WI, USA

Consumer stated the head gaskets have been replaced 4 times, also the timing cover was replaced.

- North Tonawanda, NY, USA

Vehicle would severely brittle while driving, vehicle taken to dealer and informed of body and rack mounts needed to be replaced. Manufacturer was notified. Feel free to provide any further infromaton.

- Ocala, FL, USA