8.9
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- No data
- Average Mileage:
- 59,850 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 9 complaints
Most common solutions:
- new paint job (7 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
click to see larger images
My son bought his first car this black '04 Status coupe in Feb. '11. That summer we noticed a couple faded spots on the roof and hood that were patchy & gray, then later further faded to white. It gradually spread and got much worse and now is on all parts of the body. Since he bought the car "as is", the dealership couldn't or wouldn't do anything. His problem is pretty much the same as all the others I see here on the website. I'm going to contact Dodge directly to see what they'll do about it since it's obviously a paint defect that's not an isolated incident. The car's an embarrassment for him to drive.
I would expect Dodge to own up to the fact they made some Status's with defective paint jobs, help us get them fixed (pay for at least a portion of the cost) and turn customers that would not recommend their product to customers that would? Sounds like an American car company of the 60's and 70's.
- Gary M., Hawthorn Woods, IL, US
I keep my black and now primer grey, white Stratus very clean, wash 1-2X a week and vacuum 1X a month. I noticed a small spot on the roof where the paint started to fade and weekly it got bigger and bigger. I wondered why the paint started to fade for no reason and then I noticed it had spread to the hood and down the rear b pillars and now on the truck and starting on the doors. It looks horrible and I do not have the money to get it repainted because that would be a couple thousand dollars. I live paycheck to paycheck and have not been working since Nov and it is now July because of a work injury so I need every penny I can get, but if Mitsubishi has recognized there was a problem with the paint then why can't Dodge own up and make happy customers, or are they "I can sell you what you want then it is up sh*ts creek for you?".
- sutarts, Hellertown, PA, US
My car is a beautiful dark purple, almost looks black or dark brown. It is a beauty and I really love it, but a couple of months ago I notice a couple of faded spots on the roof and each day it faded more and more. I have read other complaints of the roof fading and I would like for Chrysler to take care of this problem. We have drove Chryslers or Dodges for the last 20 or so years and never had a problem. I am thinking of trading brands if Chrysler does not take care of this problem. We are retired and on a fixed budget and can't afford to have it painted on our budget.
- carolkey, Amarillo, TX, US
In 2004 I bought a new dodge stratus it was a 4cy. i wrecked. it in 2009. i loved my car so much i got on the internet and found a 6cy dodge stratus black. i have had the car about 2 years and now the paint is fading on the roof, hood. the rest of the car looks good but i am finding new places where it is fading each week. when i first noticed it was a small place on the hood and now that one has got bigger and more are appearing. i think there is something wrong with paint that dodge put on the car and i would like it fixed. it is an awesome car and i hate for it to look the way it does.the fading starts out looking like a gray spot and then they turn white.
- Wendy C., Grandview, IN, US
WHERE DO I START, WELL, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2004 DODGE STRATUS SXT COUPE. I HAVE KEPT IT UP VERY WELL AND STARTED NOTICING THE PAINT WAS CHANGING COLORS, I HAD THE CAR BUFFED AND POLISHED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING CHANGED. I THEN TRYED TO CONTACT THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION VIA THE INTERNET AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THE PAINT PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT OR NOT. THE DEALER TOLD ME HE HAD TO CONTACT DODGE TO SEE WHAT THEY WANTED HIM TO DO WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE FROM DODGE WAS GOING TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM YET. I WAS GOING TO SEE ABOUT TRYING TO GET A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT STARTED AGAINST THEM AND FOUND THIS SITE. I ONLY HOPE THAT I CAN POST MY PICTURES ON HERE AFTER I FINISH THIS COMPLAINT. I COMPLAINED TO THE CHRYSLER.COM WEBSITE I HAVE A REFERENCE NUMBER AND STILL NO ONE FROM CHRYSLER HAS CONTACTED ME BACK YET. IF THERE WAS A REPAINTING AT THEIR COST FOR THE MITSUBITSHI CARS AND MY CAR WAS PUT TOGETHER BY MITSU, THEN WHY CANT I GET MY CAR REPAINTED AND BECOME A SATISFIED CUSTOMER INSTEAD OF A VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER?
- Darren P., Schiller Park, IL, US
The paint on my 2004 Stratus is basically "baked" where the sun directly hits it, on the roof, trunk and hood of the car. I have absolutely no problem with the paint on the sides f the car, so how can they tell me there is no problem with their factory paint job? Mitsubichi came to an agreement with having their cars repainted, at their cost, so why can't Dodge do the same?
- Therese N., Tucson, AZ, US
Found out this car was made at a Mitsubishi plant. They had a recall on Mitsubishi black cars because there wasn't any clear coat put on. I call Dodge and Mitsubishi and explained that it was made at a Mitsubishi plant they will not cover a repaint job because of the "dodge' name on the outside! Hopefully, Dodge will realize what is happening to our cars and fix it!
- lanam, Geneva, IL, US
First dashboard cracked. Second I noticed paint fading at 18K miles. Reported to the service dept. at the Cartersville, Ga Dodge every 5k miles when I had my car serviced. They said they would have a regional guy look at it. Never happened. Went to Maarietta Dodge where I was told that my paint warranty had expired. I had the roof painted $400. Now the hood, trunk, wheel wells and roof trim are all fading to white. This is a great car. It is very embarrassing to drive. BTW.. the car has always been garaged. I have seen other 2004/5 Stratus Rts on the highway with the same issues. We need an attorney to look into this further!
- debig, Cartersville, GA, US
Paint job has been fading and oxidizing almost since brand new ... Today, a paint job will cost more than the car is worth and I will never get list for a vehicle that looks like this .. Surely Dodge is responsible but I cannot locate anything regarding recall for this ...
- crazycannuk491, Cheboygan, MI, US