2003 Dodge SRT-4 review from North America
"Fun to drive, but not worth the waste of money"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
At 400 miles the vehicle was leaking oil and the dealership was unable to find the source.
At 6000 miles, the axle seal went and needed to be replaced.
Some smaller problems occurred, including the windshield weatherstripping coming off, a bracket that wasn't attached underneath the vehicle.
The oil leak continued and I complained to Chrysler at least twice. No fix for it at all... just given the run around.
The check engine light came on around 10,000 or so. The vehicle would stall every time I stopped. I was told it was the IAC sensor, so this sensor was fixed.
About two weeks later the engine light came on again. This time the "source of the problem was frayed wire into the pcm".
The vehicle does not shift smoothly.
The steering wheel began making unusual clunking noises and the entire steering column was replaced.
The steering wheel began clunking again and then it was supposedly a TSB bearing in the column and not the entire column.
The oil leak issue was finally adressed one year after it began at 400 miles, 30,000 miles later mind you. The PCV valve was replaced, which and I quote "probably won't fix the problem". Perhaps Chrysler needs to be told that an oil catch can will fix this issue however I feel that I should not have to fork out nearly $100 for a problem that was not created by me. Also, I was told by the dealership that it leaked oil because I "abused" my vehicle. I am female, also, I gauruntee you that in no way was I abusing my vehicle at 400 miles.
The latest two problems include a clunk in the steering area again. It happens when the vehicle is cold. Perhaps it's something that was not replaced when previous repairs were made on the steering area.
And last, but not least, the throttle is sticking. It has it three times now and is extremely dangerous. The dealership refused to come and get me when I was about two miles away, but if I drove my vehicle there, they would have time to check it out. Apparently, it "may have been caused by ice." I find this hard to believe.
Every issue that I have discussed above required me to drive about 40 miles one way to have fixed.
General comments?
It's a fun car and extremely disappointing to me. I was looking forward to getting an SRT-4, since I currently own three neons, a 99 Plymouth Neon, a 99 Dodge Neon R/T, and a 04 SRT-4.
It would be nice if the workmanship and quality of the vehicle were equal with the vehicles performance.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4L turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 3/10 |
| Comfort marks | 6/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 30 miles |
| Most recent distance | 32000 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge Neon |
| Date of Entry | 17th January, 2005 |