1999 Dodge Stratus from North America - Comments

Valve Covers needed replaced. Cam Sensor wiring rotted and needed replaced. Slow leak in power steering fluid. Windshield washer fluid never came out of sprayers. Check Engine light showed error message P0171 - likely an O2 sensor. CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WHEN PARKED!!!

I paid cash for this car because I wanted something cheap, economical, and reliable since I was reducing the hours I worked in order to return to school. I bought the car in September 2006 from the original owners. They kept the car extremely clean - both inside and out. The car got very good gas mileage and the performance was impressive for a 4-cylinder. It's handling was a bit slow, but it was fine once getting used to it. I never did have very much confidence in the brakes, but I suspect that was due to having ABS in the past. They almost felt as if they were not power brakes. You had to really stand on them to get them to grab although my mechanic said they were not in need of repair. Within a few weeks of owning the car it began to smoke from under the hood - although the temperature remained normal. I suspected a head gasket problem, but was fortunate to learn it was the valve covers. Once the repair was done the car still tended to smoke after long highway trips, but the mechanic said this was normal until the old oil leaks burned off of the engine. Soon after the valve cover repair the car failed to start. My mechanic determined that the cam sensor wiring harness had rotted. He replaced it and gave me the old wiring to show proof. He said that the wiring in Chrysler Daimler vehicles had a short life although the manufacturer denied the problem. Almost a week ago the car burned to the ground after a 50 mile trip to a nearby resort community. I had just parked to car to go eat and when I came out the car was gone. Research shows that this model had a recall in 4/2006. The high pressure power steering hose tends to overheat and leak onto the battery - thus sparking a fire. I guess that explains the slow loss of power steering fluid. I only carried liability insurance so I am out of a car after only 10 months of ownership. The original owners obviously did not respond to the recall notice and I was not aware of it. Chrysler is currently conducting an investigation, but I am trying to not get my hopes up. This was an okay car for the money. Cheap. I never did feel very secure in it, but I think had I have known about the recall, I would have had this car for a few years. I would not buy another one if I could afford something better.

I thought this happen only to me. And now I realize this is a defect in the car.

I also had the same problem with my 1999 Dodge Stratus, a week ago it caught on fire and burnt down to nothing. it had the same power steering oil leak problem...

Wow wow wow, I just had my 1998 Dodge Stratus catch on fire. I had driven for 25 minutes and pulled into a 7 11. I got out of the car I noticed the engine smoking and opened the hood to see a fire had started down by the power steering box. Is there anything we can do???