1998 Dodge Stratus review from North America
"The best 3000 I ever spent"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
In the 4 years I've owned it:
Cruise control never worked properly.
Fuel pump went bad.
EGR valve went bad.
Muffler had to be replaced once.
Brakes replaced 3-4 times (VERY easy).
E brake cable.
Serpentine belt.
Gas tank hose detached itself from the fender.
Coil went bad.
Both brake cylinders went bad (I let it sit through the winter).
Replaced tie-rods, joints, shocks only once.
Rocker panels are rotter through, the hood is starting to rust.
The horn and cigarette lighter just died.
I cracked the oil pan being stupid.
General comments?
I have literally beaten the hell out of this car. The ONLY time it failed to start was when the fuel pump died. Plenty of power, locking brakes are a blast! This car handles beautifully in the winter, even with plain-jane all season tires. The interior has remained perfect.
I hit a 150-200lb deer one night. The Stratus threw the deer 20 ft. I have a dent the size of a tennis ball in my hood. The plastic bumper must be bullet proof.
All in all, this has been a fantastic car. If I could find another, I'd buy it without hesitation (though I'd prefer a standard to an automatic).
Recommended reviews
| Good reliable car for work or travel |
|
| It is a wonderful and spunky car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4 DOHC Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 96000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 167000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 5th September, 2009 |