1997 Dodge Stratus Sedan 4D review from North America
"Stay away from these cars, unless purchased for a"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The head gasket blew at 72,000 and started leaking oil terrible out of the rear right corner of the head gasket. This is because the factory used an organic type head gasket that couldn't take the pressure of the oil pump up "the rear right corner" to feed the dual overhead cams.
Cruise control never works right.
Rotors have all, but rotted away, and the brakes are not very good, tires lock up at random in hard stops.
Transmission has always felt soft, so I've always babied the car, and I hate to drive that way!
General comments?
Good head room, tall ceilings, but you can't sleep anywhere in the car on long trips, seats are too curved.
Price value of these cars drops like a rock!
Recommended reviews
| A fun car to drive with great fuel economy |
|
| 1996 - Stratus 2.4L, 4 cylinder. It's a reliable beast! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 3 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 68000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 95000 miles |
| Previous car | Pontiac Bonneville |
| Date of Entry | 29th April, 2002 |