Comments: 1-15, 16-25
Shortly after I bought this car, the transmission went out. Fortunately, this car was still under dealer warranty, so the four times I had to bring the vehicle to the service department, I did not have to pay for the repairs (or lack thereof).
Next, both rear axles went out (at 40,000 miles) and had to be replaced. It only took three trips to the service department to get this one fixed.
Then the resistor blew in the blower motor. After the third trip in for another resistor, the mechanics finally located an electrical short. However, this problem is currently ongoing, though the blower motor has been replaced.
Next, the front driver's side axle went out (at 45,000 miles) and had to be brought to them twice for replacement and repair.
Also, the brake lines were found to be rubbing on the tires (at 55,000 miles). More importantly, as the wheel weight came around it was actually rubbing a hole into both the left and right side of my brake lines. The dealer took no responsibility and dismissed this problem as a single occurrance.
Finally, at 56,000 miles, my air conditioner is now shutting itself off. Lucky me!
The only positive thing I can say about this car is that the seats were very comfortable.
This car was definitely not a good purchase and it has become very clear that the Chrysler Corporation does not care about customer satisfaction or problem resolution. The 800 customer service line is a joke!
I will never buy a Dodge vehicle again and will work very hard to ensure I warn others before they make the same mistake.
WOW -- do I agree with you!! I have a 99 Stratus and I am having SO many problems with it!! Let's see it's the transmission going out, head gasket blew, wheel bearing - need I say more!! I only wish I bought a bike! I only had it for a year! The Chrysler/Dodge company doesn't even want to hear it - they even told me they know it is a problem, but oh well - my problem!! Guess what -- I will NEVER buy another Dodge product and neither will my family!!!
I recently purchased a 2000 dodge stratus and I could'nt
be more satisfied. I think you just got taken advantage
of as so many people often do. Of course, you are entitled
to your own opinion. Better luck next time.
I recently acquired a 2000 Dodge Stratus. This thing has given me nothing but problems. It now has about 80000 miles on it and the transmission just blew. I've already had to replace numerous belts and all four of my shocks are completely shot right now. Also my step-moms 2002 Dodge Intrepid is already leaking transmission fluid and it only has 15000 miles on it. I just bought a Honda CBR 600 F2 and I already like that more than the stratus.
I have a 2000 Dodge Avenger ES and it has 82,000 miles on it and I have never had a problem with it. Not even a new battery. The dealer will only give me $8000 for it. Sad I know. However, I am trading it for a 2003 Stratus RT. I need a warranty for that peace of mind, but now I am a little scared. I am sure there are lemons out there, but I really don't want to give up ole faithful for one. HELP?
I've had the same experience, I just posted my review of my '99 Stratus I bought just a month ago. It's already drained me $750 in less than 2,000 miles. I will curse the dodge name until I die, will never buy another one of these cars and recommend to everyone I know or will know to never chance it with a company that so obviously manufactures junk and tries to pass it off as reliable. SERIOUSLY, if you are considering buying a Dodge, go with Ford or Chevy if you want to buy American or Honda or Toyota if you're into imports, but DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. You will be sorry and I only wish I had checked this site before I spent the money. I will be a lawyer in 3 years, I can't wait to see if something can be done about... maybe a class action suit? It doesn't seem right that one of the largest automobile manufacturers is making these money pits and getting away with it.
I have a 1999 Dodge Stratus with the 2.4l engine and automatic transmission I have approximately 60000 miles on it. Have had very good luck so far. Rear window motor went out at about 30000 miles, but was replaced under warranty.
Transmission sensor had to be replaced at about 45000 miles. Cost was less than fifty dollars. Have had no other problems. Car has performed very well and would certainly recommend it to anyone.
I VERY MUCH agree. I bought a '95 Dodge Stratus a year ago, and it's only a matter of time before I pay for the car all over again. I only wish I would have researched Dodge before I committed this Horrible decision. It needs a new transmission and it only has 80,000. I've tried so hard to take care of it, and it wasn't worth it. What's worse is that it took A lot of mechanics to figure out what was wrong and give a concrete answer. Unless you have money to throw away every 5,000, don't buy a Dodge.
I highly disagree with the negative comments in reference to the 2000 Dodge Stratus SE. I bought the car in May 2000 brand new while stationed with the military here in Germany. Due to being in a remote area in Germany, I use the German Autobahn (highway) system regularly in which I consistently drive my car at steady speeds of 100 miles per hour. After 3 1/2 years and 50000 miles and following the service schedule, I have not had any major mechanical problems at all. By the way, the car is governed at 110 MPH.
I own a 99 Stratus as well. I was treated like royalty when I purchased the car brand new, but when I had problems with the car, I was royally screwed. Let's see if I can even remember all of the problems I've had with this car. Seat height adjustment lever broke within the first 30 days of owning the car. The brake light switch went out at about 75,000 miles, the HEAD itself cracked at about 67,000. To which the dealership said, "Well, that's a pretty common problem with the 2.4 engines in the Neons, but I haven't heard anything about it in the Stratus." I just wish he would have told me that they were the same freaking engine! I now have 103,000 miles on this car and have just decided to run it into the ground. Dodge told me that it would cost $2500 to replace the head, however, the car (at the time) was only worth about $3500. That seems like a smart investment, sure. I will never ever ever buy a Dodge again, and have swayed at least 10 others from doing the same.
I bought my 2000 Dodge Stratus in 2001,it had 30,000 miles on it and in great condition, the previous owner was a rental car company. I have the car serviced regularly, so I have never abused the car. I am currently having problems almost 3 years later, the car has 50,000 miles on it. When I press on the gas there is a delay, then it will jerk and go. When I press on the break to make any sudden stops then I get the same reaction from the gas pedal again. I was told by a mechanic that it sound like it could be the transmission, and from what I have read the transmission gives this car a lot of it's troubles.
My mom just purchased a 2000 Dodge Stratus SE and I've been reading this site for other people's comments on it. Seriously, it sounds as though the worst problems for the 2000 is consistently the transmission (which one person said was related to using the wrong fluids in) and the brakes having to be replaced (which another writer said was due to the tires rubbing on the brake lines.) All the other problems mentioned were said to be about other years of the Stratus, which has nothing to do with the 2000. So, all in all, the two problems with the Stratus don't sound too horrible. No car is perfect, no car will have zero problems, especially if people don't know how to maintain a car or when a mechanic is ripping them off.
It's very important to remember when reading reviews of the Dodge Stratus that there are 3 distinct cars with this name: the 1st generation 4-door sedan (made around 1994 to 1999), the redesigned 2nd generation Stratus 4-door sedan (2000- present), and the 2-door coupe (2001- present, redesigned car that replaced the Avenger)
The 4-door 1st generation has had some problems and these are well documented on this site and others like it. Unfortunately, almost all of these car review sites do not specify the fact that the car was completely redesigned between 1999 & 2000. The 2nd generation (which is still currently made) is a much better car with quite a bit more features and reliability.
The coupe cannot really be compared to the sedan as they are built on two totally different chassis and share very few components. The coupe is really a twin to the wildly popular Mitsubishi Eclipse.
I just wanted to point these things out to future readers that may want a 2002 Stratus (coupe or sedan) but end up seeing all the negative reviews of the '95 to '99 models. We're owners of an '01 Stratus R/T coupe, and love the car. Perfect blend of import quality and performance with the classic Dodge muscle car feel. The R/T coupe is the closest thing Dodge has made to a muscle car in many years, and competes directly with the Honda Accord Coupe, Toyota Solara, Ford Mustang (6-cylinder), and the out of production Firebird/Camaro 6-cylinder cars.
I purchased my 2000 Dodge Stratus a year ago and a couple of months later there was a horrible squeaking noise when I would go over bumps and I took it in to the shop and I was told that it was the struts. I thought it was just worn out shocks, but it ended up being more major than that. It was going to cost me over $400 to fix it, considering I'm a college student I cannot even afford to fix it. A couple of months ago my air conditioner started messing up. The only way I can get air is to put it on Hi, it does not work on any other setting, so I either freeze or sweat. Other than that I am just lucky not to be experiencing any other major problems.
I have a 2000 Stratus and as soon as I hit 36,000 and was out of warranty everything started going wrong. Battery and alternator, breaks and now the Transmission and it's only got 58,000 miles. From what I am reading the transmissions seem to be faulty in these things. Isn't there something we can do???
I also have a 2000 Dodge Stratus SE. I bought it in 2002 after it was repossessed from someone. It had 53,000 miles on it at the time. I don't drive it that much considering it only has 60,000 miles now, but since I bought it I've had to get new brakes, new battery, new tires, front left axle, and now the transmission just went out. 2900 to fix the tranny. I love this car besides all it's problems, but having to fix it all the time is crazy I'm extremely upset. I was also hit twice in high school both times by trucks and had to get that fixed which was insurance, but then it needed re-aligned and then again and again... Oh, what that guy said about 95's to 99's being a certain model and 2000's and up being changed. The new model started in 01'.