1996 Dodge Stratus review from North America

The first night it rained I ended up with eight inches of water in the front passenger floor board. This was caused by a bad seal on the windshield.

I've to take it in three times due to the driver side windshield wiper stopped working.

I've taken it in three time due to the heater not working. Each time it's been something else wrong.

There is a weird noise from the engine and the steering wheel that has never been diagnosed.

The head gasket blew at 54,000 miles.

The transmission oil is leaking.

The sunroof quit working at 40,000.

The door locks shift up and down with the "dinging", like a door is open, sound going the whole time. This happens when you drive it. Sometimes it just happens around corners, other days it goes crazy likes it's possessed. Continuously going up and down and ding, ding, ding, etc..

The front seat broke at around 50,000 miles. I have to drive with a pillow behind my back.

In 1998 I went searching for a mid sized, affordable, four door sedan to be used by my wife and small child. I came upon a nice looking 1996 Stratus with only 21,000 miles. I had my wife come look at it and she fell in love with this silver little car that had a sunroof, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, and a very comfortable feel. Just like the Singing of the Sirens would bring Greek sailors to their demise, so did this cute little car to us.

It has been one problem after another. As you can see by the list of problems, this car is an absolute headache. I ask myself, how is this possible for a car that only has 61,000 miles?

If I could afford to do so, I would pay to see this car crushed into a little metal cube like you see at the junkyard. Not only as a personal pleasure, but so no one else would get this car. I almost feel too guilty to sell it.