1997 Dodge Stratus from North America - Comments

"Head gasket car",were the words a mechanic said when I brought my stratus in for yet another costly repair. Indeed he was right because at that moment I had already had 2 head gaskets replaced on the stratus. what a piece of junk,here is a brief list of problems I've had with that car: 2 ball joints, brakes every year since I had it, wheel bearing,2 head gaskets door and trunk seals are garbage, trunk release hasn't worked in 3 years, timing belt was replaced 3 times since 1997,odometer cluster doesn't work, the odd time it might cut in to let me know my mileage, heat resister blew twice, thermostat went, water pump went and took 3 belts with it, stereo doesn't rewind or ffw properly, starter went, blew fuses, igition switch went last year and finally just last week the transmission blew, I've not yet made up my mind if I should spend another cent to fix this lemon or sell it for scrap, and believe it or not there are 2 payments left on this car, forget about damilier chrysler financial,they are only interested in themselves and ripping off the general public and I agree anyone who says these cars are good must work for chrysler themselves and don't have a conscience!

In my opinion an comsumer inquiry should be made into damilier chrysler, and several recalls should be made for shabby head gaskets and transmission, the closing of damilier chrysler would be a plus for everyone.

I have had head Gasket problems with my 96 Stratus also. I also had one of the trunk hydraulic levers seize up and break off the mount. Other than that I have only had to do routine maintanence. I have replaced the battery, re-lined the brakes, etc. 104K miles so far.

I have had my 1998 Stratus since late 1997,

and I have only had to replace the fuel pump,

fuel filter, and one oxygen sensor. The total

of all these repairs is less than $500 and I

now have 122,458 miles on my Stratus and also

get around 39.6 miles to the gallon of gas.

I would not trade my Dodge for any other brand,

especially a GM product.

1997 Dodge Stratus water pump. 117650 miles. I replaced a front driver's side wheel bearing (a hub assembly, really, in October 2005, at just over 100,000 miles. Replaced front brakes numerous times. Yesterday, replaced front passenger side wheel bearing. Yesterday, also did complete replacement of brake system, including master cylinder and rear brakes, and some custom brake lines, and did a custom job on the two apportioning cylinders for the rear brakes. Talking about those two odd devices will require a separate discussion in the "brake repair" section of this discussion board. Suffice to say, they were A) plugged up with gunk, and B) they are two different sizes for some reason, even though the two rear brake assemblies are identical in every other way.

There is good info on the net about the specifics of replacing the front wheel bearing assembly. A lot of hammering and possibly torching is involved to free the wheel bearing assembly from the axle plate, or whatever that's called, but it can be done. Once the bearing assembly is free, the job is real easy. I'll write up the details later, but for now, there's is a torx or star type socket you need for the three bolts in the back, I can't tell you the size off the top of my head, but it's in the neighborhood of 7/16ths. Then, you need that big socket, I think it's 1 and 3/4 inch, but I'm pulling that number out of the blue.

Anyway, now I need to replace the water pump. I actually bought an after-market pump, and also a timing belt. But, looking at the manual, and after talking to an expert who doesn't recommend I do the job myself, I'm reluctant to try it. Something about removing motor mounts, and some other special tool involved. I've been calling around for quotes. Almost all of the repair places say that the job typically requires water pump, timing belt, and timing belt retainer. Quotes in the neighborhood of $300 for just the water pump, to $700 for all of it. B.T.W., yes, the definitive answer is that the timing belt does drive the water pump, so you don't need to keep Googling that!

I'm wondering if it's possible to do it myself at home in my garage, no lift, just jacks? The pump itself, when I take it out of the box, looks stone simple.

WOW, I guess my stratus I have. nt had it long enough to have any complaints, but I will tell you as far as the odometer fore this car is worthless mine works when it wants to and whats even worse is that my stratus has the sport shift and I can find a cluster to replace it. But other than that I hav'nt had any problems with mine.

NOV. 30th 2006 I have had my stratus for 9 years I don't baby mine and I don't beat on it. The only problem I have had is the head gasket and driver side wheel bearing total cost $350.00. Oh yeah changed the brakes twice, but hey I have had it 9 years. One other thing I just noticed a oil leak nothing major it's a gasket and that's not that expensive to change. I must have got lucky with my stratus. The only thing I hate about my car is the head lights suck, I might as well have two candles for lights, heck my reverse lights are brighter.