1998 Dodge Stratus ES review from North America
"A real lemon"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
My head gasket blew at 60,000 miles. I called Dodge and it seems that this is a common problem for these engines and they had acknowledged they had a faulty head gasket. Would they do anything about it? No. It seems that you have to take the car to the dealer every time you need the oil changed, or if the car has any other problems for them to fix. If you do it yourself you won't get assistance.
Also, the front brakes I have to replace pads and rotors once a year.
Front Tie Rod ends. Replace them before the just snap off and cause you to get in an accident.
The hood is bubbling out. Rust is starting, this is a common problem.
This car goes through tires very quickly also, 80,000 mile tires will last 50,000.
General comments?
Stay clear of these cars. They are expensive to fix and they always need attention to some sort of problem.
Dodge will not stand behind there junk and warranty any parts. Even if they know it is a faulty part.
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| Smooth ride, great sound system, looks great |
|
| 1997 - Stratus 2.0 litre 4 cylinder If you buy one, trade it after it's paid off! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 0 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 29000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 130000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Taurus |
| Date of Entry | 24th January, 2004 |