7.2

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,930 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Dodge Stratus transmission problems

transmission problem

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1997 Dodge Stratus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Apr 012005

Stratus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Have contacted Dodge/daimler-Chrysler several times about transmission on my 1997 Dodge Stratus going out. Hesitation on shifting into gear, slipping out of gear and back in on turns, trans leaks, slipping into gear suddenly and jerking the car, and so on. Car has only 66,000 miles on it now and I got it in 2001 when my father passed away. It had only 53,000 miles on it then. A trans shouldn't be going out at 50-60,000 miles. If Dodge has a bad product they should correct it themselves. I shouldn't have to pay to repair a problem Dodge already knows about and isn't doing anything about. I never haul or pull anything and I only put 13,000 miles on it in five years. Not heavy driving. I should not have any problems at all and Dodge refused to do anything or pay for repair- just saying "it's past warranty". I cannot afford to repair but I should have a vehicle company that is proud of it's product enough to stand behind it. I only get $867 a month retirement and I'm 60 years of age. Daimler-Chrysler should have made repairs when I first contacted them a year ago. This is a daily problem and getting worse. Hundreds of failures. I have to use the car for pet care so just continue to putt along until it (the trans) goes out completely.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #22

Sep 122006

Stratus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
Auto transmission. 1997 Dodge Stratus 2.5L with auto stick. Transmission leakage and failure of transmission. Vehicle will not shift above second gear, and gear slips.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #21

Mar 012005

Stratus 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,400 miles
Automatic transmission would intermittently shift out of drive into neutral while driving 40 mph or more. Consumer was concerned that the vehicle may be involved in a rear end collision because of this condition. Dealer was not notified.

- Alameda, CA, USA

problem #20

Apr 201999

Stratus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Manufacturer will not assist with apparent known transmission problems. Manufacturer agreed to pay half for apparent known head gasket problem. When will there be recalls for these two known problems.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #19

Jun 042001

(reported on)

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving transmission shifts out of gear due to differential. Dealer has inspected vehicle.

- Greenbay, WI, USA

problem #18

Dec 152000

Stratus

  • miles
The head gasket failed twice resulting in engine and transmission pump failure. Nlm

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #17

Jul 072000

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Our transmission had at least 1500 dollars worth of damage from the factory. The local Dodge dealer 's service dept sees at least one per week. It doesn't seem right.

- Fort Smith, AR, USA

problem #16

Mar 172000

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have contacted Dodge without any help. The representative I talked to was very insensitive to the problem I called in about. I know of 2 different individuals that had the same problem and got it fixed, even after the warranty was out. I had no option but to have the car towed and fixed. The car is only 2 and 1/2 years old and is only driven on the expressway. I don't understand how this could happen. Please contact me with any info. No safety defect listed in the summary.

- Channahon, IL, USA

problem #15

Feb 242000

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
With no prior warning, I was driving my car on a busy street and when I tried to accelerate, the car acted like it had been put in neutral. I limped it over to a transmission place and they put a machine on it. The third gear is out so we had to have it rebuilt. The cost to do this is $1650. It doesn't seem that a vehicle should have to have a new transmission with only 9,000 miles out of warranty. We previously had trouble with this car because we were stranded at night with 3 children in the car on the freeway due to the timing belt being shredded at 23,000 miles. We had to be towed to a dealership and rent a vehicle to get home (70 miles away). After that, we had trouble with the manifold. We had a cracked manifold and I had to repeatedly go back and argue that there was something wrong. I finally got it replaced after 3 visits and a week long stay, it was fixed. Now that we have been having these troubles, we thought we should file a complaint.

- Roseburg, OR, USA

problem #14

Feb 012000

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission range sensor--car "kicks and bolts" as though the driver slammed on brakes at 30 miles per hour. Also, car needs a new head gasket at 50,000 miles. Car has been services regularly and well maintained. What is wrong with this picture?!

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #13

Feb 082000

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On acceleration vehicle does not gear in. Transmission did not engage, and left vehicle stranded to be hit in traffic. Also slips after acceleration or does a hard kick into gear.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #12

Dec 271999

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Gear shift moves when car is in park. This item was recalled, and car was suppose to be fixed. But has been in shop 3 times, and still wasn't fixed. Recall 98V183000.

- Mountlake, WA, USA

problem #11

Oct 251999

Stratus

  • miles
The transmission has failed 3 times in my Dodge Stratus, wont shift out of 2nd gear, it was towed to the dealer 3 times they said they fixed it the first 2 times but it was not fixed properly. It is currently at the dealer again for the same problem. I have talked to 3 other people that have had the same problem with the transmissions in their Chrysler vehicles however, Chrysler Corp main office denies any problem with transmission...not that I thought they would say so. But someone at the service department of my dealer admits that chrsyler knows of the problem but will not go public.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #10

Oct 141999

Stratus

  • miles
Automatic transmission failed. From research on the internert, this seems to be a common problem with Chrysler transmissions. We received no help from Chrysler or the dealer.

- Brooklyn, WI, USA

problem #9

Oct 011999

Stratus

  • miles
It would stick when I would put my car into drive or reverse and the engine started sounding louder than it should when I accelerated. Then on Friday October 1, 1999 as I was increasing speed from 35 to 45mph the RPM gage started spinning. Though I had my foot on the gas the speed did not increase and it felt like my wheels locked up. I have been told that I am missing third gear.

- Starkville, MS, USA

problem #8

Aug 251999

(reported on)

Stratus

  • miles
Transmission fails to engage drive properly on numerous occasions, dealer unable to duplicate (very intermitent) or fix problem. Front brakes noisy/groan on application (told this was normal by dealership) front breaks also squeek (simular to wear indicator) after replacement.

- Gibsonburg, OH, USA

problem #7

Jul 091999

(reported on)

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at highway speeds vehicle began to lose power and a grinding noise occurred due to a malfunction in the transmission. Please give any fuirther details.

- Edwardsville, IL, USA

problem #6

Feb 011999

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Braking system malfuctioned, brake pedal went to the floor, causing extended stopping distance which could result in a crash. Also problems with the transmission. Consumer states after backing up and then putting vehicle in drive, vehicle wont go forward.

- Cordova, NC, USA

problem #5

Nov 271998

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer believes that when the head gasket blew the transmission fluid burned out resulting in the transmission overheating and locking up.

- Pioneertow, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 011997

Stratus

  • miles
The transmission suddenly down shifts to second gear, irrespective of speed, locking the transmission gear.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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