CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Stratus, Intrepid & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation. Also the 2.4L engine doesn't have the oil sludge problem.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
I bought my stratus in February and we live in Texas and it starts getting pretty warm about march and April. I had been driving car and one day out of the blue it started to over heat, we replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat(like 5 times in and out)rerouted heater core and still over heats, now I have found oil in my spark plugs and it runs like its about to kill over. I agree with the person who wants to drive the car into a ditch, I would like to set mine on fire it is a money pit and I will never buy another dodge/chrysler product again!
I bought my 2001 Stratus new and drove it off the lot with 3 miles on the odometer. As soon as the weather in San Antonio got cold enough where we needed the heater (doesn't happen often there). We noticed the heater blowing cold air intermittently. We took the car to the dealer where they "adjusted the bleed valve." Well, for three years in south Texas we had the car into the dealer twice for the heater blowing cold air. Twice they did band-aid fixes and we weren't aware of a serious problem because the weather didn't get too cold there. Then, we moved to Albuquerque and noticed severe problems with the heater only getting luke warm, then blowing cold air for awhile, then back and forth between warm and cold. Now the warranty had expired and trips to the authorized repair shop started getting expensive with no resolution to the problem. Finally, with 82K on the car and a little over 5 years battling the problem, the repair shop tells me the head gasket is cracked and it's probably been that way since I bought the car. The cost to replace the head gasket is $1,400, so the manager suggested I trade the car in. What choice to I have? I'm going to trade it in and never buy a Dailmer Chrysler product again!
THIS CAR IS AWFUL!!!! I TREATED IT LIKE IT WAS MADE OUT OF GOLD!!! REGULAR OIL CHANGE, MAINTENANCE, AND ANYTHING ELSE IT NEEDED!!! I'M VERY UPSET, THE HEAD GASKET HAPPENED IN JULY LETTING AIR INTO MY COOLING SYSTEM ALLOWING THE CAR TO GET HOT, AND THINGS JUST SEEM TO BE GETTING WORSE (OIL LIGHT NOW FLICKERS)!!! BIGGEST LEMON EVER!!!! AND WHY DO THE FREAKIN PARTS COST SO MUCH???? I THINK I'M JUST GOING TO SELL THE PARTS OFF IT OR DRIVE IT INTO A DITCH!!!! I HATE IT, I HATE IT, I HATE IT!!!! I'VE POSTED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR, IT'S EVIL! MY DAD WORKS FOR CHRYSLER AND THATS ALL WE'VE EVER OWNED, BUT THIS IS THE WORST CAR EVER, DONT BUY IT!!! I THINK I'M DONE FOR NOW.
- Suzana A.,
Southgate, MI, US
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I bought my stratus in February and we live in Texas and it starts getting pretty warm about march and April. I had been driving car and one day out of the blue it started to over heat, we replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat(like 5 times in and out)rerouted heater core and still over heats, now I have found oil in my spark plugs and it runs like its about to kill over. I agree with the person who wants to drive the car into a ditch, I would like to set mine on fire it is a money pit and I will never buy another dodge/chrysler product again!
- Brie L., Lakehills, TX, US