Head gasket oil leak, tie rods bad, tires replaced, brakes going bad, engine light on.

- Galesburg, IL, USA

My 1996 Dodge Stratus has 37,000 miles. In February 2002 I took it to sears for an oil change. Also asking them to see where oil was leaking (noticed oil on concrete in garage). They said valve cover gasket so I got that fixed for about $72 all along thinking that there were not that many miles driven. And to bad the warranty had just expired. I think it was 5 years or 25,000 miles. Within the next 2 months oil was leaking again. Took it in and end up paying $702 because the head gasket was bad. The mechanic showed it to me and jokingly said isn't it funny how this can be so cheap that it almost was deteriorated and the warranty 5yrs is up. Even though I had not drove 25,000 miles yet. Well the final blow, on Oct 10,2002 I kept hearing a clunk when I made left or right turn. Took it to the rhoden Dodge. We were told that right & left tie rod ends were loose & sway bar links worn & loose(2 tie rods, & 2 ball joints) I asked them to perform an alignment and transmission flush, totaling $779 because what else will break. Well in Jan. 2003 the brakes were on medal another $190. I'm afraid to take it in to the garage. There is only 37,000 miles driven and I am hearing another noise when I turn left and right. When the brakes were fixed they told me they test drove it and heard nothing. Some how it seems that 5 yrs or 25,000 miles is telling me that I should have sold it before that because I think the company knew things would start happening. Is there anything you can do to help me. Please, this car is a lemon with only 37,000 miles.

- Omaha, NE, USA

While driving front tires locked up. Contacted dealer. Tie rod came undone. This was common problem.

- Youngtown, OH, USA

Consumer stated the tie rod ends were not lubricated.

- North Tonawanda, NY, USA

My wife called me to report that she was experiencing some binding in the steering as she was leaving the parking lot of a shopping mall, and had decided to return to the parking lot. I went to the lot to investigate the matter and drove the car in the lot, turning both left and right frequently, and the steering seemed to be alright. I decided to drive the car home, and then noticed that a slight clunking noise could be heard when driving over rough spots in the pavement. I decided to jack up the right front wheel to try and determine what might be loose. While manuvering the car into position in my garage, the right tie rod end ball stud separated from its socket, which of course is the connection to the right side steering knuckle. The socket and ball were very rusty and there was no lubrication present, although it is supposed to be a sealed, lubricated for life joint which does not have a grease fitting.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

While pulling into a parking lot outer tie rod broke and fell off causing the consumer to loose control of the vehicle, the manufacturer was contacted but refused to do anthing about the problem.

- Clayton, IN, USA

While driving the 2 outer tie rod pins fell out, almost lost control of steering.

- Racine, WI, USA

While pulling out of the parking lot, notice difficulty in steering. Tie rod broked and had to be replaced, there was no grease fitting on the part, the stud was missing, rubber boot destoryed after stud fell out, catastrophic failure.

- Waterford, MI, USA

Since the purchase of this vehicle it has been in the repair shop 9 times. Several of these repairs have been repeat repairs. The manual transmission started giving us problems on 10/18/1999. It took them until 08/28/2001 to repair it. Then we had to bring it back on 10/22/2001 because a seal was leaking on the transmission. At that time I had them listen to the car, because the transmission was making the same noise it started with in 10/1999. They said they didn't hear anything, which is what they told us up until 08/28/2001. Now this car is getting ready to go back to the shop for the transmission. In the 3 years we have owned this car it has had $5201.48 worht of repairs done to it. In addition to the defective parts I have listed, it also had an ignition coil, injectors, ball joints, and tie rod ends replaced. All repairs we done by middletown Dodge, rt 17M, middletown, NY, except the first repair. That was performed by the dealer. Fortunately we have a great extended waranty. Otherwise we would have had to pay for all these repairs ourselves. We are concerned that this car will continue to breakdown and we won't be able to afford to keep it or someone will be injured.

- Bloomingburg, NY, USA

Tie rod failure resulted in total loss of steering. Front wheels were oriented at 90 degrees relative to one another. Likely fatal accident avoided only through circumstance of part failing at low speed in a parking lot.

- Manhattan, KS, USA

Clunk in the left front revealed failed tie rod end. Upon removal is was found that the left tie rod end had separated at the ball stud. The ball stud was only being held in place by the rubber boot. We also replaced the right tie rod end and found that it too was failing. It was showing signs of binding. Failure was imminent.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

While driving out of driveway lost control of vehicle due to broken tie rod end.

- Toledo, OH, USA

Tie rods failed.

- Pigeon, MI, USA

While coming off the highway at 70mph the steering inner tie rod came apart and steering was lost. Dealer has not seen.

- Staatsburg, NY, USA