1996 Dodge Stratus

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, STRUCK THE CURVE AND TRAVELED INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED FROM THE SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09E056000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 116,000. UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND AXLE WERE REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE STEERING LOCKED TO THE RIGHT, RIGHT SIDE FELL DOWN AND PULLED CAR SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS NO STEERING, NO CONTROL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, PULLED CAR UP A CURB INTO A FIRE HYDRANT THEN ANOTHER 25 FEET INTO A POLE. CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FRONT END PARTS ARE ALL IN TACT, ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO TURN COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS INSPECTED ON VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER EXPLANATION OR EVIDENCE PRIOR TO THE CURB THAN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE CAR LOST CONTROL CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *NM

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, I NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I INSPECTED THE AREA AND FOUND THAT THE BRACKET WHICH SECURES THE TRAILING ARM LINK HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM RUST. THE TRAILING ARM LINK WAS "FLOATING" AT THE FRAME END. IT SERVES TO PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION. I REPLACED THE BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES (LEFT AND RIGHT) AS THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO NEAR FAILURE. THE REST OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE ARE NEARLY RUST FREE. THE FAILED AND NEARLY FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR MADE NOISES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED, AND IN REVERSE IT POPPED. THE CONSUMER WAS TAKING THE CAR BACK TO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHRYSLER AS OF NOW.*AK

2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LTR FM JOVAN MATHEWS (TX) RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 1996 DODGE STRATUS AND ASKING DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO INITIATE A RECALL. *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRIC CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET, AND POOR DRIVE ABILITY. THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, A/C COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, AND A HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATED,WARM UP SAG, HESITATION, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR MALFUNCTION, INSIDE LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, LATE/HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR, AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC *JB

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 $72.00 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 $702.00 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 $779.00 BECAUSE WHAT ELSE WILL BREAK. WELL IN JAN. 2003 THE BRAKES WERE ON MEDAL ANOTHER $190.00. 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.*JB

BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIE-ROD END BROKE. THE CAR IS SERVICED & MAINTAINED THROUGH DODGE. IT ONLY HAD 43,875 MILES ON IT. NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THESE TIE-ROD ENDS, SO THEY CANNOT BE SERVICED. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A LIFETIME PART THAT NEEDS NO SERVICING. I TOOK AN EXTENEDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED 3 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENT. DUE TO TIME NOT MILAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND HAS LOW MILES FOR YEAR. DODGE SAID THEY WOULD PAY HALF THE BILL BUT I THINK THE WHOLE BILL SHOULD BE PAID (TOW, RENTAL, & RIM) COULD SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THIS SITUATION.