NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
349 reportsMileage unknown · Jan 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAD TO FILL MY OIL EVERY WEEK, MY OIL STICK WASNT EVEN READING THE OIL, THATS HOW BAD MY LEAK WAS I THEN TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN AND TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GUY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" ON HEAD GASKETS. MY TIMING BELT BROKE GOING 70MPH ON I-40 IN THE MIDDLE OF N…
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I HAD TO FILL MY OIL EVERY WEEK, MY OIL STICK WASNT EVEN READING THE OIL, THATS HOW BAD MY LEAK WAS I THEN TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN AND TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GUY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A "SILENT RECALL" ON HEAD GASKETS. MY TIMING BELT BROKE GOING 70MPH ON I-40 IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AT DUSK IN THE TENNESSEE/NC BORDER. AND B4 I LEFT FOR THE TRIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. HAD TO PAY 300$ TOWING BILL CAUSE IT WAS "OK" TO DRIVE! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DODGE AGAIN...I UNDERSTAND THERE CAN BE PROBLEMS WITH ANY CAR...BUT WHEN THEY CHARGE US THE CONSUMER TO FIX THERE MISTAKES MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756772
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEADGASKET HAS OIL LEAKAGE. UPON DRIVING VEHICLE MUST USE FOUR QUARTS OF OIL TO FUNCTION. ALSO, VEHICLE SMOKES, AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8002075
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEADGASKET IS LEAKING. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001576
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE NOTED THAT GASKET HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001283
Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001009
Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHCILE WAS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT CAR WAS ASSEMBLED WITH A PAPER THIN GASKET.*AK *YH
NHTSA ODI #6900713
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE STRATUS THAT I TOOK IN FOR OVERHEATING THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR, AND REPLACED A BELT. THEN THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS STILL OVERHEATING SO I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL LEAKING AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS WAS NOT CHEAP TO F…
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I HAVE A 1997 DODGE STRATUS THAT I TOOK IN FOR OVERHEATING THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR, AND REPLACED A BELT. THEN THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS STILL OVERHEATING SO I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL LEAKING AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS WAS NOT CHEAP TO FIX ALL OF THIS AND PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING I HAD TO PAY $650 TO GET BRAKES IN FRONT AND BACK, ROTERS, AND REPLACE THE HYDRAULICS IN THE REAR BRAKES. BOTH TIE RODS HAVE BROKE ALSO IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. SO OVERALL I HAVE HAD TO STICK A LOT OF MONEY IN TO A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE. I DON'T EXPECT TO REPLACE THIS MUCH STUFF ON VEHICLE UNLESS IT IS 10 YEARS OR OLDER. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE ANY HELP. I SEE BY THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED THAT THE HEAD GASKET SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755107
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IF I AM DOING MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOESN'T STOP COMPLETELY WITHOUT SLIDING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754223
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND HEADGASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING OIL
NHTSA ODI #753898
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE CRUISE SONTROL IMMEDIATELY. MY CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKE HARDER, REALIZED THERE WAS NO STOPPING, PULLED OVER TO BREAK DOWN LANE. …
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GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, I PUT ON MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE CRUISE SONTROL IMMEDIATELY. MY CRUISE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKE HARDER, REALIZED THERE WAS NO STOPPING, PULLED OVER TO BREAK DOWN LANE. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, ENDED UP WITH JUST SQEALING TIRES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HORRIBLY. LET ME JUST NOTE THAT AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. THANK GOD A STATE POLICE PULLED UP BEHIND ME, AT WHICH TIME I HAD THE CAR AT 10MPH BUT WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MY 10 YEAR OLD CHILD HAD TO JUMP FROM MY CAR TO LET THE OFFICER KNOW WHY I COULDN'T STOP. HE ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL IN FRONT OF ME AND SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT NOTHING TO FINALLY STOP MY CAR AT WHICH POINT HE GOT OUT , CAME TO MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IN THIS FORM I COULD NOT FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE VIN, ETC. BECAUSE MY CAR WAS TOWED AND I AM WITH A FRIEND IN MASS. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER AND DODGE COMPANY ON MONDAY. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND ESPECIALLY FOR MY CHILD. MAINE STATE POLICE WAS OBVIOUSLY INVOLVED. HIS NAME WAS ROGER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753201
NHTSA investigations
3EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.
EA97016 · Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Failure
Opened Sep 29, 1997 · Closed Nov 20, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 6, 1997, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA.THE RECALL WILL ALSO COVER 1996 AND 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS/DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES, AS WELL AS 1995 THROUGH 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH IDENTICAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS.AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 599,00VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT PROCESS VARIABILITY, TOGETHER WITH THE BALL JOINT HOUSING COVER CRIMPING OPERATION, CAN RESULT IN AN INEFFECTIVE SEAL THAT PERMITS A LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND ACCELERTED WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY.THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO FAILURE AND SEPARTION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA 97V-201 AND A COPY OF CHRYSLER'S LETTER TO NHTSA IS ATTACHED HERETO.
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