2002 Dodge Stratus

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 4-30-2010 IN MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS ES SEDAN. I HEARD A STRANGE METALLIC CLUNK FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. ONCE I GOT TO WORK I CHECKED AROUND THE REAR WHEELS AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER/REAR SPRING MOUNT PLATE WAS TOTALLY CORRODED AND A CHUNK WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED THE SPRING TO SLIP (NOISE I HEARD). THE OTHER PASS/REAR SIDE IS JUST AS BAD. THE ALUMINUM MOUNTS ARE TOTALLY CORRODED AND FLAKING APART. I LIVE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS SO CORROSION IS A USUAL THING, BUT FOR PARTS TO JUST FLAKE AWAY IN CHUNKS? THIS SEEMS OVERTLY DANGEROUS AND AN ENGINEERING OVERSIGHT. I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED RIGHT AWAY OR WHO KNOWS HOW THE SPRINGS WILL FAIL AND CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FALLEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BE PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE DIES. I COASTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. ALL IT WOULD DO IS CLICK. A CALL TO AAA AND THE CAR WAS TOED TO THE DEALER. I CALL FROM THE DEALER LATER IN THE DAY REVEALED A SEIZED ENGINE. MY HUSBAND CONFRONTED THE DEALER AND ASKED TO HAVE THE ENGINE OPENED UP FOR INSPECTION. SURE ENOUGH LARGE DEPOSITS OF OIL SLUDGE. I ASKED THE DEAL WHERE WE GO FROM HERE AND HE SAID A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS $4900.00 AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES I MUST KNOW REPLACE THE ENGINE. HOW CAN CHRYSLER NOT BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THE ATTENTION IT IS GETTING. *TR

ON 9/3/08 I HAD BROUGHT MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS 2.7L V6 IN FOR A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH. I WAS CHARGED $129.95. SOON AFTER, I SMELLED BURNING COOLANT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD SAID IT WAS JUST EXCESS BURNING OFF. TWO WEEKS LATER ON 9/23/08, I WAS ON RT 1 TO OUT TO MY SISTER-IN-LAWS IN LANCASTER, PA, WHEN MY CAR OVERHEATED AND HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN ON AN OFF RAMP. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND ALL THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MILLER DODGE, AND THEY HAD INFORMED ME MY WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN. IT COST ME $628.63. I HAD ARGUED WITH THE DODGE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY JUST DID MAINTENANCE INVOLVING THE WATER PUMP, AND NOW IT IS DEAD. THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT WITH CHRYSLER ABOUT IT. I FOUND A BULLETIN ON MYCARSTATS.COM REGARDING MY ENGINE THAT THE WATER PUMP APPEARS TO FAIL AFTER A COOLANT FLUSH IS PERFORMED. THE BULLETIN ID # 0700202, MFG BULLETIN DATE: 20020204, AND THE NHTSA ITEM # 629131. I CALLED CHRYSLER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I AM STILL FIGHTING THAT FIGHT NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER. I FEEL THAT IF THE COOLANT FLUSH DAMAGES THE WATER PUMP, THAT IT IS A DEFECT, AND CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. I DO NOT FEEL I AM GETTING ANY WHERE WITH CHRYSLER, AND NOW I AM REPORTING IT, HOPEFULLY FOR SOME KIND OF SOLUTION. *TR

NOTICED INCREASED OIL USAGE WITH NO LEAKS ALTHOUGH OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3 MONTHS OR 3000 MILES. AT APPROX. 122000 MILES, ENGINE THREW A ROD. SEVERAL DODGE/CHRYSLER MECHANICS STATED THIS WAS DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" BUILDUP, SAYING THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF OIL USED OR FREQUENCY OF OIL CHANGES. *TR