2003 Dodge Stratus

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN HAD NO FUNCTIONALITY AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AND I HEARD A KIND OF SNAP AND THEN I FELT AND HEARD A GRINDING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHENEVER I HAD TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS THIS NOISE LIST A SPRING WAS CAUGHT AND ALMOST WOULD GET CAUGHT AND I WOULD HAVE TO QUICKLY JERK THE STEERING WHEEL SO IT WOULDN'T GET STUCK AND KEEP ME FROM TURNING. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, SO IT WON,T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND I LOST FUNCTION OF MY SPEED CONTROL. I WAS TOLD THIS IS MY CLOCKSPRING. THIS FAULTY CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALLED IN MANY DODGE VEHICLES BUT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED IN MY VEHICLE. SEE SAFETY RECALL NO. B24 (11/01/2002) FOR 1998 DODGE VEHICLES BUT DODGE CONTINUED TO USE THESE FAULTY CLOCKSPRINGS THAT IN FACT SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER HAVING MY TRANSMISSION LINES REPAIRED DUE TO A LEAK I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR OUT ON A TEST DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. WELL COMING INTO TOWN I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN FROM 65 MPH TO 55 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FEARING FOR MY LIFE I BEGAN TO GENTLY PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH IN WHICH I TOOK A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED IT JERKED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO APPROX 600,000 RPMS. IT STAYED LIKE THAT (PARKED AT HOME) UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CHECK INTO IT AND HERE IS WHAT THEY "CLAIM". SOMEHOW BETWEEN THE TIME THEY HAD IT AND THE FEW HOURS THAT I HAD DRIVEN IT SINCE I HAD IT BACK, THEY CLAIM THAT I BROKE THE COVER TO THE IDLE AIR TEMP SENSOR AND THAT IT BECAME LODGED IN THE AUTOMATIC IDLE SPEED MOTOR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO IDLE DOWN. NOW WHAT CONCERNS ME IS EXACTLY HOW CAN I BREAK THAT COVER? I AM NEVER UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR UNLESS I CHECK FLUIDS. THE COVER TO THAT THING IS EXTREMELY THICK. I BELIEVE THAT THE MECHANIC BUSTED IT WHEN HE WAS WORKING ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT GUILT. ALSO I HAVE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END IN THE COLD WEATHER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE DRIED AND CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. WHY AM I HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT THEN IT'S WORTH? IT'S NOT FAIR. AND YES I KEEP UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD THAT RIDES IN THE CAR REGULARLY WITH ME. SHE COULD OF BEEN HURT OR KILLED. *JB

DT: CAR INADVERTENTLY BEGINS TO SPEED UP. GENERALLY IT OCCURS 20 MPH AND SLOWER, EVEN WHEN STOPPING. CAR IS VERY HARD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. NO WARNING. CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED, AND RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE. DEALER REPORTS THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.*AK THERE WERE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE CAUSE WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. *TT

I BOUGHT MY DODGE STRATUS IN FEB. OF 2004, IT IS A 2003. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW GOING OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING OUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, THE CD PLAYER IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURE (AIR BAG SYSTEM) IS FAILING AS WELL. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS IN THE PAST WITH HIGHER MILES THAN THIS VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS ONE. I AM UPSET WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT BUYING A NEWER CAR WITH LOW MILES SHOULD LEAVE THE BUYER FEELING HAPPY AND SAFE WITH THEIR DECISION. HOWEVER, I AM NEITHER HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING NOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS FIXED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS SO FAR (THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM LOOKED FOR A FEW DAYS...SO MUCH FOR SAFETY MATTERS!). I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WITH THE CHRYSLER (DODGE) COMPANY.*JB