2001 Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling problems

“VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED AS WE WERE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. SUDDENLY SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE UNDER THE HOOD HITTING THE ENGINE BLOCK WITH A HAMMER. NOW HAVE TO HAVE A RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED ON A CAR WITH ONLY 65K MILES. CANT AFFORD NOT TO, CANT SCRAP THE VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW OF MILES. RIDICULOUS AFTER WHAT ALL I HAVE READ ABOUT THE 2.7L ENGINE SINCE THEN. I PERSONALLY CHANGED OIL WELL UNDER MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS, USING SYNTHETIC MOST OF ITS LIFE. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AS HE VEHICLE STALLED. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE THAN LIKELY CAUSED BY AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,107. UPDATED 02/14/12*LJ UPATED 02/22/12”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD-UP AND AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FORTHE FAILURE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”

“WE HAVE A 2001 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.7 V6 ENGINE FIST PROBLEM THE WATER OUTLET STARTED LEAKING THEN THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AN THEN THE LIFTERS STARTED KNOCKING NOW THE MOTOR JUST DIED WE DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES AN MATN.REALLY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE CAR TO HAVE IT DEAD IN THE YARD. *TR”

“WAS HEADING NORTH THE 805 FREEWAY FROM CHULA VISTA TO CAMP PENDLETON CA, CAR BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE KNOCKING CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD. SUDDENLY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. WAS HARDLY ABLE TO GET IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY. WAS TOLD PROBLEM WAS ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE AND THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE ENGINE AND CAR. WAS NOT REPAIRED SIMPLY TOWED BACK HOME BECAUSE COST WAS OVER 5,000 DOLLARS. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH 5,000 DOLLARS. *TR”

“I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 DODGE STRATUS SE WITH THE 2.7L V6 ENGINE. ON FEBRUARY 9, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO PARK PLAZA DODGE IN FORREST PARK, IL. BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAKING A LOUD TAPPING SOUND. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD 67,441 MILES ON IT AND WAS COVERED UNDER A CHRYSLER 5 YEAR/75,000 MILE WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LOT OF SLUDGE IN IT AND I WAS ASKED TO PRODUCE MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS ON THE VEHICLE. I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND POINTED OUT TO CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK OF STALLING CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR EXPENSE LESS MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. IT TOOK CHRYSLER MORE THEN TWO WEEKS TO DELIVER THE NEW ENGINE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY INCLUDED A MAXIMUM OF TWO WEEKS RENTAL FOR COVERED REPAIRS. I POINTED OUT TO BOTH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT CHRYSLER HADN'T DELIVERED THE ENGINE AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL. THEY REFUSED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON FEBRUARY 24, 2006. WHEN PUTTING IN THE NEW…”