2002 Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling problems

“ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE. I HAD 2 NEIGHBORS PUSH THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE. HE TOOK OUT THE PARTS TRYING TO REBUILD THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THERE WAS SLUDGE THROUGHOUT THE PARTS. HE THEN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO TRY AND CLEAN IT OUT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW FAR INTO THE ENGINE IT HAD GONE. I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE AN WHOLE NEW ENGINE. HE LOOKED FOR ENGINES BUT COULD ONLY FIND THOSE WITH HIGH MILEAGE. HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WOULD STAND-UP FOR LONG OR EVENTUALLY CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN. THE CAR IS STILL WAITING FOR AN ENGINE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION TO AFFORD IT. I RECENTLY STARTED TO LOOK AGAIN TO GET AN IDEA OF WHEN I MAY BE ABLE TO WORK ON THIS AGAIN. I REMEMBER HEARING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STRATUS' BUT WHEN I CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS FOR INFORMATION, THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL FEELING. THE CONTACT INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE BRACKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.”

“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.”

“THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE CAUSING BENT VALVES AND THE NEED TO REWORK THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE. IN DOING RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 2.7L V6 AND THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE LIKELY CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR”

“I OWN A DODGE STRATUS (2002) THAT HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT THINKING IT WAS A HEAD GASKET AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE GASKET WOULD BE LIKE A BAND AID ON THE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CHRYSLER 2.7L ENGINE IS HAVING "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS. I CANNOT JUNK THIS VEHICLE AS I STILL OWE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND STILL HAVE TO PAY MY MONTHLY BILL. *TR”

“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”