1998 Dodge Stratus Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL # 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 189,608.

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO HAVE ON RECORD THIS INCIDENT AND SEEKING QUESTIONS ALREADY POSED TO DAIMLER CHRYSLER. I INFORMED DAIMLER CHRYSLER BY EMAIL, THAT MY 1998 DODGE STRATUS CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY DAUGHTER. ON MAY 23, 07 ON PEOPLES COURT A 1997 DODGE STRATUS WAS BURNT TO A CRISP BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE. A PORTER HILL @ 248-944-7134, FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONTACTED ME REGARDING THE DATE THAT THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AND THE LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE. THAT THEY WOULD BE COMING TO SEE THE VEHICLE. I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION GROUP WITH NO SIGNATURES READING THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCIDENT AND THEY HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM. THAT FURTHER INQUIRIES BE DIRECTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAD INQUIRED TO KNOW FROM CHRYSLER IF THEY HAD OTHER REPORTED INCIDENTS WITH POWER STEERING HOSES CAUSING FIRES TO THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND WHETHER THIS VEHICLE HAD ANY RECALLS. YET, NO ONE HAS ANSWERED...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE BROKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR 1997 VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

THE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVER IS VERY CLOUDED FROM A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC THE WRONG TYPE OF PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT THAT DEALS WITH THE ELEMENTS AND THE DOES THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS INTERNS REDUCES THE LIGHTING FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS SO BAD THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT AND IM 23 AND HAVE 20\20 VISION. I CAN DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON AND THE LIGHT IS STILL WEAKER THAN MOST OF THE CARS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER 1998 DODGE STRATUS CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM UNLESS NOT DRIVEN MUCH AND GARAGED. SPEAKING TO A QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AT GRIMM BROTHERS PLASTICS IN WAPELLO IOWA HE TOLD ME THAT THE WRONG PLASTIC WAS USED FOR THE HEADLIGHT. I HAVE RECENTLY ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND NOW DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. AND ITS MY ONLY CAR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FRONT HOOD WAS RAISED, AND FLAMES WERE NOTICED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE HAD OPERATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE TYPE OF FIRE AND EXACT COMPONENT INVOLVED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN, BUT THERE WERE PICTURES AVAILABLE.*AK