Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
080100105/25/2001620059Subject regarding airbag / clock spring service for various models including 2002 model year jeep liberty. *tt07/10/2001
0800600REV12/29/2000080600618049Subject regarding wire splice repairs. *sb04/03/2001
083209709/19/19976088834Information regarding nhtsa authorized airbag deactivation for medical necessity. *nlm01/10/2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
18119702/28/199752016Erroneous mil illumination with hex codes $6a, $77, erroneous pcm resets, shift cycling, cold engine stumble, bucking. *tw07/17/1997
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
08060002/25/2000609995This bulletin provides a revised wire splice procedure and related parts. *tt04/12/2000

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
06/19/20086700001
 Power steering hoses developed holes through the whole hose massive fluid loss now power steering pump has froze and the car only has 67 thousand miles for 97 year 95 % of miles highway also a/c compressor and a/c dash switch both non working with fully charged compressor and all relays and fuses replaced. *tr
05/18/2003117000103/21/1997
 We had frequent electrical problem with the car and took it to the liberty dealership in johnstown, oh to get them fixed until we got to the point that it was going to take more than the care was valued to guarantee the fix. these items were not covered under our warranty. one day after pulling into our driveway after work, i shut the car off, opened the drivers side door while pulling the emergency brake and the air bags deployed, giving me a pretty good shot in the face. the car was sitting still and not running. the keys weren't even in the ignition. i called chrysler's customer service line and filed an incident. they assigned a.l. gilbert to work on the case. a investigator was deployed from a private company out of dayton, oh. he took the car to a dealership in mt. vernon, oh and determined by looking at the car's computer that it had been wrecked. obviously, this wasn't the case as there wasn't a dent or scratch on the car and i was sitting still in the driveway. however, chrysler refused to change their determination. even though it was requested multiple times, a copy of the report from the investigator from dayton, oh was never provided me. a.l. gilbert blatantly called me dishonest because he said the computer didn't lie. i convinced him to let me take it to the liberty dealership and have the service manager look at the car while on the phone with him. the liberty service manager told a.l. gilbert that there was no visible evidence of any accident on the car. a.l. gilbert said there absolutely had to be something because the computer said so. the libert service mechanic said, in fact the only scratch i see is on the undercarriage and looks like he's driven on a gravel road. gilbert responded and said that was all the evidence he needed and that the decision stood. i still drive the car today but without air bags and with a dash that lights up like a christmas tree because of the electrical problems. *nm
08/12/2005110000107/22/1998
 Dt: contact's wife went into walmart and 15 minutes later 1997, dodge, stratus caught on fire in the parking lot. the originated from under the hood, possibly around the battery box or the master cylinder. the car was completely destroyed. this happened on june 5, 2005. the only problem the contact had with the car prior to tthe fire was the check engine light caming on sometimes. the car has cruise control, and electric windows.*ak
12/24/199927133411/24/1999
 Dt: the vehicle is a 1997 dodge stratus. at 27,000 the oil light came on while the consumer was driving and the vehicle cut off. when the consumer had it towed to the dealership they replaced the timing belt and pulleys. at 39,000 the engine would not start. when it was towed to the dealership again, they found that one coil was shorted, the pcm was bad, the timing belt had to be replaced again, they had to replace the module, the relay, and the plug wire. the whole electrical system had to be replaced. later at 62,000 miles it was leaking oil and would not start. it was towed to the dealer were the timing belt had to be replaced a third time, the head gasket and package, the plug and plug wires, and the spark plugs were also replaced. currently at 89,000 the timing belt and head gasket need replacing. the vehicle is over heating and will not start. this caused the heater core to go out. the cluster has gone out; the whole lighting system comes on and goes off without warning. these current problems have not been repaired as of now. there are other issues that are included in a recall for the lower ball joints and for the floor shifter. the vehicle was immobile so the consumer can not take it to the dealership to have the recalls repaired. the manufacturer told the consumer there was nothing they could do because the vehicle was out of warranty. *jb
04/01/2005104/01/2001
 Dt: the consumer owns a 1997 dodge stratus. she says that her vehicle caught on fire. the fire department told her that the fire started by a short in the driver's side panel. she contacted dodge and they said they wouldn't do anything about it because it was not their problem and it was not on recall. *tt *eh
09/20/2004111/02/2002
 While the vehicle was parked it caught on fire. the consumer called the fire department to extinguish the fire. no injuries reported. *ak prior to the fire, the consumer stated a mechanic worked on the vehicle and stated the vehicle had an electrical leaked. *jb
03/11/2000
 While filling fuel tank a fire commenced from fuel filler neck. local fire department arrived to extinguish fire. cause of fire believed to be static electricity. dealer/manufacturer were not contacted at this time. *ak
09/16/1999102/01/1998
 While car was parked in a parking lot, apprx 30 min's when someone noticed the car was on fire. the fire dept was called and a tech from the place i was at went out with a fire ext. and put out the fire. fire dept arrived and determined that the fire was started in a door panel swith (pwr door lock or pwr mirror switch) car was towed to scully motor and i calle d chrysler, they did a though investigation and found the fault to be in the pwr mirror switch. they have been great and have assummed responsibility for totaling my car and doing a complete buy back which is in the process. my concern is for the safty of others who may not have the good fotune i had of not being in the car since it burnt up at a fast pace. hope this helps others, thanks karen.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
08/04/199908/01/1997
 Upon being struck in the left front wheel well, near the battery, my car bursted into flames. the vehicle continued to travel another 200 feet desipite various methods of application of the brakes. i then deployed the emergency brake. the vehicle didn't stop until the power cut off and the finally died.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
07/03/19971
 Had pulled into parking area; then turned off lights & then ignition; lights failed to go off; have a 90 second delay timer which did not work; will be taken to dealer to check out electrical problem. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
08/12/20041
 While turning the vehicle off the key could not be remove from the ignition switch. this caused the vehicle to continue running. *jb
1
 Spark plugs failed. nlm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
 While driving oil light came on and vehicle stalled losing all power. took vehicleto dealer, and dealer replaced timing belt and pulley. timing belt has been replaced twice. also had computer replaced. *ak
01/30/2000202/01/1998
 My head gasket blew out with 84,000 miles. car is only 3 years old. i owned it for 2 years. i took it to a mechanic and 2 dodge dealerships. the first dodge dealership had my car for over 6 weeks they could not fix it after the headgasket was replaced. basically the head gasket was replaced along with timing belt. after that the car would not start. the dealership could not fix it. plus i had to pay for a computer,which did not fix the problem. the money was non refundable. the car was taken to a second dodge dealership in which they had it for about 5 weeks. they fixed the problem saying it was electrical. i had to pay over 450 dollars for that. the total i paid was over 1200 dollars. i think its pretty bad that the dealership coulnd not even fix it! it seems to run all right now. ive read how a lot of theses dodge models i.e. 2.4 liter engines have a major corrosion problem that the dodge company fails to tell anybody about or even try to fix it. i had to pay out of my own pocket. *ak
06/12/1999103/01/1997
 Lost turn signal, radio, and rear window defroster functionality simultaneously. functionality returned after ignition was turned off and car was restarted. dealership said that they couldn't do anything because there was no failed part, but that it sounded like a glitch in the body controller. chrysler referred me back to the dealer saying that nothing would be done unless the part were shown to be defective. my concern is that nobody seems to be willing to share what systems are affected by the body controller and what the potential consequences could be if it fails. *ak
01/01/1997
 When driving at highway speed 50-55 mph, upon taking foot off the accelerator the engine speed does not return to normal idle, and hangs up at 1800 rpms. the dealer is aware of the problem, but has not been corrected. the service manager stated that it may be a problem with the computer chip. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
02/05/1999105/01/1997
 The moving steering shaft between the steering wheel and floor of the passenger compartment is exposed. a clamp on the steering shaft caught the floor mat and made it almost impossible to steer the car. i talked to the dealer and was told all stratus are made this way. the steering shaft needs a shield. if chrysler doesn't fix this, i may sell the car. i have had numerous other problems, including timing belts/iginition key/ head rests/body, electric mirrors,etc.. this may be the last straw. i am a mechanical engineer with 20 years experience and i have worked on cars since grade school. a design flaw like this borders on criminal!!! if there is an accident caused by this design, i would be glad to testify. it would be an open and shut case!!! i would appreciate a reply to this message if possible. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY - RELAY
12/01/199709/05/1997
 A short at plug to starter caused blowing of fuse.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
08/01/2006101/01/2001
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught fire due to an electrical wire according to the fire marshal. the vehicle was parked and not being driven. the fire was in the engine compartment. there was nothing unusual about the way the vehicle was operating before the fire.
05/23/2005205/10/2001
 Stereo and mirror quit working half way through a trip to st. paul. changed fuse, smoke came pouring out of the top right of the door panel. fuse blew. took door apart. switch to electrical side view mirror had shorted. melted down into harness. big fire hazard because door insulation is right there. don't know what to do
1
 Consumer stated while vehicle was parked for 35 minutes it caught on fire. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
05/26/2006111/19/2005
 I was going to my cousins graduation and had asked an officer about parking when he directed me where to go when i turned i heard a pop and smoke started coming from under the hood and it caught fire. the fire department was called out and the fire was put out. my car was towed to a towing yard, and the next day towed to my property. everything in engine compartment burned. i had it looked at by a mechanic and he said that it was probably an electrical fire. *tr
10/02/2004122000108/16/1996
 Drove home from work. parked car in private lot. approxamately ten minutes later. neighborhood kids notified me that the car was smoking. upon responding. i noticed that the car had flames coming from underneath engine and hood area. called fire department. the fire department stated that it was an electrical fire. car was totaled. the power steering hose ( part # 4764-347a / 0777c/ 25517 df 3251 3/8 id # 03067f1) ruptured and leaked onto the exhaust pipe manifold and ignited the power steering fluid stating the fire. i personally noted the smell of power steering fluid coming from vehicle.*ak
05/21/2001207/01/1997
 Engine started smelling like burnt rubber, also started smoking, hearing electrical popping noise and then engine started burning with the glow of flames coming from under and out of the engine hood compartment. my children and i jumped out of the car crying and very excited, truamatized by the sole fact of maybe getting burned up in the car or blown up. i then , without haste, went to my apt. and dialed the police at 911 and was dispatched over to the fire department. after, approximately 10 mins., the fire department arrived and extinghised the fire and made their report and speaking with me about the turn of events prior to the fire.*ak
12/15/200003/01/1997
 Ins. adjusted unable to detect cause of fire which burned my car to the ground. total loss!! took fire dept 35 minutes to arrive. nothing left but the shell! car was parked and turned off! *ak
12/17/2000103/01/1998
 Consumer's brother started vehicle up to drive vehicle over to consumer's house. in process of driving, smoke coming from underneath. consumer smelled the smoke. backseat started to evaporate. everything that was inside off vehicle was demolished. *ak the clogged exhaust system caused the engine to blow out. *yh
08/04/199908/01/1997
 Upon being struck in the left front wheel well, near the battery, my car bursted into flames. the vehicle continued to travel another 200 feet desipite various methods of application of the brakes. i then deployed the emergency brake. the vehicle didn't stop until the power cut off and the finally died.
09/19/1999109/01/1998
 This is the second manufacture defect within the last 2 months, i have been stranded twice
06/13/1998
 Parked vehicle in garage and went into the house, about 5 minutes later heard a loud noise, went out to the garage and flames were coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. had to pull the vehicle from the garage into the open. called the fire department and they put fire out. fireman stated that it was an electrical fire, and the vehicle was totaled. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
08/01/200206/01/2000
 Vehicle was parked, had not been driven in approximately 4 hrs, vehicle caught on fire while parked. apparently started on drivers side dash and spread to the drivers door.*ak