I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE AT A HUGE EXPENSE AND THE POOR STOPPING ABILITY CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF MY TIRES WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A LARGE EXPENSE. ALSO, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED. THE LIGHTS, RADIO, AND WINDOWS CONTINUE TO WORK, RULING OUT THE BATTERY AS THE CAUSE. YOU CAN HEAR A "CLICK" WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED BUT THE CAR REMAINS DEAD. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SERVICE, NO REMEDY IS MADE AS I AM TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIR WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED BECAUSE I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MULTIPLE BULBS BLOWING OUT, (ALL AT THE SAME TIME), ONE WINDOW NOT RAISING OR LOWERING FROM THE PASSENGER BUTTON ONLY AND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER QUIRKY, ELECTRICAL ITEMS. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE . *TR
2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT FRONT BY A 1997 DODGE STRATUS OCCUPIED BY 5 TEENAGE BOYS. THE DAMAGE WAS BUMPER AND LEFT FENDER (INSURANCE ESTIMATE ABOUT $3,000. BUT THE BATTERY WAS PLACED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE BATTERY WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY INSTALLED ON CAR. NO ENGINE REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND THE ENGINE WAS COVERED BY BATTERY ACID WHICH DESTROYED ALL THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE. BATTERY ACID ALSO WENT DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR DESTROYING PAINT AND EATING INTO METAL. TWO ADJUSTERS EXAMINED THE CAR AS THE INSURANCE WAS AMAZED AT AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION. THEY EACH STOPPED AT $11,000 DAMAGE AND TOTALED THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT HAD ANY GLASS BEEN BROKEN AND I GOT BATTERY ACID ON MY BODY, THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. A MECHANIC AT THE SCENE SAID THE BATTERY PLACEMENT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS WAS SAID BY INSURANCE ADJUSTERS AND REPAIR SERVICE WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND DODGE ITSELF AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY BOTH SAID THEY NEVER HAD HEARD OF ANY PROBLEM. I WALKED AWAY UNHURT BUT COULD HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE (I'M 73) HAD THE BATTERY BEEN PLACED IN A DIFFERENT SPOT IN THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THIS BATTERY PLACEMENT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND AM CONCERNED FOR OTHERS WHO MIGHT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN A CAR LIKE MINE. *TR
