01 Dodge Stratus Reliability

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Azeem

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Looking at 2001 Dodge Stratus R/T coupe with the 3.0 coupled with auto to replace my Sunfire. It does have high miles .I think the engine is Mitsubishi's and shares the platform with Eclipse.

Known problems and what I should be looking for?
Interference engine?reliable transmission?


Thanks for the insight.
 
Yes, it is an interference engine with a belt driven valvetrain. The transmission is a typical Chrysler 4 speed unit, high maintenance at its best.
If you will be in it to replace the timing belt, replace the cam and crank seals. They tend to leak over time, especially if you live in an area with wide temperature variations.
 
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Known problems...everything.

I'd stick with the Sunfire over a Stratus any day.


There's nothing wrong with the SunFire other than rattling interior and being kid's car . Just kissing my 20s goodbye
frown.gif
, married,215 LBS,6'1", time for a bigger car.

Did you have any experience with Stratus?. I understand the stereotype about Sebring/Intrepid/Stratus because of the 2.7 L engine but enlighten me, please, what else?
 
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Not sure about that powertrain - any high mileage AT is a severe liability. A timing belt and interference engine doesnt bother me in the slightest, so long as the maintenance is done.

My mother has a 97 Breeze, but with the 4 cyl engine, and while it is now at the age where it needs some rubber suspension parts, otherwise it has been very reliable and economical to run.
 
It is an Eclipse.

Same platform, same powertrain, same Normal, Illinois factory. The early models even use the same dash as the Eclipse. You are just giving up the utility of the Eclipse's hatch for the Stratus Coupe's trunk.

We had a 2001 Eclipse GT. Decent car. Throttle tip in is a little aggressive. It lurches off the line with the slightest of throttle input. Handling is good. Not really remarkable, but decent. Headroom and legroom is pretty bad for the size of the car. We had it at the same time that I had my Integra GS-R. The Integra was roomier front and back. Not quite as much shoulder room in the 'teg but the legroom and headroom were better in the smaller Integra. I'm 6'3"/200lbs and I had to drive with a "gangsta' lean" to see out of the proper part of the windshield. Mitsubishi leather is a little.....plasticky. The dash is cheap and the interior is full of hard plastic.

Use Diamond ATF SPIII approved fluid. It has a spin on transmission filter. Super easy.

Mitsubishis usually have very accessible oil filters. This one is no exception. I could do the Eclipse's oil and filter in half the time of the Integra's with no risk of burning my forearm on the catalytic converter.

Fair warning: the 6G72 is a royal pain to change the timing belt on.

Overall, I think it is an affordable alternative to a Prelude. The interior is cheaper than the Prelude and it doesn't have the top end rush of the H22 but it has gobs more torque.
 
Do NOT buy that Stratus!!! I had a Sebring sedan and Chrysler bought it back under the lemon law. It was a steaming pile of shyte.

I dont want this to come off as rude, but its a lot cheaper to lose weight and not feel cramped into your existing car than it is to buy a new one because you 'outgrew' the old one.

Stick with what you got, you know it works. Save your money for when it does finally go titts up. Then buy something new(er). Just my $.02
 
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Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: [email protected]
Do NOT buy that Stratus!!! I had a Sebring sedan and Chrysler bought it back under the lemon law. It was a steaming pile of [omitted].


Different car entirely.


Do these engines burn oil?,I mean the 6G72. Appreciate it.
 
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Our's didn't burn oil.

It never had a reliability problem.

It was difficult to service the engine. Changing the plugs was a beast. Removing the EGR tube to get the intake off was murder. I can literally do the Mazda V6's plugs 3X in the amount of time it takes to just get the Mitsubishi's intake off. Really annoying when you have done a Chrysler SOHC 6G72. The Holley fuel injection doesn't require any intake removal.

Timing belt was a pain too. Better to do the tensioner and water pump while you are in there.

The engine is a royal pain to service but reliability was not a problem.

My wife really liked that car. A lot. We had a baby. Our cars at the time were an Integra and an Eclipse. You ever try to put a baby seat in an Eclipse when it's 33° and raining? It's terrible. It was killing her back. But when we see a really clean GT or GTS at a stoplight, she will comment how much she misses her car.

I don't miss it. My Mazda is quicker, faster, more powerful, roomier, doesn't recommend premium fuel, has a useable backseat, the hatch is as large/larger, handles better, doesn't have a timing belt, and is easier to service everything except the transmission.
 
I drove a '96 Avenger for about 60k (from 21k to 80k) before it was rear-ended and totalled. I ran it hard but maintained it nicely with no major problems to report. The transmission would be the weak link, mine shifted fine but had it's quirk none the less (bump when returning to 1st coming to a stop).

Fit and finish was good. Loved driving it, just underpowered with the 2.5 6G73.
 
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: [email protected]
Do NOT buy that Stratus!!! I had a Sebring sedan and Chrysler bought it back under the lemon law. It was a steaming pile of [omitted].


Different car entirely.


Huh? While I get that the cirrus/stratus/breeze triplets were different from the sebring/avenger, I thought that the V6 option in those was the same mitsu-derived plant.
 
Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
I drove a '96 Avenger for about 60k (from 21k to 80k) before it was rear-ended and totalled. I ran it hard but maintained it nicely with no major problems to report. The transmission would be the weak link, mine shifted fine but had it's quirk none the less (bump when returning to 1st coming to a stop).

Fit and finish was good. Loved driving it, just underpowered with the 2.5 6G73.


Same engine in my Sebring Convertible. I really liked that car.

Equally a pain in the backside to service as the Eclipse was, but for a front wheel drive convertible, it was really nice. Far better than a Cavalier/Sunfire convertible.
 
Mine had the 2.7l engine. It was the 4 door sedan that was almost identical to the stratus except for a Chrysler emblem and different grille....lol

The OP is looking at a 2 door coupe. IIRC, those were worse than the 4 door sedans.
 
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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: [email protected]
Do NOT buy that Stratus!!! I had a Sebring sedan and Chrysler bought it back under the lemon law. It was a steaming pile of [omitted].


Different car entirely.


Huh? While I get that the cirrus/stratus/breeze triplets were different from the sebring/avenger, I thought that the V6 option in those was the same mitsu-derived plant.


By 2001, the sedans no longer had the option of a Mitsubishi engine. You could get a 2.4l 4 cylinder EDZ (Neon/PT Cruiser engine)or the 2.7 V6 sludger. (based loosely on the Intrepid motor) The coupe is just an Eclipse with a trunk and a unique front fascia.
 
I wouldn't take any chance on 2.7 L engine unless it's FREE.The auto in the car I'm looking at is a Mitsubishi F4A51,used in Galant too, which doesn't have the best reputation?
 
Originally Posted By: Azeem
I wouldn't take any chance on 2.7 L engine unless it's FREE.The auto in the car I'm looking at is a Mitsubishi F4A51,used in Galant too, which doesn't have the best reputation?


You said it.

I am a pretty consistant Mopar defender but I have almost nothing nice to say about the 2.7

Doesn't matter, it's a totally different car/engine/transmission.

The only thing that concerns me is that you are looking for a larger car. It's not really larger than the Sunfire. From experience, my Integra had more interior room.

For a coupe? I would get a Monte Carlo. Change the intake manifold gasket and enjoy it. It is considerably more roomy than a Sunfire. Quieter and smoother too. And you won't lose much in MPG on the freeway.
 
I thought It would have a roomier interior and better suspension than the sunfire .Ummm,Something with GM 3.8 engine would be better. I like the 6th Generation Monte Carlo.
 
Those are not bad cars, but might nickel and dime you to death. I've had a few friends who have had them over the years, and they seem to do okay.

I'd agree with the 3.8 idea...
 
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