My daughter has a '97 Dodge Stratus and has taken exception...

Question by SailorJack
Submitted on 4/9/2004
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My daughter has a '97 Dodge Stratus and has taken exception care of it. All regular maintence schedules were met and handled by the dealer where she acquired the car. On her most recent visit, they called to say that the oil pan would have to be replaced (the pan is aluminium and the plug is iron) as the plug was stripped and would no longer fit in the hole. Further, the charge for parts and labor would add another $350 dollars to the bill. The dealer is taking no responsibility in the matter and won't budge on the costs. Basically, he said that while it is not her fault, it is not their fault either, and attributes the whole thing to poor design -- they see a lot of cars with this dilemma, he added. Is anyone else ran into this problem and is there any recourse? Chrysler Customer Care said talk to the dealer.

Answer by dperr
Submitted on 10/6/2004
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I have had 2 status's with oil plug issues. 1st was a '95 with plastic oil pan that had been stripped. A quick pass with a tap resolved that one. My daughter's '98 has a stripped plug now that I cannot get loose for love or money. I drilled a hole for a 3/8 inch bolt (less than 3/8 diam for threads) and then tapped it and use a 3/8 socket cap screw, a large washer, rubber gasket and a cut lock washer to keep it from vibrating loose. Has been Ok for the last 18 months or so. I did it all on the floor of the garage with a $20 set of taps from hdwe store. Only caution is not to over tighten the bolt as U only have about 1/4-3/8 thickness of aluminum in the pan for threads. I drilled right in front of the drain in the flat part of the pan.

Answer by per940
Submitted on 9/19/2005
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I've done a little research on this topic. I own a 1998 Dodge Intrepid ES with 101,xxx miles on it. About 3 years ago at 56,xxx I took it to a quick lube place for an oil change and they said that my pan was stripped out....the manager said it's made out of aluminum and they're bad for that. Yeah right, I thought but what could I do? I waited while the re-tapped it and put an oversized plug in it. I was on my way, and I continue to use the quick lube as usual with no problems. Now 3 years later, the Dodge is at the dealer where I bought it used. I've had the major maintenance and recall work done there. It is in there for a shift interlock recall and while it's there, I have them change the oil. I get a phone call from the Service Advisor saying I need a new oil pan for $640 bucks. The pan is stripped and since it has been re-tapped once already, there is not enough aluminum to do it again. The plug may fall out. I tell them to put the plug back in anyway for now so I can be on my way. The next business day, I take the car in first thing because it is dripping oil from the plug. The dealer deflects all responsibility saying that my quick lube place must be doing something to it because it was stripped when it came in. Yeah right, I think again. They advise me to take it to my quick lube place. What should I tell them?, I ask. Tell them that it was stripped when it came here, is the reply. How did this happen I ask? Well the threads just wear out, especially on a car that has over 100,000 miles on it, is the reply. (I guess Dodge doesn't plan on their vehicles lasting that long?) So we just have finger pointing while I'm looking at a $425 repair bill (the $640 initial estimate was too high, somehow...imagine that.) The dealer would not admit to a design problem but if the threads can make it 100,000 miles or about 13 oil changes, then what is it? Naturally they imply the oil changers are putting too much torque on the plug...blah, blah, blah. I think Dodge/Chrysler has a design issue. Does anyone know if their newer models still use aluminum threads? There is some more info on this at http://www.noln.net/tech/tech4.html

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Answer by teeniebean
Submitted on 10/26/2004
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I also have a 97 Dodge Stratus and approximately a year ago, I was told the same story at the cost of $260.

Answer by BWIMBUSH
Submitted on 1/11/2005
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i HAVE HAD THE 'OIL PAN PROBLEM' WITH MY 97 STRATUS ALSO. I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENT PAN THOUGH.

Answer by hunter
Submitted on 1/22/2005
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The ansewer to your problem is called the striples driples drain plug.It's a rubber plug that has a tool that streches it out to fit in the hole. This is saposed to be a temporary fix but can be used for an exstended period of time .But be sure to hold on to the tool that it comes with.You will need the this for the next time you change your oil.You can usually find this product at your local parts store. good luck!

Answer by xtremegto
Submitted on 4/24/2005
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I run a quick lube and have seen this problem hundreds of times over the years. I am sorry to say that this is a common problem and there is no way to prevent this from happening. It is a poor design. Replacing the pan is not neccesary though, I have sent many of these to my mechanic who has been very succesful at retapping the pan. Hope this helps

Answer by Timmy B
Submitted on 5/12/2005
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I got a 97 strtus, and hope i neva run in to that problem cause its my first car, and that would suck to have a bad car!!!

Answer by Fireman#9
Submitted on 11/26/2005
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My daughter has the same year car, and related problem with threads stripped on the oil pan. I plan to use an oversize - piggyback oil plug to make a permanent repair.

Answer by bigwill
Submitted on 4/26/2006
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This is pertaining to the dodge stratus oil pan issue! i had problems with my oil pay drain plug stripping out because its aluminum, but they do make OVERSIZED drain plugs that will re-thread it to save you money and the hassle of replacing the oil pan! thats what i had to do and its been o n there for 3 years now no problem! but the design of the plan and plug is Crappy!!!

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