Faults:

The head gasket blew at approximately 90K miles, but has been fine since.

The air conditioning switch does not work.

The back-lighting of the air conditioning panel is burned out.

The radio display is burned out.

The brakes squeal constantly, and the front end groans when making left turns.

The 5-speed manual is sloppy-shifting... and I don't know if that's normal or not. As I have not driven any other Stratus, I have no basis for comparison.

The headlamp units have broken aiming mechanisms.

General Comments:

The styling is great. It's fluid and sleek, unlike some other US mid-sizes.

The interior is stylish and uncommonly roomy given the compact exterior dimensions.

Gigantic trunk for the size of the car.

I've averaged 35-MPG since I've owned the Stratus, which is better than my '95 Escort!

Faults:

The bag around the stick shift somehow became uncoupled from the shifter mechanism. That is it so far!

General Comments:

This car is a slug!!I have never driven a stick shift with such little pick up. It squeals really badly when you make any turns. It is really a cheap piece-of-garbage if you ask me and I haven't even had to repair it YET.

Faults:

I had the transmission replaced at 107,000 miles.

The fuel gauge broke at about 107,000 miles.

Seat won't slide back/forth, it was my fault for sitting down too hard.

Spare tire cover in trunk, plywood cover by carpet, became warped (due to too much cargo or moisture)

Car came with NO Ashtray.

General Comments:

Overall, the car is OK. I bought the optional 2.4 liter engine with the car, instead of a standard 2.0 liter engine, and I feel it stills needs a little more horsepower. Besides the lack of horsepower, engine has never had a problem, always started on the first try. If you drive the car below about 55mph, the gas mileage turns out to be about 29-30 miles per gallon, but if you drive 70-80mph on the highway, as I often do, the mileage plummets to about 20miles per gallon. Comfort of the car is very good, never had a problem with leg room and the trunk is considerably large. I bought the car from a small car dealer in South Jersey, and the service has been very good.

Faults:

Car has blown two head gaskets, the first at 43,000 miles and the most recent at 93,000.

General Comments:

Great looks and style, lousy engineering and quality. Designed to be "slammed together" at the factory, then "thrown away".

Faults:

Well it is like I said, 40,000 miles on it and I have to get a whole transmission. The pin broke and threw the differential and cracked the case.

I remind you that it cost the car manufacturer 50 cent for that part and it costs us $2000 for a new tranny.

And as for the recalls I have never got one, and there has been one since I have had this car and it has something to do with the tranny and the key not being able to come out of the key hole.

I would not be so mad but when I have 3 kids and a job to do and really can't afford much, it really ticks me off. And plus I have called around for a tranny for my car and they all said they could have sold about 100 this month (that is not good).