2004 DODGE STRATUS COUPE

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: knocking or ticking from bottom end, low oil pressure warning, metal shavings in oil, sudden loss of power and seizure in severe cases

Fix: The 3.0L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 is notorious for oil sludge buildup that starves bearings, leading to spun rod and main bearings. Once you hear knocking, you're looking at rod bearings, crankshaft damage, and often piston issues. Short block replacement or full engine rebuild required, 16-22 labor hours for R&R plus machine work. Many owners opt for used engine swaps (8-12 hours) instead of rebuild due to core condition.

Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: transmission slipping or delayed engagement, milky or strawberry-colored transmission fluid, coolant loss with no visible leaks, transmission overheating

Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator develops leaks, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. This destroys the automatic transmission if not caught early. Requires radiator replacement, complete transmission fluid flush (multiple cycles), and often transmission rebuild if contamination went unnoticed. Radiator swap alone is 2-3 hours, but if trans is damaged you're at 12-18 hours for rebuild.

Estimated cost: $800-4,200

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: severe clunking when shifting from park to drive or reverse, excessive engine movement visible from engine bay, vibration at idle, drivetrain thud on acceleration

Fix: The front transmission mount (engine side) tears and allows excessive powertrain movement. The rubber deteriorates from heat and oil exposure. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting the engine/trans while swapping the mount, 1.5-2.5 hours labor. OEM mounts last longer than cheap aftermarket.

Estimated cost: $180-350

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: white smoke from exhaust, coolant consumption with no external leaks, overheating, milky oil or oil in coolant reservoir, rough idle or misfire

Fix: Both engines can blow head gaskets, though the 2.4L typically only loses one while the V6 often does both banks. On the 2.4L, 6-8 hours for single head gasket; on the 3.0L, 12-16 hours for both banks plus machine shop work for resurfacing. Often discover additional damage (warped heads, cracked head on V6) once opened up.

Estimated cost: $1,200-3,800

Symptoms: hard starting especially when warm, loss of power under load or at highway speeds, engine stumbling or surging, stalling

Fix: Early 2004 models may have external fuel filters that clog from debris and age. Later production integrated the filter into the fuel pump assembly. External filter replacement is simple, 0.5-1.0 hours. If you have the in-tank setup and symptoms persist, you're replacing the entire pump module, 2-3 hours.

Estimated cost: $120-450

Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi intervals

Symptoms: sudden no-start if belt breaks, complete engine destruction (bent valves, piston damage) if belt fails while running, squealing or visible belt wear on inspection

Fix: Both the 2.4L and 3.0L are interference engines—belt failure equals catastrophic valve and piston damage. Timing belt service interval is 60k-90k. Job includes belt, tensioner, water pump, and seals. 2.4L takes 3-4 hours; 3.0L takes 5-7 hours due to transverse V6 access. Skipping this service leads to $3k+ engine rebuilds.

Estimated cost: $450-950