Help!

I just recently (1 week ago) purchased a 2001 Dodge Stratus. Today it starting making this horrible noise on the drivers side by the front wheel. It sounds like my entire tire is going to fall off? Any idea what's wrong?

does it sound like grinding? If so, it could be the driving belt or the accesories bearings. Also check the fluid levels. Specially the power steering.

Greetings

If the car has been sitting for a while before you bought it the front wheel bearings may have rusted from water getting by a dry bearing seal. Drive the car and steer it from side to sibe. As the weight load on the bearing is changed by the swaying of the car the noise should get louder as the load changes on the bad bearing. If the noise is only while breaking, it could be a rusty or pitted surface on the inside brake rotor surface.

RG

ya i agree check the wheel bearing

If you have gotten water in the wheel bearings, You need to replace them. The front wheel bearings on these cars are sealed and cannont be re-lubricated. Unfortunately they are only sold as a hub bearing assembly. I don't believe it is the drive belts or accessory bearings due to the fact that those components are located on the passenger side of the vehicle. Inspect your wheel bearings, brake caliper and pads, brake rotor, tire, cv shaft and the seal on the transaxle where the cv shaft enters the transaxle. Also look around in the wheel well for possible damage from the tire hitting the splash guards or the wheel well itself, and for loose splash guards.

That is the best I can do right now. Give us more information like is it worse driving straight, or during turns, acceleration, or braking? What kind of noise is it, grinding, rubbing, squealing, whining, growling? And is there any time when the noise is not there?