1997 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
242 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
97,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 94 of 242 complaints (38.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 94 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 24 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 94; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 24; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Electrical System: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 194 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 77 |
| 2001 | 62 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 77; 2001: 62; 2002: 32; 2003: 17; 2004: 24; 2005: 9; 2006: 5; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025452 · 2003-07-05 (July 5, 2003)
WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE RACED, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WAS PROPELLED BACKWARDS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE RPM GADGE REGISTERED 8,000. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO PARK,IT HEISITATED THEN THE CAR WAS PROPELLED US FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR ABOUT THIRTY FEET ON OUR DRIVEWAY, UNABLE TO STOP, HAVING THE BRAKES LOCK, THE CAR CRASHED INTO MY OTHER PARKED CAR AND THE PORCH OF MY HOUSE. FINALLY AFTER THE STRATUS PUSHED THE OTHER CAR TEN FEET TOWARDS THE ROAD ,MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS OUT OF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070485 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY DODGE STRATUS IT'S ONLY A 1997 WITH 86,582. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 23,000 IN JANUARY OF 1999 FROM A CAR DEALER. I HAVE SPENT $2,335.30 IN REPAIRS IN 2002&2003 IN MAY & JUNE OF 2003 I SPENT $1,678.31 & $656.99 IN JULY 2002 STARTING WITH BRAKES BEING CONTAMIED ,WATER PUMP ,RADIATOR REPLACED,AND IT'S BEING DRIVEN LOCALLY NEVER BEEN OUT OF THIS STATE. I FEEL THIS IS A LEMON CAR BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR REPAIRS AND THE MILEAGE IS ONLY 74,153 WHEN I STARTED HAVING REPAIRS AND KEEP HAVING MAJOR REPAIRS TOTALLY $2,40…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,153 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116972 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR MORE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 44,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168929 · 2006-09-22 (September 22, 2006)
AUTO TRANSMISSION. 1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.5L WITH AUTO STICK. TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE AND FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT ABOVE SECOND GEAR, AND GEAR SLIPS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092866 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL LEAKED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096362 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
DROVE HOME FROM WORK. PARKED CAR IN PRIVATE LOT. APPROXAMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER. NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS NOTIFIED ME THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING. UPON RESPONDING. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH ENGINE AND HOOD AREA. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. CAR WAS TOTALED. THE POWER STEERING HOSE ( PART # 4764-347A / 0777C/ 25517 DF 3251 3/8" ID # 03067F1) RUPTURED AND LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE MANIFOLD AND IGNITED THE POWER STEERING FLUID STATING THE FIRE. I PERSONALLY NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050905 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
1997 DODGE STRATUS 2.0 SOHC MOTOR, BLOWN HEAD GASKET, BROKEN POWER STEERING PUMP, EGR VALVE STOPPED WORKING, LEAKS ALOT OF OIL OUT OF CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, HEATER CORE RUPTURED, HEATER HOSE RUPTURED ALSO, OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT STOPPED WORKING . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091747 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FORE INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148362 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS FOLLOWING AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER AND MULTIPLE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE STALLING PROBLEM. THE REAR FREEZE PLUG WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 858543 · 2000-03-14 (March 14, 2000)
WHILE FILLING FUEL TANK A FIRE COMMENCED FROM FUEL FILLER NECK. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. CAUSE OF FIRE BELIEVED TO BE STATIC ELECTRICITY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894615 · 2001-08-17 (August 17, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH VEHICLE STALLED OUT. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE. WAS RESTARTED AT GARAGE AND TEST DRIVEN. NOTHING HAPPENED. HOWEVER, MUCH LATER PROBLEM REAPPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894615 at NHTSA ↗