1999 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
238 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 98 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 238 complaints (12.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 51 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 50 | 21.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 24 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 24; Electrical System: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Steering: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 12; Unknown Or Other: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 140 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 39 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 26 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 39; 2002: 32; 2003: 24; 2004: 30; 2005: 20; 2006: 19; 2007: 26; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 6; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 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 10059367 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT BECAME VERY TIGHT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101681 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
MULTIPLE FAILURES, CONTINUALLY STEERING PROBLEMS. ENGINE LEAKED OIL, NO A/C OR HEATED, ECT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND HIT THE CURB DUE TO THE LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005743 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
REAR ENDED A TRUCK WHERE THE FRONT END OF THE STRATUS WENT UNDER THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. POINT OF IMPACT WAS JUST UNDER WHERE THE HOOD LATCHES CAUSING THE HOOD TO BUCKLE UP, DOING DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS, BROKE RADIATOR AND PUSHED IT BACK INTO THE ENGINE, BROKE AIR COMPRESSOR, BOTH HEAD LIGHTS, AND CAUSED 'CRACKING' IN THE WINDSHIELD. NOT SURE OF SPEED AT TIME OF IMPACT BUT SPEED OF CAR BEFORE IMPACT WAS AROUND 45 MPH, DRIVER HIT BRAKES HARD BUT NOT ENOUGH DISTANCE TO STOP - THERE WERE SKID MARKS ABOUT 2 FEET IN LENGTH. AIR BAGS DID…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010219 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003001 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
ON JUNE 22, 2002 I WAS DIRVING MY CAR TO WV. HALF WAY THERE THE TRANSMISSION 'POPPED' OUT OF 5TH GEAR. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT IN SEARCH OF ASSISTANCE WHERE I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR EITHER. IN THIS SMALL TOWN I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WHO COULD/WOULD LOOK AT MY CAR SO I PROCEEDED TO CHARLESTON WHERE MY DAD AND A COUSIN WHO COULD LOOK AT MY CAR WERE. IT WAS FOUND THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD NO FLUID IN IT - SO THIS WAS REPLACED WITH FLUID AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE SO WE COULD GET BACK TO RICHMOND…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003002 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UPON LOOKING OVER THE CAR THEY FOUND SEVERAL (ABOUT 4) OIL LEAKS. THESE WERE REPAIRED AND COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRENTY SINCE MY CAR ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036671 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
MY 1999 DODGE STRATUS VIN # [XXX] 2.4 LITER MOTOR HAD A BAD FUEL PUMP. UPON REPLACEMENT MY MECHANIC NOTICE THAT THE SENSOR WIRING THAT CONNECTS TO THE PUMP INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK HAD BURNT UP AND MELTED . THE ONLY THING THAT POSSIBLE KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM BLOWING UP WAS THE GAS CAP WAS ON TIGHT AND THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE TANK. IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR NOW KNOWING WHAT STILL OR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND KIDS IF THE GAS TANK EXPLODED OR CAUGHT ON FIRE I KEPT THE PUMP TO SHOW THE BURNT CONNECTIONS. PLEASE …
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067786 · 2004-04-25 (April 25, 2004)
EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF VEHICLE STOP AND STALL DURING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER THE PAST 3 WEEKS. WE TREATED THE GAS FOR POSSIBLE WATER, CHANGED FUEL FILTER, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. RAN CHECKS AND DETERMINED IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. I REMOVED THE ORINGINAL PUMP AND NOTED THAT THE WIRING WAS BARE AND BURNED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE INSIDE. I SAVED THE PUMP TO SHOW, AND WILL CONTACT DEALER TOMMORROW. I NOTED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE, THIS IS VERY SCARY CONSIDERING WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH THIS PROBLEM, I THINK EVERYONE …
Owner-reported narrative. 81,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006982 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006982 at NHTSA ↗