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2002 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

150 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

68,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 150 complaints (17.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting1912.7%
Braking behavior1912.7%
Steering behavior96.0%
Engine operation64.0%
Electrical and battery issues32.0%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
26
Engine And Engine Cooling
16
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
15
Air Bags
12
Suspension:Rear
10
Suspension
9
Air Bags:Frontal
7
Vehicle Speed Control
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine26
Engine And Engine Cooling16
Power Train:Automatic Transmission15
Air Bags12
Suspension:Rear10
Suspension9
Air Bags:Frontal7
Vehicle Speed Control7

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling: 16; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Air Bags: 12; Suspension:Rear: 10; Suspension: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
25
50,000 to 74,999
27
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
17
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,99925
50,000 to 74,99927
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 10

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 37 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.

2002
4
2003
14
2004
32
2005
12
2006
19
2007
9
2008
22
2009
4
2010
10
2011
3
2012
5
2013
2
2014
6
2015
6
2016
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20024
200314
200432
200512
200619
20079
200822
20094
201010
20113
20125
20132
20146
20156
20162

2002: 4; 2003: 14; 2004: 32; 2005: 12; 2006: 19; 2007: 9; 2008: 22; 2009: 4; 2010: 10; 2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 6; 2016: 2

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10018006 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)

WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SHE CAN DO. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018006 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055228 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.................. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 36,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055228 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008013 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)

THE BRAKES ON MY WIFES 2002 DODGE STRATUS HAD FAILED TWICE, BRAKE PEDAL WAS AT FLOOR AND CAR DID NOT STOP. BOTH TIMES THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. HAD DEALERSHIP INSPECT AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR WITH THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND GAVE THE BRAKING SYSTEM A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ONCE MORE SINCE TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP (THIS IS ALL WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD). FORTUNALTY NO ACCIENT HAS OCCURED. PER SERVICE DEPARTEMENT THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO LEAVE CAR AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DRIVE ON A REGULAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 32,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002145 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)

WHEN CONSUMER IS MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLES' STEERING WHEELS MAKES A LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING FUEL, AND PARTS ARE ON BACK OTHER, CAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002145 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025289 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)

MY CAR MAKES A LOUD CLICKING/GRINDING NOISE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING. I HAVE HAD THE STEERING RACK REPLACED, THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED TWICE, THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWICE, THE CONTROL ARM BRACKET REPLACED, THE SWAY BARS REPLACED. THE NOISE STOPPED AFTER THE BRACKET WAS REPLACED BUT CAME BACK AFTER A MONTH. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVEN TIMES WITH NO RESOLVE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025289 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10094283 · 2004-09-24 (September 24, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHO, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094283 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10159703 · 2006-06-13 (June 13, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A ROD AND CRANK BEARINGS FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 57,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159703 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103407 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)

THE HEADLIGHT CONTINOUSLY BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHP REPLACED THE LIGHT BULB, BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE HEAD LIGHT ASSMEMBLY APART AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING SYSTEM HAD MELTED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 52,886 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103407 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10171028 · 2006-10-17 (October 17, 2006)

FIRST COMPLAINT...ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION ON WET ROADWAYS I WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN FARTHER BEHIND THAN NORMAL FOR MY STOP OR TURN. EVERY SINGLE TIME MY BREAKS LOCKED UP ON ME AND I SLID. A COUPLE OF TIMES ALMOST ENDED IN A COLLISION. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DEALING WITH A TRAIN. WHEN I STOPPED THE TRAIN HIT THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. IT PULLED OFF MY BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR, COOLANT EACH LANDING AT LEAST 75 FEET AWAY. IT ALSO TWISTED MY ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, BENT MY FRAME, AND REAR AXLE. ALL THE WHILE MY BATTERY BLEW UP. OUT OF A…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171028 at NHTSA ↗