2003 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
75 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 75 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 14.7% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Suspension:Rear | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Air Bags: 11; Suspension:Rear: 7; Electrical System: 6; Suspension: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 10; 2004: 7; 2005: 9; 2006: 6; 2007: 8; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10017000 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS SXT SEDAN 2.4L. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THERE WAS RUSTING ON THE AXLES & BRAKES TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE SECOND DAY I HAD THE CAR IT COMPLETELY SHUT ITSELF DOWN AND WOULDN'T START, IMMEDIATELY MY CAR DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE BATTERY "DIED". I DID NOT TAKE NOTE OF THE RUSTING BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP SAID "ALL DODGE CARS ARE RUSTED...*ALL*"A MONTH LATER MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISES TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SLIGHTLY, THEN IT WAS PROGRESSING TOWARDS JANUARY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018172 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED WHICH WAS EITHER CAUSED BY THE CALIPERS OR THE BRAKE HOSE COLLAPSING PER THE MECHANIC. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED, HOWEVER IT DID NOT REMEDY THE GRINDING NOISE, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A SMELL OF METAL RUBBING WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039467 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, STEERING WHEEL SHOOK IMMENSELY WHILE GOING DOWN HILLS TRYING TO STOP. HAD TO REPLACE ROTERS BEFORE 20,000 MILES WAS ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS SO NEW THAT THE ROTERS COULDN'T BE FOUND ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP (OF COURSE AT A VERY NICE PRICE).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030644 · 2003-08-02 (August 2, 2003)
I HAVE 2003 DODGE STATUS WITH THE 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER COMING BACK FROM A TRIP, MOST OF WHICH WAS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED SUDDENLY JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 2000 RPMS. THE CAR LUCHED FORWARD CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AT THE NEXT 2 STOPS THE ENGINE SPEED JUMPED FROM IDLE SPEED TO 1400 RPMS. FOR THE NEXT WEEK THE PROBLEM DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN DURING NORMAL AROUND TOWN DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I AGAIN HAD TO MAKE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032998 · 2003-08-17 (August 17, 2003)
THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,183 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104547 · 2004-12-27 (December 27, 2004)
MY CAR HAS 41,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE PAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/KNOCKING. THAT'S PROBLEM 1. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE AT WORK, AND I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL. I HEARD THIS POP AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON . ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I DO HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP. THE TECHNICAN WORKING ON THE CAR SAYS THE AIR BAG IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THE DOD…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208126 · 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)
1. I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. 2. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & WAS RESET. 3. FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACING. I ONLY HAVE 57K MILES AND THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS (03V443000). I ALSO HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS THE CLOCKSPRING AND HAS ALSO BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. NEITHER OF THESE ARE SHOWN AS RECALLED ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 57,775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229350 · 2008-05-30 (May 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT PAID $349 FOR A FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTERWARDS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DIAL CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO EMPTY ONCE FUEL IS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH CHRYSLER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT PERTAINS TO HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107044 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
CONSUMER JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE IT STARTED UP, AND THEN STALLED. A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107044 at NHTSA ↗