2004 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
66,887 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 144 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 15.3% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 10.4% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 18 |
| Suspension:Rear | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
Suspension: 18; Suspension:Rear: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Air Bags: 10; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 10
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 31 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 17; 2005: 20; 2006: 13; 2007: 18; 2008: 21; 2009: 2; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 7; 2013: 6; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 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 10100475 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
THE CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND STALL IN PARKING LOTS AND INTERSECTIONS, WITH JUST 6,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE NOW GOING BAD AS WELL. IT ALSO WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, MY WIFE WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AND REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME I DID NO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A CAR STALLS BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAYS IT DID NOT AND THEY DROVE IT A FEW MILES AND DID NOT HAVE TROUBLE. I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT TODAY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114763 · 2005-03-26 (March 26, 2005)
AT AROUND 32,000 MILES THE BRAKE SHOE BOLTS BROKE, AND THE SHOE GOT CAUGHT IN THE RIM CAUSING 1: THE RIM (INSIDE) TO GRIND AGINST THE SHOE AND FOREVER CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE RIM. 2: BENDING THE CALLIPER. AND 3: HAVING THE BREAKS GRIND THE ROTOR IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER IN WHICH THEY NEEDED TO BE GRINDED DOWN. I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR THE STOP LIGHT (SPEED LIMIT WAS 25, I WAS GOING MAYBE 20), AND STARTED TO BREAK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT WAS A VERY VIOLENT STOP. FOR A SECOND, I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A FL…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089875 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS IT CUTS OFF EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN KICKED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 12,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098209 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
STALLING AT TOLL BOOTHS, STOPLIGHTS, AND CROSSING INTERSECTIONS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115263 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
A CLANKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. RIGHT FRONT SIDE COLLAPSED ONTO THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE SHEARED OFF AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117378 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION, WHEREBY THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE CONSUMER, CAUSING HIM TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ONLY BECAUSE HIS HEAD HIT THE STEERING. CONSUMER BROKE HIS NOSE, AND HAD OTHER MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159465 · 2006-06-02 (June 2, 2006)
2004 STRATUS MADE A WHISTLING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DRIVING 70-80 MPH. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED IT SOUNDED AS IF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO FALL APART. THE CONSUMER THINKS SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR BROKE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE STEERING, TRANSMISSION OR THE RACK AND PINION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200449 · 2007-08-22 (August 22, 2007)
THE EVENTS LEADING UP THE FAILURE OF MY VEHICLE WERE, THE CAR KEPT TURNING OFF. I COULD RESTART IT AFTERWARDS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DODGE DEARLERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. AFTERWARDS, THE CAR STALLED A FEW TIMES AND I COULD RESTART. THE LAST TIME IT STALLED I COULD NOT RESTART IT AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SERVICES AND THE NEXT SEARCHED THE RECALLS ON THE INTERNET. I JUST WANT MY $724.13 REFUNDED. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,139 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104855 · 2004-12-31 (December 31, 2004)
PRESSURE BUILD-UP IN THE GAS TANK CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP ASS'Y SEAL TO BLOW OUT AND GAS TO POUR OUT ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD ALSO SMELLED GAS ON THE 23RD WHEN I FIRST HAD FILLED IT UP ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126777 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)
THE LEFT REAR LOWER ARM CONTROL SNAPPED CAUSING DAMAGED TO THE LEFTSIDE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS INCLUDING FRAME AND CROSS MEMBER THE WHOLE REAR WAS REPLACED INCLUDING THE GAS TANK
Owner-reported narrative. 26,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133278 · 2005-08-18 (August 18, 2005)
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. CALLER SAAID THAT SHE HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE JUMPED THAT SAME DAY THAT FAILURE HAPPENED. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID FLICKER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID BATTERY WAS UNDER THE FENDER, AND IT COULD NOT KEEP THE CABLES ON. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER DID RUN UP ON A CURB.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163395 · 2006-07-25 (July 25, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DURING EACH INCIDENT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE AIRBAG MODULE AND IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SQUIDS. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE AND THE AIR BAG. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER WAS REPAIRED. THE SECOND INCIDENT RESULTED IN INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163395 at NHTSA ↗