2005 Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
73,083 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 62 complaints (25.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 11 | 17.7% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
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 | 16 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
Suspension: 16; Steering: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Air Bags: 6; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Wheels: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 9 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 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 11; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 8; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10121548 · 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)
THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE ORDERED FOR THE 2005 DODGE STRATUS RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE RECALL AND WOULD BE INFORMED WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN. THE CONSUMER MADE A FOLLOW UP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PARTS WERE NEVER ORDERED. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN# 04V579000. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,092 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165143 · 2006-08-10 (August 10, 2006)
IN LATE JULY, I WAS PARKED IN MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS RT 2 DOOR COUPE WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING. I ADJUSTED MY STEERING WHEEL WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE CAR TO TURN OFF. EVERY TIME I RAISED MY STEERING WHEEL, MY CAR WOULD TURN OFF. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE CAR WAS MOVING OR NOT, THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF (THE KEY WOULD STAY ON). BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF I WOULDN'T OF NOTICED UNTIL I BEGAN DRIVING. I COULD HAVE LOST MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP ON 8-7-06. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235451 · 2008-07-23 (July 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VEHICLE TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE HIM, CAUSED HIM TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT OF HIS HOOD WAS JAMMED UNDER THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WELL. BOTH VEHICLES BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND FILED REPORTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173377 · 2006-11-13 (November 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THE CONSUMER REPEATEDLY PUMPED THE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274869 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
DODGE 2005 STRATUS ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE SEIZED UP. NO OIL IN ENGINE CAUSED STALL. OIL LIGHT CAME ON & THOUGHT THAT IT INDICATED LOW OIL. INSTEAD OIL LIGHT INDICATED NO OIL IN ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE SEIZE UP, TIMING BELT BREAKING, STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227509 · 2008-05-12 (May 12, 2008)
THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS 3 TIMES, ALREADY. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND APPROXIMATELY, EVERY 22,000 TO 24,000 MILES MY CLUTCH WEARS OUT. THE WARRANTY ON THE PART OF COURSE ONLY LASTS 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME OVER $1,600 FOR PARTS AND LABOR JUST TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED AT THE DEALER. FOR THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND GOT THE COST DOWN TO ABOUT $1,100. THE THIRD AND MOST RECENT TIME OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008. ONCE AGAIN THE CLUTCH STOPPED LOCKING GEARS INTO PLACE, RENDERING THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11056274 · 2017-12-24 (December 24, 2017)
2005 DODGE STRATUS SEDAN 4 DOOR AUTOMATIC 2.7 W LESS THAN 60K MILES. REVERSE WENT OUT AFTER WHAT I THINK WAS A CLINKING SOUND NEAR THE FRONT. IT DRIVES NORMALLY, JUST DOES NOTHING IN REVERSE. IF THE CAR IS PARKED IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS IF THE CAR IS ON A INCLINE. TRANSMISSION REBUILD IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. SO MANY DODGE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, THEY ARE LOSING MANY CUSTOMERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11056274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229021 · 2008-05-27 (May 27, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO AIR BAGS AND NO HORN IN HER VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FUEL GAUGE WERE NOT WORKING. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE IGNITION (WHERE THE KEY IS INSERTED) WAS SMOKING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY DIAGNOSTIC TEST; THEREFORE, THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956883 · 2017-02-25 (February 25, 2017)
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2013 " AS IS" (USED) F ROM A CAR LOT. THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 OR 3 ALIGNMENTS COMPLETED DUE TO REPAIRS ON RELATED PARTS. AFTER EACH ALIGNMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO AN ANGLED POSITION AFTER A FEW DAYS OR A WEEK. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR TURNING IT TO THE RIGHT WHILE BACKING UP IN REVERSE, A LOUD POP CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO COME FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. EVERYTHING SUGGESTED AS REPAIRS HAS BEEN DONE. BOTH BALL JOINTS WERE REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,517 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317130 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
FUEL FILLER TUBE AND GAS TANK CONNECTION. FUEL FILLER TUBE RUBS ON BOTTOM UNDER CARRIAGE ABOVE THE REAR AXEL CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FLEXIBLE TUBE CAUSING A HOLE WHICH WE ORDERED LAST AUGUST AND STILL IS BACK ORDERED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE GAS TANK WHERE THE TUBE ENTERS ALSO TO FAIL BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT PRESSURE ABOVE THE AXEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392388 · 2011-03-21 (March 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE AND THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR INACCURATELY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ONLY HALF FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE IF THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FUEL TANK ITSELF OF THE FILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392388 at NHTSA ↗