Dodge STRATUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,123 owner complaints analyzed
27 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 902 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 442 of 2,123 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 296 | 13.9% |
| Steering behavior | 252 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 166 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 104 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 69 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 48 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 442 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 147 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 135 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 120 |
| Suspension | 107 |
| Electrical System | 93 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections | 89 |
| Air Bags | 81 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 442; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 147; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 135; Engine And Engine Cooling: 120; Suspension: 107; Electrical System: 93; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections: 89; Air Bags: 81
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 79 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 147 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 212 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 160 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 214 |
| 150,000 and above | 90 |
Under 25,000: 79; 25,000 to 49,999: 147; 50,000 to 74,999: 212; 75,000 to 99,999: 160; 100,000 to 149,999: 214; 150,000 and above: 90
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (214). 1,221 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 36 |
| 2000 | 305 |
| 2001 | 294 |
| 2002 | 192 |
| 2003 | 182 |
| 2004 | 202 |
| 2005 | 152 |
| 2006 | 140 |
| 2007 | 135 |
| 2008 | 112 |
| 2009 | 47 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 37 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 36; 2000: 305; 2001: 294; 2002: 192; 2003: 182; 2004: 202; 2005: 152; 2006: 140; 2007: 135; 2008: 112; 2009: 47; 2010: 51; 2011: 40; 2012: 27; 2013: 27; 2014: 37; 2015: 40; 2016: 24; 2017: 16; 2018: 10; 2019: 6; 2020: 8; 2021: 7; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 296 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 252 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 166 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 976086 · 1995-12-05 (December 5, 1995)
BRAKE PEDAL STICKS TO FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010310 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
MY WIFE COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FURTHER THAN NORMAL. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BOLT STUDS THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BROKEN OFF AND MISSING. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE BOOSTER TO ABOUT A 30 DEGEREE ANGLE. THE REMAINING STUD WAS STILL IN PLACE BUT BENT BADLY TO ONE SIDE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A PANIC STOP REQUIRED, I FEEL THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE BOOSTER, WITH THE EFFECT OF HAVING NO BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SER…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132764 · 2005-08-14 (August 14, 2005)
NUMEROUS FAILURES-SINCE I BOUGHT THIS "95 DODGE STRATUS WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES. 1) ENGINE MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE-I TOOK CAR TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP-BUCHANAN & YOUNG IN BURNSVILLE, NC AND HAD A NEW HEAD GASKET PUT ON. 2) I REPLACED THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLES, SO THE CAR WOULD START, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE STARTER TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO START. I STILL OFTEN HAVE TO GET OUT AND PECK ON THE STARTER WITH A SCREWDRIVER TO GET IT TO START---EVEN AFTER I HAD A NEW…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165781 · 2006-08-17 (August 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER HOOD AREA. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V001000, REGARDING THE STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INC…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021059 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
THE TRANSAXLE OFTEN SLIPS AND FAILS TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. EVENTUALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057754 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO PAST FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REBUILT THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY, TRANSMISSION WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051716 · 2003-12-15 (December 15, 2003)
VEHICLE DYING OUT AND WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITH NO RESULT. *LA THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIME WHILE DRIVING UNDER NO CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE SHOP FOR SEVEN WEEKS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719037 · 2000-02-21 (February 21, 2000)
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST WAS FREEDOM DODGE OF LEXINGTON AND THE REPLACED THE ABS MODULAR. THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING WITH THE CAR IS THAT WE COULD BE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH OR 5 MPH AND THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING. RESULTING NO POWER. FREEDOM COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, SO WE TOOK IT TO SUPERIOR DODGE AND THE DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER AND STILL SAME PROBLEMS HAPPENED. INSTALLED A CO-PILOT AND FOUND THE DIST. CAP SENSOR WAS BAD. REPLACED, PICKED THE CAR UP AND WITHIN 24 HOURS THE CAR STALLED 5 TIMES. THIS V…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168058 · 2006-09-12 (September 12, 2006)
AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THROWING DRIVER TOWARDS WINDSHIELD. PROBLEM BEGAN 2003. HAVE MANY, MANY SERVICE VISITS. LUBE SHOP FLUSHED SYSTEM. DEALER REPLACED TPS SWITCH, DEALER REPLACED TCM, TRANS SHOP REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND NEW INPUT AND OUTPUT SWITCHES (WORKED ONE YEAR) THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. TRANS SHOP FLUSHED SYSTEM, TRANS SHOP REPLACED TPS (AGAIN), TRANS SHP RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE TCM (AGAIN), BUT, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND. ANOTHER DEALER SAYS TPS BAD. WHEN I SAID IT WAS REPLACED 100…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278065 · 2009-07-23 (July 23, 2009)
FUEL PUMP ,GASOLINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742405 · 2001-03-14 (March 14, 2001)
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT TOP WHERE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IS FASTENED TO TANK. MECHANIC SAID HE GOT WORD THAT A LOT OF THE SEALS ARE FAILING, THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. CAR LEAKS CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF GAS, THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742405 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
1992: 0; 1995: 7; 1996: 7; 1997: 4; 1998: 3; 1999: 3; 2000: 5; 2001: 10; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 0; 2007: 0