FaultScore

1998 Dodge Stratus suspension problems

19 of the 334 complaints about the 1998 Dodge Stratus are about the suspension — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.

A

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 5 26.3%
Front 4 21.1%
Lower Ball Joint 4 21.1%
Upper Ball Joint 2 10.5%
Rear 1 5.3%
Wheel Bearing 1 5.3%
Multiple Axle 1 5.3%
Stabilizer BAR 1 5.3%

Suspension across every Dodge Stratus year

1995 27 9.3%
1996 37 12.7%
1997 21 7.2%
1998 19 6.5%
2000 12 4.1%
2001 43 14.8%
2002 35 12.0%
2003 18 6.2%
2004 38 13.1%
2005 18 6.2%
2006 23 7.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Green BAY, WI

SUSPENSION

LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE

NHTSA complaint #10911036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

DES Moines, IA

SUSPENSION

HAVING ISSUES WITH DASH AND HEADLIGHT DIMMING,ALSO RADIO GOES OFF AND LOOSES MEMORY,DOOR LOCKS WON'T WORK WHEN RADIO GOES OFF. BURNT OUT DEFOGGER RELAY AND POWER AMP FUSE WITH NO POWER AMP, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE HORN RELAY YET TAKING ALL THOSE RELAYS OUT AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. ALREADY CHECKED LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, THAT WAS POPPING AMP FUSE. FIXED THAT STILL HAPPENING. ALSO GOES THROUGH 1 QUART OF OIL A MONTH BUT NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR WHEN MOVED. ?????? HELP!!!!!! THE OIL PROBLEM SHOULD FALL UNDER HAZARDOUS METERIALS ACT IF ALL THESE CARS ARE DUMPING USED OIL ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

NHTSA complaint #10787527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles NEW Port Rickey, FL

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENACE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER DETERMINED BOTH TIMES THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 98V183000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA complaint #10759378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles Spring Hill, FL

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA complaint #10692440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelleyville, IN

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE BROKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR 1997 VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10188137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,256 miles Newport, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

I BEGAIN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED AND THEN, MY HALF-SHAFT FELL OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY HALF SHAFT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THAT STUFF IS NOT CHEAP.

NHTSA complaint #10098488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Billings, MT

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING CORNERS HEARD A POPPING SOUND ON DRIVER SIDE. THIS ACTION OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10061400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Billings, MT

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING CORNERS HEARD A POPPING SOUND ON DRIVER SIDE. THIS ACTION OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10061400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,628 miles Defiance, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

SINCE JULY 2003, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. 7/2003-LEFT TIE ROD, 8/2003 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING, 1/2004 RIGHT TIE ROD.

NHTSA complaint #10056277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baldwinsville, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY UPPER AND LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10033639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baldwinsville, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY UPPER AND LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10033639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chesterton, IN

SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE

WHEEL HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILED AROUND 62,000 MILES ONLY ON ONE SIDE (PASSANGER). I BELIEVE PART WAS FAULTY AS THEIR IS A TSB 02-07-97 ON THIS PART. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE (BOTH THE DEALER AND THE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED). THEY CLAIM "OUT OF WARRANTY". THE WARRANTY CLAUSE SHOULD NOT MATTER IN THIS CASE AS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM - IT SHOULD BE A RECALL!!

NHTSA complaint #757291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flint, MI

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP ON THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE BUMPS, AND IT LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #8001850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tiffin, OH

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

FRONT STABILIZER JOINTS AND BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED, RIGHT FRONT BROKE. FIXED AT DEALERSHIP 11/16/2001.

NHTSA complaint #754665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lusby, MD

SUSPENSION:FRONT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #740747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shirley, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #738288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Running Springs, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

SOMEONE NEEDS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE. THE FRONT END AND STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN UNDER HARD BRAKING. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN AREA THAT REQUIRES ACCURATE HANDLING/BRAKING, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND IS BEING IGNORED BY THE DEALER AND NOW THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM EXIST IN A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN UNDETECTED/MIS-DIAGNOSED OR OTHERWISE NON-REPAIRED. I WELCOME YOUR EXPERT OPINION AND WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #731671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Running Springs, CA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

HAVE A SERIOUS VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END DURING HARD BRAKING, MOST NOTICEABLY DURING DOWNHILL BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO VIBRATION THROUGHOUT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL AND FRONT DISK PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NEW TIRES AND FRONT END ALLIGNMENT HAVE NOT IMPROVED THE SITUATION WHATSOEVER. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH VIBRATION THROUGHOUT CABIN.

NHTSA complaint #728441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shirley, NY

SUSPENSION:REAR

THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE REAR WHEEL COMING OUT OF PLACE. DEALER SAYS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.

NHTSA complaint #834045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Dodge Stratus problems

← Full 1998 Dodge Stratus report