84 of the
3,617 complaints filed about the Dodge Stratus
are about the body and structure —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
2.7 liter engine should be recalled and replaced because? 1. The internal water pump which have been known to wear out prematurely and destroy the engine regardless how well the owner maintains vehicle. 2. Subframe and rear suspension crossmember should be replace due to rotting out prematurely. 3 Gloss on paint prone to pealing.
NHTSA complaint #11418424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOING ABOUT 25 MPH. THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING ANY FASTER WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING I RAN IN TO A GUARD RAIL MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO BECAUSE THE RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WAS TOTALLY TOUCHING THE GROUND I GOT OUT THE CAR SEEN MY ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS OFF THE CAR. I THEN STARTED CRYING. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JULY 2019 98,000 ORIGINAL MILES. BAD PURCHASE DECISION!
NHTSA complaint #11308997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST HORN WAS BLOWING OUT OF CONTROL, THAN THE ENGINE WE GOT IT FIXED, OR SO WE THOUGHT ,THAN GOT THE STARTER FIX DROVE IT 2 WEEKS AND NOW IT TURNS OVER BUT DOES NOTHING SO IT'S SITTING IN MY YARD NOT WORKING AND AM SICK OF IT SO FAR I HAVE PAID OUT OVER A GRAND AND THIS CAR DON'T WORK JUST WHY,OH GOD JUST WHY.I HAVE PAID SOME OF EVERYTHING YOU THINK OF ONE THAT CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWARDS SO MUCH STATE FARM WANTED TO CANCEL MY INSURANCE, OKAY LET'S BEGIN.STARTER REPLACED,EG ROAD VALVE SENSER,VALLEY + PIPE, IGNITION COIL,IGNITION RELAY,TEMPERATURE SENSER,IGNITION WIRE, ROTOR, INJECTOR, BRUSH, BEARING BALL, DECEMBER FRAME NOT TO MENTION THE LABOR MY GOD. AND NOW IT SITS IN MY YARD AM TIRED REALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10945788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE PROTRUDED AND SEPARATED CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO BE EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,300.
NHTSA complaint #10822929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE INVESTIGATING A MINOR TWO VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASH INVOLVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER HAD SUSTAINED SWELLING AND ABRASIONS TO HIS HANDS AND FOREARMS FROM THE AIRBAGS, AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF SORENESS IN THE SHOULDERS. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS CALLED FOR. UPON EXAMINING THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT THEY WERE RIDING IN, I SAW THAT THE ONLY DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH WAS TO THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER. A VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING TO THE RIGHT OF THEM AND SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THEM ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT VEHICLE (CHEVY TRAILBLAZER) STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER OF THE DODGE STRATUS, AS IT TURNED (SIDESWIPED). THE DAMAGE TO THE STRATUS DID NOT SEEN SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, AND THERE WAS NO DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10716992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS CROSSING THE INTERSECTION OF NE 2ND AVE & 79TH STREET WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE STREET LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OUT WITH NO ONE DIRECTING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10693896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW WITH LITTLE PROBLEMS. HAD A FEW OIL CHANGES AND SOME BRAKE WORK DONE TO IT. BUT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE CHANGED ALL THE CALIPERS IN THIS CAR 2 TO 3 TIMES THE BREAK PADS MANY TIMES THE BALL JOINTS THE ROADERS THE SWING ARM AND THE CLUSTER DASH. THIS WAS A GREAT CAR TILL IT STOPPED GOING OVER 30 WITHOUT A TERRIBLE SHAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10667226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN AS A RESULT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY. THE CONTACT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10628953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GRANDAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM COLLEGE . VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE ON HIGHWAY BETWEEN MARBLE FALLS TEX AND BURNET TEXAS.. HER MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER CAR AND BARELY HAD TIME TO RESCUE SOME OF THE PERSONAL ITEMS BEFORE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. GRANDDAUGHTER BARELY ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE FIRE ON HER CELL PHONE.. THE FIRE BEGIN EITHER UNDER THE HOOD OR UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.. GRANDAUGHTER AND HER MOM WAS VERY DISTRAUGHT AND TERRIBLY UPSET UNTIL FIRE DEPT FROM BURNET ARRIVED ON THE SCENE . THEY WERE CALLED (911) BY A PASSING MOTORIST. THE BURNED OUT VEHICLE WAS HAULED IN TO BURNET TEXAS BY ADVANTAGE TOWING 512-756-7995. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM DODGE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS ON THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10567857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A TRUCK MADE AN ILLEGAL LANE CHANGE AND HE HIT ME ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND DAMAGED MY LIGHT, HOOD, WINDSHIELD, THE COMPUTER, AND OTHER THINGS UNDER THE HOOD. THE IMPACT WAS VERY STRONG AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10532078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DROVE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO STORE. WAS IN PARKING LOT, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. WOMAN IN LOT STOPPED AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPOT TO CENTER OF AISLE. CAR FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES. CAUSE OF FIRE NOT YET DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10512284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRUNK FALLS CONTINUALLY AFTER STAYING IN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR A FEW SECONDS OR MINUTES. EVERYONE OF MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INJURED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. I NOW HAVE A 6 INCH DIAMETER BRUISE ON MY ARM FROM THE LATEST INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10472489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRUNK DOOR DESIGN HAS A DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK DOOR TO SLAM DOWN WITH EXCESSIVE AND UNIMPEDED FORCE WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL DO SO ON ITS OWN, EVEN IN CALM WINDS. MULTIPLE INCIDENT HAVE OCCURRED WHERE THE TRUNK DOOR HAS SLAMMED DOWN WHILE THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER WAS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK TO RETRIEVE ARTICLES FROM THE TRUNK. CURRENTLY THE ONLY WAY TO SAFELY USE THE TRUNK IS TO HAVE A SECOND PERSON HOLD THE TRUNK DOOR WHILE THE FIRST PERSON PLACES OR RETRIEVES ARTICLES FROM THE TRUNK. INJURIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WERE MOMENTARY BACK PAIN AND ON ONE OCCASION A CONCUSSION (WHEN THE TRUNK DOOR HIT THE VEHICLE OWNER IN THE HEAD). NONE OF THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. PROBLEM GETS WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE (PARTICULARLY IF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IS FACING DOWNHILL), EVEN IF THE INCLINE IS SLIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10468522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
04/20/2012 DROVE OUT OF DRIVE WAY DOWN HEADING DOWN THE STREET TO STOP SIGN *(CUL-DE-SAC) HEARD SOMETHING LIKE A BANG...DROVE BACK IN TO DRIVE WAY. OPEN HOOD...FOUND AN OPEN GAP ON LEFT SIDE OF COVER SHOWING TIME CHAIN EXPOSED...HAD A MECHANIC LOOK OVER CAR, WHILE HE WAS CHECKING UNDER THE ENGINE , RELEASING A FEW BOLTS TO REPAIR SAW TIMING CHAIN GUIDE HAD BROKEN OFF CAUSING TIME CHAIN SHIFT AND GO OUT OF POSITION CAUSING THE COVER TO BUST OPEN...I WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE . PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2011 FAILED COMPONENTS TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDE AND PULLEY.
NHTSA complaint #10456396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,100.
NHTSA complaint #10427858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR LEAKS WATER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN I RUN DEFROSTERS/AIR CONDITIONING. I LOOKED THIS UP ON LINE AND IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRAIN TUBE ON DODGE/ CHRYLSER CAR. THIS IS NOT A RECALL ON MY CAR BUT A COMPLAINT ON THE CAR. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2008 DODGE CARAVANS/CHRYSLER TOWN/COUNTRY'S. THE DODGE DEALERSHIPS SAYS IT CANNOT HELP ME BECAUSE MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE RECALL. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. ALSO ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ALSO, WHEN YOU LOOK IT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10424217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO WINDOWS IN THE CARS. I WAS IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENT AND I, WITNESS ANOTHER INCIDENT IN MINER DAMAGES TO CAR. I WAS CROSSING INTERSECTION AT SHARP ANGLE AND DID NOT SEE CAR CROSSING IT AT HI SPEED, NEAR MISS. I WITNESS INTERSECTION WHERE CAR MERGING IN TO TRAFFIC, FORCE VEHICLE OF THE ROAD TO SIDE, DAMAGING RIMS ON THE CAR OVER THE CURB SIDE WALK. SIMPLY EGG DESIGN CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE!!!! IT IS WORST THEN DISTRACTIVE DRIVING IS BLIND DRIVING ALL THE TIME. I RECOMMEND 80'S. AS A COMPARISON AND INSPIRATION.
NHTSA complaint #10363641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS UNEXPECTEDLY REAR-ENDED. THE TRUNK SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE DUE TO THE MASSIVE IMPACT. THE REAR SPOILER DETACHED FROM THE TRUNK AND WENT THROUGH THE REAR GLASS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,000. UPDATED 12/30/08. *LJ UPDATED 01/05/09.
NHTSA complaint #10247165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.