60 of the 3,617 complaints filed about the Dodge Stratus are about the seat belts — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
60
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
14
Crashes
1
Fires
SEAT BELTS
MY SEATBELTS FOR MY TWO WINDOW SEATS DON'T HAVE THE SAFETY LOCK FUNCTION. I WAS PUTTING MY SONS CAR SEAT IN MY CAR AND THE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T LOCK WHEN I PULLED IT ALL THE WAY OUT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO. I TRIED BOTH SIDES AND NEITHER OF THEM WORKED BUT BOTH MY FRONT SEATBELTS WORK.
NHTSA complaint #11181012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I WENT AND HAD MY CHILDREN'S CAR SEATS INSPECTED BY OUR LOCAL INJURY PREVENTION AND HIGHWAY PATROL, TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE CORRECTLY INSTALLED. I HAVE A FORWARD FACING CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT THAT ALSO HAS THE OPTION FOR A FIVE POINT HARNESS WHICH I NORMALLY USED, BECAUSE MY CHILD WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO USE THE BOOSTER YET. THIS SPECIFIC SEAT, I USE THE LATCH SYSTEM. I LEARNED THAT FOR MY CHILD'S WEIGHT, THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE THE FIVE POINT HARNESS AND NEED TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT FUNCTION WITH THE REAR DRIVERS SEAT BELT. WHEN WE WENT TO BUCKLE THE BELT, WE NOTICED THAT YES, THE LAP PORTION HAD A LOCKING DEVICE SO IT WOULD NOT SLIP, HOWEVER WHERE THE SHOULDER STRAP ATTACHED AND CAME OUT OF THE BACK PANEL, DID NOT HAVE THE SAFETY STOP WHEN TUGGED ON QUICKLY. WE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO SEE IF IT WOULD LOCK (IN THE CASE OF A COLLISION). IT DID NOT. I THEN TRIED THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE WITH ONLY THE SAME RESULT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S IN FRONT DID WORK. I DID NOT SEE ANY RECALLS DUE TO THIS SPECIFIC CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10499734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
II WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK NOR DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. I REARENDED SOMEONE AT 25MPH. THEY WERE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY. SO IT WAS A FAIRLY HARD HIT. I FRACTURED MY STERNUM,AND BRUISED CHEST,THERE WAS A BIG LUMP IN MIDDLE OF BREASTBONE. CURRENTLY UNDER A CARDIOLOGIST FOR SEVERAL TESTS ON HEART. MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WAS $5,281 DOLLARS,HERS WAS MINIMAL. I AM JUST LUCKY I AM NOT DEAD AND SHE WAS NOT HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10246390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. HE ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PARTS AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS AND NOTICED THAT EVERY VEHICLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD THE SAME FAILED COMPONENT. AS OF AUGUST 28, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10240043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED. THEREFORE, THE BASE OF THE CHILD SEAT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY ON THE SEAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,800. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS, THE PLASTIC MECHANISM THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT BELT LATCH SNAPPED OFF . WITHOUT THE MECHANISM SECURELY IN PLACE, THE BELT SLIDES AROUND. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10218679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
AT 28,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. THEY REPLACED IT. I HAVE HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON EVERY FEW MONTHS. THEY HAVE REPLACED SEAT BELT COMPONENTS AND MESSED WITH THE CONNECTORS. I HAVE HAD IT IN 5 TIMES NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10205297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF HER. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 40 MPH, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, THE SEAT BELT FLEW OFF AND THE DRIVER SEAT FLEW FORWARD (AND YES EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED IN PLACE). BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, SHE HAD A STRAINED NECK, SHOULDER, BACK AND BECAUSE THE SEAT FLEW FORWARD, HER KNEES WERE INJURED. I SENT A COMPLAINT TO DODGE, BUT BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY REPAIRED THE CAR, THEY DID NOT WANT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. AT THE AUTO SHOP, THEY DID NOT CHECK TO SEE IF THE AIR BAGS WORKED (OR EVEN IF THERE ARE AIR BAGS IN THE STEERING WHEEL) OR FIND OUT WHY THE SEAT FLEW OF OR WHY THE DRIVER SEAT FLEW FORWARD. ALL OF MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEIR SEAT BELTS ON SINCE THEY WERE SMALL CHILDREN -- I CAN GUARANTEE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURE.
NHTSA complaint #10201187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DETERMINED DEFECTIVE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS FAULTY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, THE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. THE SEAT BELT IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10163395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH REAR SIDE SEAT BELT ADJUSTORS BROKE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 02/07/06.
NHTSA complaint #10145262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10117378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INOPERATIVE. THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LOCK. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK....A PENNY WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE RECEIVER. ONCE REMOVED THE SEAT BELT PERFORMED PERFECTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10115899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10115491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE MY AUTOMOBILE ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, EVERY 6-8 MONTHS, (OIL, TUNE UP,...)OIL SLUDGE BAKING IN ENGINE BLOCK-CYLINDER AT 50,000 AND AGAIN 114000. CORROSION BUILD UP & GUNK IN CYLINDER BLOCK, COILS & SPARK PLUG CORROSION CAUSING BAD-STRONG ORDER IN AUTOMOBILE AND SPUTTERING, POOR EMISSION. TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM TIME TO TIME AT 25,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 114000, WITH LEAKS WHICH WE CAN SMELL VERY STRONG IN AUTOMOBILE. EXCESSIVE BRAKE LOCKAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN NORMAL-AVERAGE SPEED OF 25 MILES. CONSTANTLY HAVING TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPAIR ALTHOUGH I HAVE LIFE WARRANTY ON BREAKS. REPAIRER STATES ITS THE AUTOMOBILE. SAFETY BELT DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH PROPERLY AND HAS UNLATCHED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE IM DRIVING WITH MY SON, (6 YRS OLD). DRIVERS BELT ALSO UNLATCHES FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICE THE CAR TENS TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE HAD THIS AUTO ALIGNED AS WELL AS, ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, BALANCING, ECT,...YET IT STILL DOES THIS TO DATE. BALL JOINTS, STRUTS WEARING OUT AT 25,000. I AM TIRED OF INVESTING SO MUCH IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. MORE THAN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE TO. I ALSO FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILE. SHOULD MY AUTOMOBILE CAUSE ANY SUDDEN FIRE DUE TO GUNK IN A HOT RUNNING ENGINE & TRANSMISSION, I WILL FILE A LAW SUIT. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REPAIR MY AUTO AND REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL I HAVE PAID SIMPLY SO THAT MY SON AND I CAN FEEL & BE SAFE DRIVING IN THIS AUTOMOBILE.
NHTSA complaint #10107909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SAFETY BELTS USED TO SECURE THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BROKE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. CONSUMER ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10103624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO SCHOOL BUS HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BRACKET BROKE. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, CAUSING EYE AND BACK INJURIES, AND DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10103389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
I HAVE HAD MY DODGE STRATUS ES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AND THE BACK SAFETY SHOULDER HARNESS HAS QUIT WORKING NOW 2 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THIS LAST TIME THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT IT COSTING A SMALL FORTUNE. I THINK THERE SHOULD THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF AUTOMATIC REPAIR OF SAFETY PARTS, SUCH AS, SEAT BELTS, ETC WITHOUT A SMALL FORTUNE HAVING TO BE PAID.
NHTSA complaint #10081199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
2000 DODGE STRATUS SE REAR PASSANGER AND DRIVER SIDE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER SEATBELTS DO NOT "CATCH" TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN PERSON. ANGLE OF INSTALL PREVENTS MECHANISM FROM PROPERLY WORKING. PROVED TO SERVICE MANAGER DUANE NELSON BONNEVILL & SON MANCHESTER, NH 603-624-9280X558. DUANE CALLED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DESIGNED IT THAT WAY SINCE REAR PASSENGERS MOVED AROUND ALOT OR CHILD SEATS WERE FREQUENTLY USED (THEREFORE NULLIFYING THE RESTRAINT FEATURE OF THE SHOLDER PORTION). THEY DIDN'T WANT THE BELT TO BE TOO RESTRICTING. FURTHERMORE CHRYSLER STATED THAT IN A CRASH OR HARD STOP THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS FORCED DOWNWARD AND THE REAR UPWARDS, RESULTING IN THE SEATBELT MECHANISM BEING IN A PROPER ANGLE AND ENGAGING. SEEMS LIKE A VERY POOR DESIGN AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE PULLED ON A SEAT BELT WITH MY AND AND IT QUICKLY CATCHES. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS AND DON'T CARE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN BACK TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE TELLING THE TRUTH OR NOT! I WAS MORTIFIED AFTER DRIVING MY CHILDEREN AROUND FOR 3 YEARS IN THIS CAR THAT THE SEATBLETS WERE APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE. PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT NUMBER 10015524 AS PROOF OF THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10074995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT BELTS. THE BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT AFTER RELEASING BUCKLES DUE TO THE LOCK MECHANISM BREAKING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10074303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I AM CONCERNED WITH A FEW THINGS ON MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE 4 DOOR. ONE, I FEEL THAT THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY CAR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP WITH MY CAR IN WHICH MY WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO "LAUNCH FORWARD" AT LEAST 10 FEET EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS. I ENDED UP HITTING A WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME WHO HAD JACKED UP. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH HAVING JUST COME THROUGH A LIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I STILL HIT THE DASHBOARD WITH MY KNEE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHIN. NORMALLY WHEN I COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY SEAT BELT GETS TIGHTER WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES AND I HAVE TROUBLE LEANING FORWARD TO LOOK BOTH WAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. ALSO, MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ISSUES. I LOVE MY CAR BUT I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP BECAUSE OF A CHILD RUNNING OUT IN THE STREET 20 FEET FROM WHERE I AM. WILL MY CAR STOP THEN. I KNOW CARS DON'T STOP ON A DIME BUT I FEEL AT THE RATE OF SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HIT THAT WOMAN. WHAT DO I DO?
NHTSA complaint #10060357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DODGE STRATUS ENGINE DIE OUT DUE TO CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR THAT CAME IN CONTACT W/ A PROTECTIVE SHIELD, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED A GROUTED CIRCUIT. THEREBY CAUSING MY ENGINE TO DIE OUT. MY VEHICLE IS A LEASE, AND THE WARRANTY IS UP, AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION. RECALL INFO ON THIS CALL, AND THE PRIOR YEAR ARE NUMEROUS DEADLY ONE. THOSE WHICH CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY, OR DEATH. I WAS ALMOST A STATISTIC TODAY WHEN MY VEHICLE DIED OUT COMPLETELY IN AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT HOW RESPONSIBLE THE DEALERSHIP IS BECAUSE I NEVER RECEIVED ANY!!!! RECALL LETTERS. I RECEIVED THEIR BILL, BUT YET NO RECALL INFO. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. I HAVE PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED THREE OTHER VEHICLES FROM YONKERS AVENUE DODGE, AND HAVE TRADED THEM IN FOR NEW ONES, BUT THEY TOO HAD PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER NEVER GAVE ME ANY BREAKS IN PRICE. THEY JUST SAW A FEMALE WALK IN, AND READ THE "SUCKER" SIGN ON MY FOREHEAD. ANYHOW MY CAR IS NOW STUCK IN A SHELL GAS STATION, WHICH WAS CONSEQUENTLY OFF THE RAMP I WAS STUCK ON. I WAS PUSHED THERE TO GET ME OUT OF HARMS WAY. I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS DEALER TO CONTINUE TO STICK PEOPLE, OR CHRYSLER TO STICK PEOPLE WITH THE BILL TO A CAR THAT DIES OUT BEFORE THE LEASE IS UP!! IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE EMAIL ME. AS WELL AS LET OTHER DODGE STRATUS SE OWNERS KNOW THAT THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THESE CARS SUFFER FROM BEFORE THESE OWNERS GET KILLED, OR KILL OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. RESPECTFULLY, [XXX]. *CB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10054244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.