308 of the
3,617 complaints filed about the Dodge Stratus
are about the steering —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
GOT THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND FROM DAY 1 WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY THE CAR IS ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE THE WHEEL PULLS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BAD SO I HAVE TO PUMP THEM AND THEN IT STILL PULLS AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES 4 TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT WASNT THE DISC AND ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE SHOP TOLD ME THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE CRACKING UP AND SO ITS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPLACING SOMETHING THAT SHOULDNT BE MESSED UP MY CAR HAS LOW MILES IT STARTED MAKIMG CLUNKING NOISES WHEM GOING OVER A BUMP AND ANY TIME CAR IS MOVING IT IS SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FRPM FRONT OF CAR
NHTSA complaint #11363494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOTICE A SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING OPEN THE HOOD FIRE PUT THE FIRE OUT NOTICE POWER HOSE HAD LEAK IN IT I FEEL DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION
NHTSA complaint #11362702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I AM TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LACK OF CONTROL AND LOOSENING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AS I AM DRIVING. ALSO, THE SUSPENSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED NEGATIVELY.
NHTSA complaint #11321000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I GOT THIS NEXT SITE TO DO AGAIN EMAIL. CLAIM #11301605 AND FOLLOWING UP AS TO YOUR NEXT STEP. 3 RECALLS THE DODGE CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE DONT WANT TO DO OR HELP ME FIX OR CONCLUDE.
NHTSA complaint #11302472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT A CAR IN JAN 2020 WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW/COUPLE YEARS AND I FOUND 3 RECALLS ON IT. 1999 DODGE STRATUS 2.4. I EMAILED U S CUSTOMER CARE/ DODGE CUSTOMER CARE AND GOT MAIL BACK STATING YES ON 3 RECALLS AND A DEALER IN RENO NV TO CALL. I CALLED AND SERVICE AND PARTS DEPT SAID YES ON RECALLS. BRING IT IN TO CHECK AND ADVISE TO FIX. GOT MUTIL MAILS FROM CUSTOMER CARE STATING THEY HAD CAR UNDER LAST OWNER AND I TOLD THEM I WAS NEW OWNER. NEXT MAIL WAS, CLAIM/S ARE CLOSED. I ASKED WHY NOW 3 TIMES AND NO ANSWER EXCEPT A TAKE SURVEY. NO SERVICE OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR OTHER THEN TO FIND OUT THERE WAS 3 RECALLS AND NOW CUSTOMER CARE DOESNT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS CAR. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE DAY THERE IS AND THE NEXT DAY CLAIM CLOSED. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS I AM A NEW OWNER. ONE RECALL IS FOR A FIX POWER STEERING HOSE SO CAR WONT CATCH FIRE. I AM HAVE GOT NOWHERE WITH ALL MY TRIES TO GET CAR RECALLS FIXED. ACCORDING TO WEB SITES THE 3 RECALLS ARE LISTED AS INCOMPLETE STILL TO DATE. MEANING NOT TAKEN CARE OF TO MY UNDERSTANDING.
NHTSA complaint #11301605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING LIKE NORMAL, THEN WHEN I WENT UP THE RAMP ONTO THE THE SHOPPING CENTER, THE RIGHT WHEEL ALL OF A SUDDEN HIT THE PASSENGER WHEEL WELL AND THE RIM WAS HITTING THE BRAKE CALIPER. IT WAS IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET.
NHTSA complaint #11298649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OR IDLE THE STEERING IS MAKING A SQUEAKING/CREAKING NOISE I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH RECALL: 10E059000 FRONT CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
NHTSA complaint #11278104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, WOULD NOT STOP, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CRASH THE VEHICLE INTO A POLE TO GET IT TO STOP. THE CONTACT THEN QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WEEKLEY CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (50 MAIN ST, BUTLER, OH 44822, (419) 883-2461). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO START THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR FOUR WEEKS AND WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO SEND A TECHNICIAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN NHTSA RECALL WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED USED WITH ONLY 6,000 MILES. THE CRASH OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,900.
NHTSA complaint #11277953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN AS A RECALL ON A DODGE STRATUS AND TRIED TO REPORT IT AND WHOMEVER I BE TALKING TO IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THAT MY CAR IS SHOWING ME THE SIGNS THAT IT'S NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT'S A MALFUNCTION MY BALL JOINT IS BAD BECAUSE OF THE FRONT RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE HAS MESSED IT UP AND MY GAS GAUGE IS MESSED UP WITH THE ALARM AND TEMP CONTROL IS ALSO MESSED UP
NHTSA complaint #11093420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE DRIVER HAD A SEIZURE AFTER THE CRASH AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CONTACT'S ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE AFTER BEING TOWED TO A YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH MONTHS AFTER IT HAPPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11062444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY SEPARATED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL #10E059000 AND #09E056000. I THINK THE CONTROL ARM WAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PART. I'LL ATTACH PICTURES WITH THE PART NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #11024252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAMARA RECALL MY FUEL TANK HAS A EVAPORATION LEAK AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT'S FROM THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK ON HAS CAUSED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON ALSO THE SUSPENSION IS VERY BAD AND I HAD THEM REPLACED WHEN I FIRST NAUGHT THE CAR IT SHOULD NOT BE AS BAD AS IT IS, MY STEERING IS VERY BAD I HAVE REPLACE THE RACK IN OPINION, POWER STEERING PUMP,AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT SO IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT , WHEN DRIVING MY CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE MY WHOLE TRUNK IS GOING TO FALL OFF IF I HIT A BAD ENOUGH ROAD BUMP AND I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR MY DAD WAS A MECHANIC SO I KNOW NOT TO NEGLECT MY VEHICLE AND I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE THAT ALL THE RECALLS WERE NOT DONE ON MINE !MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD IT SOMETIMES IS HARD FOR ME TO HANG ON TOO IT , I HAVE ARTHRITIS IN MY HANDS NOW, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN MY STEERING WENT OUT LUCKILY I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER BEHIND ME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND NOBODY WAS HURT,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF SO IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND A PLACE TO PASS ME ONCE I EXPLAIN MY SITUATION I PAYED OUT SO MUCH MONEY JUST FOR INSPECTION STICKER GETTING FAILED I'M A VERY SHORT PERSON I'M 5'4 AND WHEN YOU HIT A ROAD BUMP GOING 5 MILES AN HOUR AND YOU HIT YOUR HEAD HARD EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD THAT REALLY HURTS TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET YOUR HEAD STOP HURTING BF YOU CAN CONTINUE ON TO WORK I HAVE MISSED A LOT OF WORK BC OF HOW BAD YOUR CAR IS AND I CAN'T SELL IT OR ANYTHING BC I NEED A WAY OF GOING TO PAY MY BILLS WHICH I CAN BARELY PAY NOW NOT INCLUDING THE DOCTOR BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED BC OF THE VEHICLE I DRIVE I HAVE A START OF DEGENERATION OF MY LOWER BACK
NHTSA complaint #11016284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREET. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11011533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE AND DAMAGED THE FRONT END. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND HAD A SEIZURE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A STATE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11005381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATELY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER IT COMES ON THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED BUT NOW WHENEVER IT MALFUNCTIONS THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL ITS BEEN SITTING UNTOUCHED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TOWN (25 MPH) AND ON ROADS UP TO 55 MPHS.
NHTSA complaint #11003866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HI! MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2006 DODGE STRATUS AND THE CONTROL ARM BROKE AND THE AXLE SEPARATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING IT TO HIT A PARKED CAR. WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT THAT DOCUMENTS THE AXLE SEPARATION AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. I NOTICED ONLINE THAT THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 DODGE STRATUS SO I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BUT OUR VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL (10E059000). MY HUSBAND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AND HE CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT APPARENTLY THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. MY CAR CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. IN THE PAST THE CAR'S FRONT END HAD BEEN REPAIRED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND IT WAS DUE FOR AN INSPECTION THIS MONTH.
NHTSA complaint #10993384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOWER LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT BROKEN. THE OUTER BEARING CARRIER, FELL AWAY FROM THE SUSPENSION ARM, PULLING THE HALF SHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY JAMMED UP IN THE WHEEL WELL WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST FOLLOWING A TURN, IN A PARKING AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10990936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 REPLACED. ALL FRONT AND BACK STRUTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION CAUSING NOISE AND BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING. ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS, DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH OR MUCH LESS. A MECHANIC SUGGESTED IN 2013 THAT THE CAR MIGHT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT ALMOST EVERYTHING HAS WORKED WELL FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED WHICH DOES NOT WORK ON THE REGULAR BACK AND FORTH AND SUPER FAST SPEED. THE WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACED WHICH DIDN'T HELP. A DODGE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT LAST WEEK AND SAID THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WORKS. ONLY ONE OF MANY AUTO REPAIR PLACES TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR AN ELEC ISSUE. ALSO IN 2013, THE FIRST CAR REPAIR SHOP I TOOK IT TO DID NOT DETECT ANY RECALLS AND THEY LISTED A DIFFERENT VIN # WHICH IS:[XXX], ON MY PAPERWORK. A DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS NOT VALID WHEN I CONTACTED IT FOR PARTS. A DIFFERENT VIN # IS ON THE CAR TITLE WHICH IS IN MY NAME. COULD THIS CAR BE PART OF A CHOP SHOP SCAM? I'VE HAD A PROBLEM TRYING TO FIND PARTS THAT MATCH THE COLOR AND YEAR ESPECIALLY FOR AN INSIDE DOOR PANEL. ALSO I FILED POLICE REPORTS BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS ENTERED THE CAR REPEATEDLY AND ILLEGALLY WITHOUT FORCED ENTRY AND MAY HAVE A KEY. THE SELLER OF THE CAR WAS DISHONEST WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10956883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AND I HEARD A KIND OF SNAP AND THEN I FELT AND HEARD A GRINDING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHENEVER I HAD TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS THIS NOISE LIST A SPRING WAS CAUGHT AND ALMOST WOULD GET CAUGHT AND I WOULD HAVE TO QUICKLY JERK THE STEERING WHEEL SO IT WOULDN'T GET STUCK AND KEEP ME FROM TURNING. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, SO IT WON,T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND I LOST FUNCTION OF MY SPEED CONTROL. I WAS TOLD THIS IS MY CLOCKSPRING. THIS FAULTY CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALLED IN MANY DODGE VEHICLES BUT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED IN MY VEHICLE. SEE SAFETY RECALL NO. B24 (11/01/2002) FOR 1998 DODGE VEHICLES BUT DODGE CONTINUED TO USE THESE FAULTY CLOCKSPRINGS THAT IN FACT SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10918117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING 25 MPH DRIVING ON PARAMOUNT BLVD AT WHITTIER BLVD, IN PICO RIVERA, CA, WHEN THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THEN FELT AS THOUGH WE WERE DRAGGING SOMETHING. ONLY DROVE 50 FEET BEFORE PULLING OVER, AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS INITIALLY A FLAT TIRE, UNTIL WE GOT OUT. OUR MECHANIC INSPECTED IT, AND DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE PICTURE THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED FREE OF ITS HOUSING.
NHTSA complaint #10883022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.