Dodge Stratus Problems by Year
NHTSA has 2,653 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls on file for the Dodge Stratus, across 13 model years (1995–2007). The 1996 model year has the most complaints (554). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Dodge Stratus years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Stratus year: 1996, 1997. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1996 Stratus: 554 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1997 Stratus: 349 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1995 Stratus: 318 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2007 Stratus: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 Stratus: 62 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2006 Stratus: 74 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Dodge Stratus problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 958 | 12 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 304 | 12 | 41 |
| Steering problems | 297 | 12 | 18 |
| Power Train problems | 296 | 12 | 12 |
| Suspension problems | 279 | 12 | 10 |
| Electrical System problems | 251 | 13 | 9 |
| Air Bags problems | 193 | 12 | 124 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 108 | 12 | 20 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 84 | 12 | 0 |
| Structure | 80 | 12 | 4 |
| Visibility | 74 | 11 | 2 |
| Equipment | 67 | 11 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 59 | 12 | 14 |
| Wheels | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| Seats | 31 | 11 | 9 |
| Engine | 29 | 9 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| Tires | 21 | 9 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 7 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 11 | 8 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Dodge Stratus problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2001: engine and engine cooling (58)
- 2000: steering (66)
- 1999: engine and engine cooling (53)
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (121)
- 1997: engine and engine cooling (158)
- 1996: engine and engine cooling (335) · service brakes, hydraulic (62) · power train (60)
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (106) · service brakes, hydraulic (56) · power train (55)
All Dodge Stratus model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Stratus | 2 | 0 | — | Child Seat | |
| 2006 Stratus | 74 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Stratus | 62 | 3 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Stratus | 144 | 3 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Stratus | 75 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Stratus | 150 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Stratus | 186 | 10 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Stratus | 216 | 5 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Stratus | 251 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 Stratus | 272 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Stratus | 349 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Stratus | 554 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Stratus | 318 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
More from Dodge: all Dodge models · Dodge VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Stratus years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1996 (554), 1997 (349) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Stratus year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Dodge Stratus?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 958 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Dodge Stratus have?
27 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.