1995 Dodge Stratus Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Stratus years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 318 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Dodge Stratus. That ranks 3rd out of 13 Stratus model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (106 complaints, 33%), typically at around 137,000 miles. Complaints mention 28 crashes, 13 fires, 23 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
- 318owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 28complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1995 Dodge Stratus problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 106 | 33% | 137,000 | “head gasket” (40%) | $3,950 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 56 | 18% | 52,000 | “master cylinder” (16%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 55 | 17% | 70,000 | “first gear” (11%) | — |
| Electrical System | 41 | 13% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 24 | 8% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 23 | 7% | 113,642 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 18 | 6% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 18 | 6% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1995 Dodge Stratus recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Risk: Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on june 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
Risk: If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear seat belt anchor does not achieve the loading required by fmvss no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Risk: Failure of a seat belt anchor can result in the loss of seat belt protection, which could lead to serious injury or death in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear seat belt outboard anchor floor attachments for proper positioning. If the anchor was improperly oriented, the orientation will be corrected.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Risk: Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ball joint end housing cover seal for leakage with a high pressure air tester and the rubber boot will be visually inspected for damage. If the cover seal leaks or the boot is damaged, the lower control arm will be replaced.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: The brake master cylinder can leak brake fluid due to a damaged double lip rear piston seal.
Risk: Brake fluid leakage can result in diminished effectiveness of one half of the split brake system. The instrument panel warning light(s) will signal system impairment prior to partial brake system loss.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear brake master cylindr piston assembly.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: Corrosion of the abs hydraulic control unit can cause the solenoid valves to stick in the open position.
Risk: If either front wheel valve sticks, the vehicle would swerve from a straight stop when the brakes are applied.
Fix: Dealers will install a plate and silicone grease injected into the solenoid cavity to eliminate the potential for this condition.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Problem: In certain vehicles, the engine cylinder head oil galley plug does not seal properly and engine cylinder head oil is not adequately retained.
Risk: Inadequate sealing and retention of the plug can result in oil leakage which could cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will install an expansion plug and retaining bracket over the cylinder head oil galley plug.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Auto trans ignition-park interlock (EA03011) — opened Jul 17, 2003, closed Jan 30, 2004, led to recall 04V021000.
- Steering column separation (DP03002) — opened May 7, 2003, closed Jul 22, 2003.
- Safety belt cinching latch plate (PE02082) — opened Nov 6, 2002, closed Apr 23, 2003.
- Lower control arm ball joint failure (EA97016) — opened Sep 29, 1997, closed Nov 20, 1997, led to recall 97V201000.
- Lower control arm ball joint failure (PE97009) — opened Mar 13, 1997, closed Sep 29, 1997.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I have 1995 dodge stratus shifting down going down the road!!!! After rebuild on the tranny not once but twice change all the switches i figured it out. *tr
Fuel pump ,gasoline. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 dodge stratus. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle shifted into first gear without warning, which caused the vehicle speed to decrease. There were several repairs performed on the vehicle to correct the failure; however, the failure continued to occur. The transmission was…
While driving at approximately 30 mph, my car started to overheat. When i pulled over, the coolant was pouring out of the engine. I had the car towed to a garage and was told that it failed the "block test" meaning that it needed a new head gasket. I took the car to a second garage and was told the…
While driving the transmission downshifts to limp mode causing a highly probable danger situation that may lead to serious injuries especially if traveling on the freeway. We have replaced the tcm at $166.00from a dealer and another dealer sucked approx.300.00 knowing that there is no way of fixing…
Other Dodge Stratus years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Stratus | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 Stratus | 74 | 0 |
| 2005 Stratus | 62 | 3 |
| 2004 Stratus | 144 | 3 |
| 2003 Stratus | 75 | 2 |
| 2002 Stratus | 150 | 2 |
| 2001 Stratus | 186 | 10 |
| 2000 Stratus | 216 | 5 |
| 1999 Stratus | 251 | 3 |
| 1998 Stratus | 272 | 3 |
| 1997 Stratus | 349 | 4 |
| 1996 Stratus | 554 | 7 |
| 1995 | 318 | 7 |
See all Dodge Stratus problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Dodge Stratus?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 106 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1995 Dodge Stratus?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1995 Dodge Stratus a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Stratus model years, the 1995 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.