1996 Dodge Stratus Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 335 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1996 Dodge Stratus, 60% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (47% of reports).
- 335engine and engine cooling complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 158 of 335 complaints (47%)
- Oil leak: mentioned in 54 of 335 complaints (16%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 1996 Dodge Stratus at $1,500, and half of them between $1,050 and $1,950.
Based on 19 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2007), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 23 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 335 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 22 a fire, 1 an injury.
Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Stratus | 14 | 19% | 44,000 |
| 2005 Stratus | 14 | 23% | 63,008 |
| 2004 Stratus | 22 | 15% | 36,500 |
| 2003 Stratus | 6 | 8% | 33,000 |
| 2002 Stratus | 48 | 32% | 80,000 |
| 2001 Stratus | 58 | 31% | 65,000 |
| 2000 Stratus | 23 | 11% | 105,500 |
| 1999 Stratus | 53 | 21% | 65,500 |
| 1998 Stratus | 121 | 44% | 65,000 |
| 1997 Stratus | 158 | 45% | 70,000 |
| 1996 Stratus | 335 | 60% | 90,000 |
| 1995 Stratus | 106 | 33% | 137,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, i'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will…
My car had the head gasket replaced and a few other things on it. But i can smell burning oil from some were and the light is on for the oil. I only drive short distances because i am afraid of a fire. Not only that it well maybe only go about 2 miles before it shuts down. Then i have to wait for…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge stratus. While the vehicle was parked at a gas station, the contact was informed that her vehicle was smoking under the hood. She was able to take the vehicle to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine compartment suffered a melt down. A report was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Dodge Stratuss have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 335 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 1996 Dodge Stratus (60% of the 554 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 1996 Dodge Stratus?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $1,050 and $1,950), from 19 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1996 Dodge Stratus?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 158 of 335 complaints, followed by “oil leak” (54).
Other 1996 Dodge Stratus problems
See all 1996 Dodge Stratus problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Stratus years.