1997 Dodge Stratus Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Stratus years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Stratus. That ranks 2nd out of 13 Stratus model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (158 complaints, 45%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 28 crashes, 34 fires, 23 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 349owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 28complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 | 158 | 45% | 70,000 | “head gasket” (61%) | $1,500 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 | 12% | 74,153 | — | — |
| Power Train | 36 | 10% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 31 | 9% | 119,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 24 | 7% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 21 | 6% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 19 | 5% | 95,291 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 5% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 15 | 4% | 72,058 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 3% | 84,069 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 3% | 128,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% | 115,092 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 1% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 153,559 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Dodge Stratus recalls (4)
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.
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.
Structure:body:hood:hinge and attachments
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The secondary hood latch spring can disengage from its retention hole if the hood is slammed shut.
Risk: If this condition occurs simultaneously without engaging the primary latch, the hood would not be restrained increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch spring with a longer end hook spring.
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.
- 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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
Takata recall, horn don`t work, millage don`t work ,gas light comes on and neddle moves up and down alot
Either the oil light or cruise light will come on and car loses all power. I have to pull off road and put car in park turn it off and sometimes it will just start right back and sometimes i have to wait for about 30 mins for it to start back. I have only had the car since march of 2013 and it has…
Tire had a bulge at the bead line. Had a slow leak and was out of balance. I returned the tire to firestone. They showed me that the tire was missing rubber at along the tire bead and was not repairable. The tire was replaced at no charge. *kb
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge stratus. The contact stated that the fuel filler hose was loose and would not keep fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were…
Other Dodge Stratus years
← 1996 Stratus · 1998 Stratus →
| 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 | 349 | 4 |
| 1996 Stratus | 554 | 7 |
| 1995 Stratus | 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 1997 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 158 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge Stratus?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.