1998 Dodge Stratus Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Stratus years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 272 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Stratus. That ranks 4th out of 13 Stratus model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (121 complaints, 44%), typically at around 65,000 miles. Complaints mention 25 crashes, 17 fires, 18 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 272owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 25complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 | 121 | 44% | 65,000 | “head gasket” (62%) | $1,400 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 | 15% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 24 | 9% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 7% | 97,526 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 6% | 65,240 | — | — |
| Suspension | 17 | 6% | 76,814 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 4% | 80,450 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 4% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 3% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1% | 156,716 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 1% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Dodge Stratus recalls (3)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The right rear brake tube can contact the exhaust system clamp and wear a hole in it.
Risk: Daimlerchrysler recall no. 843. If this happens, the tube could leak, reducing the effectiveness of one-half of the diagonally split braking system, and resulting in longer stopping distances.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake tubes for visible evidence of contact with the exhaust system clamp. If the tube shows evidence of contact, it will be replaced. If no evidence of contact exists, the tube will be fastened with a clip.
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.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
First horn was blowing out of control, than the engine we got it fixed, or so we thought ,than got the starter fix drove it 2 weeks and now it turns over but does nothing so it's sitting in my yard not working and am sick of it so far i have paid out over a grand and this car don't work just why,oh…
Left front upper ball joint broke
The abs and the braking system quit working i got on the freeway and i had breaks by the time i got three off ramps later to get off the freeway i had no brakes they didn't work in the pedal went all the way to the floor causing and accident
Having issues with dash and headlight dimming,also radio goes off and looses memory,door locks won't work when radio goes off. Burnt out defogger relay and power amp fuse with no power amp, also had to replace horn relay yet taking all those relays out and problem still happens. Already checked…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge stratus. While the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenace, it was discovered that the front ball joint and control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. On two separate occasions, the…
Other Dodge Stratus years
← 1997 Stratus · 1999 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 | 272 | 3 |
| 1997 Stratus | 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 1998 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 121 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Stratus?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.