Dodge Stratus Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 958 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Stratus across 12 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (335). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (41% of reports).
- 958engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%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 396 of 958 complaints (41%)
- Oil leak: mentioned in 119 of 958 complaints (12%)
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 Dodge Stratus at $1,600, and half of them between $1,150 and $4,250.
Based on 80 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2011), 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 242 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 958 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 60 a fire, 5 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 (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
Risk: Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die-out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Model years: 1995, 1996
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…
Car is driven on regular city streets and freeways. Roads i drive are paved - no country, dusty roads and area isn't heavy in pollution. I purchase my gas from shell or chevron and refill at 1/4 to 1/3 tank to reduce chance of picking up sediment from fuel tank. Noticed while driving on…
The past two years i have had to change the coolant air bleeder valve do to being a defective part need to know if this is a know problem with this year or similar years, i'm disabled and need my car for dr. Appointments, don't want to end up in car accidents do to this issue please contact me if…
I have had to replace the cam shaft rotation sensor 4x, the car breaks down when it fails. Also, the relay wires constantly come loose. *tr
04/20/2012 drove out of drive way down heading down the street to stop sign *(cul-de-sac) heard something like a bang...drove back in to drive way. Open hood...found an open gap on left side of cover showing time chain exposed...had a mechanic look over car, while he was checking under the engine…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Stratuss have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 958 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Dodge Stratus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Stratus?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,600 (half paid between $1,150 and $4,250), from 80 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Stratus?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 396 of 958 complaints, followed by “oil leak” (119).
Other Dodge Stratus problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (304)
- Steering problems (297)
- Power Train problems (296)
- Suspension problems (279)
- Electrical System problems (251)
- Air Bags problems (193)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (108)
See all Dodge Stratus problems.