Dodge Stratus Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 279 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Dodge Stratus across 12 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (41). The words owners use most often: “ball joint” (25% of reports).
- 279suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 23%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.
- Ball joint: mentioned in 70 of 279 complaints (25%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 66 of 279 complaints (24%)
- Rear strut: mentioned in 23 of 279 complaints (8%)
- Noise front: mentioned in 15 of 279 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 157 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 279 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Dodge Stratus suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Stratus | 23 | 31% | 110,000 |
| 2005 Stratus | 18 | 29% | 125,712 |
| 2004 Stratus | 38 | 26% | 79,900 |
| 2003 Stratus | 15 | 20% | 88,000 |
| 2002 Stratus | 31 | 21% | 77,000 |
| 2001 Stratus | 41 | 22% | 75,500 |
| 2000 Stratus | 12 | 6% | 97,791 |
| 1999 Stratus | 9 | 4% | 183,500 |
| 1998 Stratus | 17 | 6% | 76,814 |
| 1997 Stratus | 19 | 5% | 95,291 |
| 1996 Stratus | 32 | 6% | 124,000 |
| 1995 Stratus | 24 | 8% | 31,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Car was owned by school govement it has been worked on several times for bad suspension.and documented.ball joint bad suspension front and back.back dating 2 or 3 years.no accidents just bad suspension
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the front passengerâs side of the vehicle. The contact stated that she parked and inspected the vehicle and became aware of the control arm on the ground…
The entire front suspension feels as though it is going to fall outward at any moment. I have had this inspected by two separate dodge dealerships. Iâve also had this inspected by friends that are mechanics. I also have knowledge and I know something is not right with the control arms tire rods…
Unknown the only thing that I can tell you for sure is that struts are bad Call was like this when I bought it
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds and then lost motive power. Additionally, the front passenger's side ball stud separated from the ball joint housing, and the front passenger's side tire was stuck…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Stratuss have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 279 owner complaints about suspension 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 suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Dodge Stratus?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joint”, in 70 of 279 complaints, followed by “control arm” (66).
Other Dodge Stratus problems
See all Dodge Stratus problems.