What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Dodge Stratus

Typical pattern

5.2% of complaints about the 1998 Dodge Stratus came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine cooling (113 complaints), typically at 4.7 yr or about 67,000 miles.

Complaints
291
Median age at failure
4.5 yr
Median mileage
75,628 n=77
Crash / fire / tow
17.5% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine cooling
113 reports · 67,000 mi
4.7 yr
4.4%
Service brakes, hydraulic
45 reports · 97,526 mi
2.4 yr
17.8%
Power train
20 reports · 78,000 mi
6.8 yr
25%
Steering
19 reports · 97,526 mi
6.8 yr
31.6%
Air bags
16 reports · 65,240 mi
2.7 yr
93.8%
Suspension
16 reports · 78,000 mi
5.9 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

10E059000 2010-12-27
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.

IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E056000 2009-10-09
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART

SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

09E043000 2009-07-07
Equipment

IMPORT PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 30,351 FUEL FILTERS SOLD TO AND BRANDED BY THE AFFINIA GROUP AS CARQUEST P/N 86523, NAPA P/N 3523, AND WIX P/N 33523 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE FILTERS MAY DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND/OR CONNECTORS DUE TO IMPROPERLY ADHERED LINE CONNECTORS.

THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

06E088000 2006-10-23
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

CERTAIN TIGAS FUEL PUMP MODULES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AND P/NOS. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES ARE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.

FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

04V021000 2004-01-13
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift

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.

EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

99V244000 1999-09-15
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.

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.

98V183000 1998-08-06
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch

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.

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
THE FIRST DAY THAT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE HOME HE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. A SECOND TIME, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A TRUCK STOPPED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES THERE WERE NONE, SHE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK . *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER'S WINDOW, WHERE THERE IS AIR COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE COSNUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES FAIL ON MY STRATUS 5 TIMES SO FAR (AND COUNTING) TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD NO BREAKING POWER AND WAS FORCED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE ON ALL OCCASIONS TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME BEFORE CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. ON ALL OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, ON DRY ROADS, FOR GENERALLY ONLY 15 -30 MINUTES AFTER GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND NO DIAGNOSABLE PROBLEM. I AM HAVING THEM LOOK AT IT ONE MORE TIME NEXT WEEK AND THEN IF IT IS NOT FIXED, I WILL HAVE THE NH MOTOR VEHICLE ARBITRATION BOARD ARBIRTRATE TO GET ME A NEW VEHCILE.
Air bags mileage not reported 6 mo in service crash / fire / tow
WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIAMTELY 15-20 MPH, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON WHICH WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. DIRECT HIT AND AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. *AK

Other Stratus model years

200620052004200320022001200019991998

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