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

2003 Dodge Stratus

Typical pattern

17.7% of complaints about the 2003 Dodge Stratus came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is suspension (19 complaints), typically at 5.8 yr or about 110,900 miles.

Complaints
130
Median age at failure
3.8 yr
Median mileage
64,000 n=88
Crash / fire / tow
6.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Suspension
19 reports · 110,900 mi
5.8 yr
0%
Air bags
17 reports · 63,000 mi
9.2 yr
23.5%
Structure
15 reports · 45,000 mi
5.8 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V338000 2015-06-02
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

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.

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E023000 2007-03-29
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

03V443000 2003-11-04
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 38,900 mi 1.2 yr in service
STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND IS IN-OPERATIVE ACCORDING TO DODGE DEALER. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO IN-OPERATIVE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIVE AIRBAG THEY REPLIED "IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED WITH SAFETY, THEN PARK THE CAR AND DON'T DRIVE IT." NOTICE ON WEBSITES THERE ARE RE-CALLS ISSUED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME DEFECT BUT NONE ON STRATUS AT THIS TIME. DEALER WAS VERY RUDE WHEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND CHARGED $60 TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, WHEN I INFORMED THEM WHAT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH.*AK
Air bags 39,000 mi 3.2 yr in service
TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOTAND HEARD SOMETHING POP IN STEERING WHEEL AREA. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING.I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK
Air bags 31,849 mi 3.9 yr in service crash / fire / tow
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY CAUSING PERSON TO HIT HEAD AND HAVE TO HAVE EMERGENCY TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL. THE WHOLE BUMPER WAS CRUSHED IN ALONG WITH THE RADIATOR BEING SHOVED INTO THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO EMT/POLICE, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB
Structure 38,000 mi 4.7 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE PAINT ON THE VEHICLE IS FADING ON THE ROOF, TRUNK LID, HOOD, ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW, AND ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ALONG WITH THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAS A WARRANTY THAT STATES 5,000 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SHE STATED THAT THERE IS NO RUST ON THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS PICTURES, IF NEEDED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Other Stratus model years

200620052004200320022001200019991998

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