Dodge

Stratus (2nd)

2001-2006 · Midsize Sedan · 3 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.5)
721 NHTSA Complaints
18 Recalls
13 Fire Reports
86 Crash Reports
📋 Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

Dodge Stratus Unidentified Engine

⚠️ Caution (2.5)
200 complaints 33.3 per year
3 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
35
suspension
32
cooling
32
electrical
26
safety systems
25

Known Issues

Engine Issues (35 complaints)
Suspension Issues (32 complaints)
Cooling System Issues (32 complaints)

2.4-I4-Gas

2.4L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.5)
304 complaints 50.7 per year
7 fire reports 1 fatality
View details

Complaint Breakdown

suspension
86
safety systems
60
engine
51
cooling
41
steering
33

Known Issues

Suspension Issues (86 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (60 complaints)
Engine Issues (51 complaints)
Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

3.8-V6-Gas

3.8L 6-cyl
Recommended (4.7)
2 complaints 2.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
safety systems
1
interior
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)
Interior Issues (1 complaints)

3.5-V6-Gas

3.5L 6-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
cooling
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Cooling System Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

+71 more
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Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Dodge Stratus regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (184 complaints)
engine critical
Suspension Issues (166 complaints)
suspension critical
Cooling System Issues (161 complaints)
cooling critical
Safety Systems Issues (86 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Steering Issues (57 complaints)
steering critical

Recalls (18)

16V401000Mar 5, 2016serious
Air Bags

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.

15V338000Feb 5, 2015serious
Air Bags

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.

10E059000Dec 26, 2010serious
Suspension

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.

09E025000Nov 4, 2009serious
Exterior Lighting

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.

09E056000Sep 9, 2009serious
Suspension

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 AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.

07E023000Mar 28, 2007serious
Service Brakes

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.

04V313000Jun 28, 2004serious
Fuel System

ON CERTAIN 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOLDED.

04V579000Sep 11, 2004serious
Steering

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND CONVERTIBLE MODEL VEHICLES, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE COMPONENT MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

04V532000Feb 10, 2004serious
Seat Belts

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR OUTBOARD RETRACTOR AND TURNING LOOP BOLTS ON THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

03V443000Apr 10, 2003serious
Fuel System

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.

01V011002Jan 15, 2001cosmetic
Powertrain

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ALLOWED THE REINFORCEMENT YARD TO BREACH THE INNER LAYER OF SOME AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOSES WEAKENING THE INNER WALL WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.

01V005002Jul 31, 2001serious
Seats

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.

00V320002Oct 26, 2000cosmetic
Fuel System

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OUTER LAYER ONLY OF THIS 3-LAYER FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE DESIRED OZONE PROTECTION DUE TO A PROCESSING ERROR.

00V278000Sep 17, 2000cosmetic
Structure

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THROUGH DEGRADATION OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE SILENCER PAD AND A SHEET METAL PANEL (QUARTER INNER UPPER), THE PAD MAY FALL ONTO THE MAP LIGHT LOCATED IN THE REAR SEATING AREA NEAR THE C-PILLAR TRIM PANEL (LH AND RH). THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE THE PAD TO MELT, CREATING A HOT SMELL AND/OR SMOKE DURING LONG PERIODS OF ILLUMINATION.

00V306000Dec 9, 2000cosmetic
Air Bags

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SECTIONS WHICH MAY NOT RETAIN THE AIR BAG DOOR DURING AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT EVENT.

00V225002Oct 7, 2000serious
Steering

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.

00V366000Sep 10, 2000serious
Child Seat

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.

00V299002Feb 9, 2000serious
Engine & Cooling

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus problems?

The 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus has accumulated 721 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Suspension, Cooling System. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Dodge Stratus engine is most reliable?

The 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus was offered with 5 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.7L 6-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus a good used car?

The 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 721 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus have?

The 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus has 721 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus?

There are 18 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Dodge Stratus?

Before buying a used Dodge Stratus, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Suspension, Cooling System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the Stratus have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 721 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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