Problems · by component
1996 Dodge Stratus electrical system problems
36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Dodge Stratus cite electrical system, 6% of all 564 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
36
6% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, WHICH ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND REMAINED AT THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT COMMAND AT ANYTIME AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE LAST TIME, THE DEALER PLACED A HORN BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 12/05/11”
“NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V021000 CONCERNING FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK. AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. *AK”
“MY MECHANIC STATED THAT MY ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERYWERE, I HAVE TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 4 - 5 DAYS. I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, MY ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER DO NOT FUNCTION AND DISPLAY. MY RADIO DOES NOT WORK, AND NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS AREN'T FUNCTIONING. I CHECKED AND ALL OF MY FUSES ARE FINE. I CAN'T AFFORD THE ENGINE REPAIRS FOR THE OIL. I HAVE TO GET THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FIXED. CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS.*AK”
“INTERMITTENTLY WHEN VEHICLE STARTED ODOMETER AND THE RPM READER DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE SOLDERED CONNECTIONS BEHIND THE MECHANISMS NEEDED TO BE REDONE. *AK”
“2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB *TR”
Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.