Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Dodge Stratus problems

Owners filed 298 complaints about the 1999 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Jul 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (68).

Complaints
298
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
61
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling68
  2. Steering53
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic40
  4. Power train39
  5. Electrical system38
  6. Suspension32
  7. Equipment14
  8. Visibility11
  9. Air bags11
  10. Vehicle speed control10
  11. Fuel system, gasoline8
  12. Seat belts8
  13. Service brakes5
  14. Structure5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199913
200015
200140
200232
200330
200440
200533
200622
200737
200811
20095
20101
20114
20120
20132
20143
20156
20160
20170
20181
20190
20202
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

68 reports8 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE PARKED AT A STORE PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE'S HOOD CAUGHT FIRE. THE PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER 200835803237. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE HER INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND FORWARD THEM THE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2008Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10235102

Steering

53 reports1 crash26 fires1 related recall
“I GOT THIS NEXT SITE TO DO AGAIN EMAIL. CLAIM #11301605 AND FOLLOWING UP AS TO YOUR NEXT STEP. 3 RECALLS THE DODGE CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE DONT WANT TO DO OR HELP ME FIX OR CONCLUDE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2020Steering, Power train, Service brakesODI 11302472

Service brakes, hydraulic

40 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“WHEEL BEARINGS WEARING OUT, ABS BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON, BRAKE PADS BEING REPLACED ALOT, WEARING OUT TIRES ON THE FRONT (NEW TIRES) IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS, BRAKE CALIPER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED REPEATEDLY, BALL JOINTS WEARING OUT, UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF FAILURES, LOSS OF USE OF VEHICLE DUE TO THAT FACT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2007Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10209826

Power train

39 reports3 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“I BOUGHT A CAR IN JAN 2020 WHICH HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW/COUPLE YEARS AND I FOUND 3 RECALLS ON IT. 1999 DODGE STRATUS 2.4. I EMAILED U S CUSTOMER CARE/ DODGE CUSTOMER CARE AND GOT MAIL BACK STATING YES ON 3 RECALLS AND A DEALER IN RENO NV TO CALL. I CALLED AND SERVICE AND PARTS DEPT SAID YES ON RECALLS. BRING IT IN TO CHECK AND ADVISE TO FIX. GOT MUTIL MAILS FROM CUSTOMER CARE STATING THEY HAD CAR UNDER LAST OWNER AND I TOLD THEM I WAS NEW OWNER. NEXT MAIL WAS, CLAIM/S ARE CLOSED. I ASKED WHY NOW 3 TIMES AND NO ANSWER EXCEPT A TAKE SURVEY. NO SERVICE OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR OTHER THEN TO FIND OUT THERE WAS 3 RECALLS AND NOW CUSTOMER CARE DOESNT WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS CAR. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW ONE DAY THERE IS AND THE NEXT DAY CLAIM CLOSED. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS I AM A NEW OWNER. ONE RECALL IS FOR A FIX POWER STEERING HOSE SO CAR WONT CATCH FIRE. I AM HAVE GOT NOWHERE WITH ALL MY TRIES TO GET CAR RECALLS FIXED. ACCORDING TO WEB SITES THE 3 RECALLS ARE LISTED AS INCOMPLETE STILL TO DATE. MEANING NOT TAKEN CARE OF TO MY UNDERSTANDING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2020Steering, Power train, Service brakesODI 11301605

Electrical system

38 reports2 crashes21 fires
“While driving the vehicle I came to a stop to make a left hand turn and as I started without warning the vehicle stalled and lost power of steering wheel and brakes I almost hit another car. This wasn't the 1st time car has stalled while driving but the one where is came close to causing an accident”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2021Electrical systemODI 11423869

Suspension

32 reports1 crash1 fire2 related recalls
“I WAS DRIVING AND HEAR A METAL SCRAPING NOISE FROM MY FRONT RIGHT SIDE BY THE WHEEL WHEN I TURNED LEFT.BEFORE I GOT HOME THE NOISE GOT EXTREMELY LOUD AND CONSTANT.I TOOK THE TIRE OFF WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THE BALL JOINT WAS BROKEN AND WAS OUT OF POSITION CAUSE A RUBBING INSIDE MY TIRE RIM.IT LOOKED LIKE THE ARM OF THE BALL JOINT HAD BEEN BURNED THROUGH CAUSING IT TO BREAK.THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ON SOME 1999 DODGE STRATUS' BALL JOINTS BUT WHEN I ENTERED MY VIN# MINE DID NOT COME UP.THEY SHOULDN'T JUST BREAK FROM NORMAL USE.IT WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED DRIVING NORMALLY THEN THE NOISE STARTED AND I FELT KIND OF A POP AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2018SuspensionODI 11062402
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.