Problems · by component
1999 Dodge Stratus engine and engine cooling problems
68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Dodge Stratus cite engine and engine cooling, 23% of all 298 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
68
23% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE TURNING ONTO BUSY INTERSECTION MY 1999 INTREPID ES 2.7 STOPPED. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED REWIRING BUT THEN SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE THEM DISMANTLE MY ENGINE AND RETURN IT TO ME WITHOUT PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER SWEARING THAT EVEN IF THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER IT WON'T START. SO NOW 3 MONTHS AFTER PAYING MY CAR OFF. IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE. NO WARNING SIGNS, IT JUST STOPPED AND WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. IT SEEMS TO ME THE DEALERSHIP DESTROYED MY ENGINE. REMOVED ALL TIMING BELTS AND EVEN BENT THE PLATE OF THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF CAREFULLY REMOVING BOLTS. I HAVE 5 KIDS AND NO CAR. NOW AM FORCED TO PURCHASE AGAIN. *TR”
“99 DODGE DURANGO 4X4, THE TRUCK STALLS WITH NO WARNING. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT GOES DOWN TO 0. IF THE TRUCK IS RESTARTED IT'S FINE, THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, MAYBE A DAY LATER, MAYBE A MONTH LATER, MAYBE 6 MONTHS LATER. IT'S VERY INTERMITTENT. *TR”
“IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE DODGE DURANGO WE HAVE IT STALLS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. ONCE THE TRUCK STALLS, THE STEERING GOES OUT AND SO DO THE BRAKES. IF WE GET OUT AND WIGGLE THE PLUG THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE FIRE WALL "SOMETIMES" THE TRUCK WILL START. HOWEVER, WE HAVE SAT AND SAT WAITING FOR THE TRUCK TO COOL DOWN ENOUGH FOR IT TO START AGAIN. WE HAVE EVEN HAD TO BE TOWED A FEW TIMES BEFORE WE KNEW THAT WE COULD WIGGLE THE PLUG, WHICH IS VERY VERY HOT. TODAY, AFTER MISSING A JOB INTERVIEW BECAUSE THE TRUCK ONCE AGAIN STALLED, WE STARTED LOOKING UP ON GOOGLE TO SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE AND HAPPENED TO FIND A WONDERFUL WEB SITE"AUTOBEEF". AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE TO GET A NEW COMPUTER FOR THE TRUCK, WHICH RANGES $1000.......!!!!!! *TR”
“I BOUGHT A USED 1999 DURANGO IN 2004 WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER REACHING 51,000 MILES THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND TOOK SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENTS WITH IT COSTING $900 IN REPAIRS. NOW AT 67,000 MILES, I NEED TO REPLACE TIRES AGAIN AND REPLACE BALL JOINTS FOR ANOTHER $800. NO CRASHES OR INJURIES, JUST FRUSTRATION AT A POORLY BUILT PRODUCT WHICH NO ONE SEEMS WILLING TO STAND BEHIND. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD , AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAUSED THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION. THIS FAILURE PREVENTED HER FROM DETERMINING HOW FAST SHE WAS DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE BEGAN WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN HOT. SHE WILL COLLECT THE WORK REPORTS AND RECEIPTS FROM THE DEALER REGARDING THE OTHER FAILURES THAT OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 105,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.*AK”
Showing 6 of 68 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.