Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Dodge Stratus problems
Owners filed 240 complaints about the 2000 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Feb 2018. The most-cited component is steering (68).
Complaints
240
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
64
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering68
- Electrical system31
- Engine and engine cooling30
- Service brakes, hydraulic29
- Power train22
- Fuel system, gasoline19
- Suspension18
- Visibility12
- Equipment10
- Air bags10
- Seat belts7
- Structure6
- Service brakes, air4
- Latches/locks/linkages4
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
13
18
13
25
20
31
37
44
10
1
10
5
3
5
0
1
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 37 |
| 2007 | 44 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Steering
68 reports2 crashes34 fires1 related recall
“TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING PROBLEM SUBSIDES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DEFECT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000. JFT. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: JAN 05, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V001000 COMPONENT(S): STEERING”
Electrical system
31 reports18 fires
“MY DODGE STRATUS STARTED BLOWING HORN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING. EVERYTIME I TURN THE WHEEL THE HORN BLOWS. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THE LIGHT CAME IN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OFF. THEN LOCKS START GOING UP AND DOWN AND DOOR MAKE BEEP AS IF A DOOR HIS OPEN. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSES TO STOP HORN FROM BLOWING, CUT INSIDE LIGHTS OFF AND STOP LOCKS FROM GOING UP AND DOWN. THE CAR STILL MAKES BEEP NOISE AS IF DOOR OPEN WHOLE TIME DRIVING AND STOPS AND START BACK WHEN I HIT A BUMP. MY FRONT WHEEL MAKING A NOISE AS IF THE WHEEL IS GOING TO BREAK OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS ALSO DRINKING GAS AS IF IT IS LEAKING. I DONT SEE ANY GAS ON THE GROUND BUT I CAN SMELL FUMES OFF AND ONE AND SOMETIMES UNDER THE HOOD. IT IS LIKE I AM LOSING GAS PRESSURE BECAUSE CAR STALLS AND I AM LOSING GAS SOMEWHERE. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
30 reports1 crash9 fires
“MY SON DROVE MY CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND PARKED IT AT A RESTAURANT. HE WAS INFORMED WITHIN MINUTES THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPT. EXTINQUISHED AN ENGINE COMPATMENT FIRE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. HAPPENED IN AKRON OHIO APPROX. NOV. 2011. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
29 reports4 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“CAR JUST SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE WHILE I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. AFTER BEING TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM FOR AWHILE, NOW THE CAR IS MAKING NOISE. FOR YEARS PRIOR TO THIS THE CAR DOES NOT STOP OCCASIONALLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TR”
Power train
22 reports2 crashes
“STARTING MARCH I HAD PROBLEMS WITH TURNING THE WHEEL AND I TOOK CAR TO GET OIL AND ASK MECHANIC TO CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID. IM TOLD IT IS FULL AND THAT THEY DO NOT WHY I HAVE TURN THE WHEEL AS IF I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. EACH MONTH I GET SOMEONE CHECK POWER STEERING AND TOLD IT IS FULL. I HAVE TO TURN THEE OPPOSITE WAY WHEN GETTING OUT OF A PARK. SOMETIMES I BACK IN PARK IN ORDER TO GET OUT. THEN I START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAR MAKING NOISE AND CAR SOUND WHEEL GOING TO BREAK. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS..I HAVE NO HORN,INSIDE LIGHTS, AIR AND RADIO DUE TO I TOOK FUSE OUT BECAUSE HORN BLOWING, LIGHTS AND LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
19 reports3 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE STRATUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
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.