Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Dodge Stratus problems

Owners filed 186 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Dec 2000 and Feb 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (57).

Complaints
186
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling57
  2. Suspension41
  3. Air bags26
  4. Steering26
  5. Electrical system19
  6. Power train19
  7. Vehicle speed control10
  8. Structure9
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  10. Visibility6
  11. Seats4
  12. Tires4
  13. Service brakes3
  14. Equipment3

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
20001
200117
200213
200325
200423
200523
200618
200713
200812
20099
20103
20117
20127
20131
20148
20153
20162
20170
20180
20190
20200
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

57 reports1 fire1 related recall
“VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED AS WE WERE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. SUDDENLY SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE UNDER THE HOOD HITTING THE ENGINE BLOCK WITH A HAMMER. NOW HAVE TO HAVE A RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE INSTALLED ON A CAR WITH ONLY 65K MILES. CANT AFFORD NOT TO, CANT SCRAP THE VEHICLE WITH THIS LOW OF MILES. RIDICULOUS AFTER WHAT ALL I HAVE READ ABOUT THE 2.7L ENGINE SINCE THEN. I PERSONALLY CHANGED OIL WELL UNDER MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS, USING SYNTHETIC MOST OF ITS LIFE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10443441

Suspension

41 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE FRONT STRUT TOWER FRACTURED AND WENT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE IT REMAINED AWAITING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WENT TO C.R. MOTORS OF HUDSON (518 S MERIDIAN RD, HUDSON, MI 49247, (517)306-2561) AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2021SuspensionODI 11395586

Air bags

26 reports4 crashes3 related recalls
“WHILE DRIVING MY DODGE STRATUS SE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN RED, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHILE TURNING, AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2016Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10893756

Steering

26 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2016Steering, Air bagsODI 10854737

Electrical system

19 reports
“CLOCK-SPRING BROKE WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. NOW MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL ON THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDES THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE AIRBAG. IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE DESERVING OF A RECALL THEN WHAT EXACTLY IS? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2014Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10605335

Power train

19 reports1 related recall
“2001 DODGE STRATUS SE HAS ISSUES WITH THE REAR STRUT MOUNT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BLOWER RESISTOR STOPPED WORKING AND TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER THEN STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE COMPONENTS. THE THERMOSTAT BROKE INTO PIECES AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2008Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10238213
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.