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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling57
- Suspension41
- Air bags26
- Steering26
- Electrical system19
- Power train19
- Vehicle speed control10
- Structure9
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Visibility6
- Seats4
- Tires4
- Service brakes3
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
17
13
25
23
23
18
13
12
9
3
7
7
1
8
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 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
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”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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.