Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Dodge Stratus problems
Owners filed 91 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and Jun 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (17).
Complaints
91
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags17
- Suspension16
- Structure15
- Electrical system12
- Vehicle speed control8
- Steering7
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Power train6
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Equipment5
- Engine4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Visibility3
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
11
8
11
7
10
10
4
6
1
1
2
3
4
8
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 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
Air bags
17 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“When replacing the Clock Spring I noticed the Airbag serial number matched numbers from other vehicles for recall but my vehicle was not listed in recall.Vin number [XXX] 2003 Dodge Stratus Sedan”
Suspension
16 reports2 related recalls
“Car was owned by school govement it has been worked on several times for bad suspension.and documented.ball joint bad suspension front and back.back dating 2 or 3 years.no accidents just bad suspension”
Structure
15 reports
“THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FROM DRIVER'S SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS FROM THE FRONT WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD TO WHERE IT WRAPS OVER AND CONNECTS TO ENTIRE PANEL FACING THE FRONT SEATS IS WARPING AND PULLING AWAY FROM EVERYTHING IT IS SUPPOSE TO HELP HOLD INTO PLACE. IT IS NOW RISING ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. IF THIS AIR BAG DEPLOYS IT WILL DEFINITELY EITHER THROW THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD OR MASSIVE PIECES OF IT DIRECTLY TOWARD THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER (SINCE THE WARPING HAS DISLODGED IT FROM EVERYTHING) OR IT WILL DEPLOY AND THE WARPED DASHBOARD COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO BE THROWN UP TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD, SUN VISOR SUPPORT & NEW TETHER STRAP WHICH COULD CAUSE EVEN MORE ISSUES. THE WARPING HAS ALSO STARTED TO AFFECT EVERY COVER IT CONNECTS TO ON THE DASH, PULLING & PUSHING THEM LOOSE. THESE ITEMS CAN NOW ALSO BE THROWN THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY VEHICLE 6 MONTHS, THE SUMMER HEAT HAS NOT EVEN ARRIVED. AT THE RATE IT IS WARPING, I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL PROBABLY BE A MINIMUM OF 2 INCHES ABOVE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP US STAY SAFE AND RECALL THESE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY…”
Electrical system
12 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN HAD NO FUNCTIONALITY AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
Vehicle speed control
8 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AND I HEARD A KIND OF SNAP AND THEN I FELT AND HEARD A GRINDING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHENEVER I HAD TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS THIS NOISE LIST A SPRING WAS CAUGHT AND ALMOST WOULD GET CAUGHT AND I WOULD HAVE TO QUICKLY JERK THE STEERING WHEEL SO IT WOULDN'T GET STUCK AND KEEP ME FROM TURNING. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, SO IT WON,T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND I LOST FUNCTION OF MY SPEED CONTROL. I WAS TOLD THIS IS MY CLOCKSPRING. THIS FAULTY CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALLED IN MANY DODGE VEHICLES BUT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED IN MY VEHICLE. SEE SAFETY RECALL NO. B24 (11/01/2002) FOR 1998 DODGE VEHICLES BUT DODGE CONTINUED TO USE THESE FAULTY CLOCKSPRINGS THAT IN FACT SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR”
Steering
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HEARD A NOISE IN THE TIRE AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE. ALSO, THE FRONT AND REAR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS WERE WORN OUT, AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT INNER, AND OUTER TIRE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 92,000. *AK”
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.