Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Dodge Stratus problems

Owners filed 144 complaints about the 2004 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Feb 2004 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (38).

Complaints
144
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension38
  2. Engine and engine cooling22
  3. Electrical system16
  4. Air bags15
  5. Steering13
  6. Vehicle speed control13
  7. Power train12
  8. Structure9
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  10. Wheels7
  11. Fuel system, gasoline7
  12. Fuel/propulsion system4
  13. Engine4
  14. Seat belts4

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
200417
200520
200613
200718
200821
20092
20107
20116
20127
20136
20146
20154
20162
20175
20182
20191
20202
20213
20220
20231
20240
20251

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

Suspension

38 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds and then lost motive power. Additionally, the front passenger's side ball stud separated from the ball joint housing, and the front passenger's side tire was stuck on the fender, preventing the engine from falling onto the ground. The failure almost caused a collision. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. While the vehicle was being placed on the flatbed tow truck, the oil filter fractured and detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2021SuspensionODI 11442006

Engine and engine cooling

22 reports1 crash
“CAR IS DRIVEN ON REGULAR CITY STREETS AND FREEWAYS. ROADS I DRIVE ARE PAVED - NO COUNTRY, DUSTY ROADS AND AREA ISN'T HEAVY IN POLLUTION. I PURCHASE MY GAS FROM SHELL OR CHEVRON AND REFILL AT 1/4 TO 1/3 TANK TO REDUCE CHANCE OF PICKING UP SEDIMENT FROM FUEL TANK. NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY.THAT CAR WOULD DROP IN SPEED FROM 60 MPH TO 20 RATHER QUICKLY AND THEN FORGET ABOUT GOING UP A HILL. I WAS ALSO GETTING 8-10 MPG. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I NOTICED EVEN ON LEVEL CITY STREETS THE LOSS OF POWER. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WITH CALIFORNIA EMISSION REGULATIONS THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR WAS $ 1,600.00. A YEAR LATER, I NOTICED SOME LOSS OF POWER AND INCREASED FUEL CONSUMPTION. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED CAT CONVERTER REPLACED AGAIN AND PAID ANOTHER $ 1,600.00. ALSO WAS DIAGNOSED THAT REAR MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS NORMAL. VERY BOUNCY RIDE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2014Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10592744

Electrical system

16 reports2 crashes
“THE WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND THIS PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING EVEN AFTER IT WAS FIXED, IT WASN'T THE MOTOR, SWITCHES OR ANYTHING ELSE, THE WIRING IS BAD SOMEWHERE AND IT WENT BACK OUT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HOPE THIS IS A RECALL SO SOMETHING CAN GET DONE AND STAY DONE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2014Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10575664

Air bags

15 reports10 crashes1 related recall
“DRIVING ON A 35 MPH ROAD GOING ACROSS THE CROSS ROAD GOT HIT BY A TRUCK DOING ABOUT 70 MPH. HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER TO THE BACK EDGE TRUCK F THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. PUT INTO A SPIN THEN WAS HIT IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND BUMPER. NO AIR BAGS CAME OUT WITH MASSIVE TRAUMA TO BOTH MYSELF AS DRIVER AND MY PASSENGER. POLICE, AMBULANCE AND DOCTORS ASKED WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EXPAND. IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD OF WORKED LESS INJURIES WOULD OF HAPPENED. WE HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS THE ROAD AT LIKE ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN HIT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11140568

Steering

13 reports1 crash
“I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I AM TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LACK OF CONTROL AND LOOSENING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AS I AM DRIVING. ALSO, THE SUSPENSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED NEGATIVELY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2020Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11321000

Vehicle speed control

13 reports5 crashes
“CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREET. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2017Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11011533
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.