Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Dodge Stratus problems

Owners filed 62 complaints about the 2005 Dodge Stratus with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Feb 2022. The most-cited component is suspension (18).

Complaints
62
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension18
  2. Engine and engine cooling14
  3. Steering13
  4. Air bags9
  5. Engine5
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Electrical system5
  8. Wheels5
  9. Power train3
  10. Structure3
  11. Seats2
  12. Seat belts2
  13. Fuel system, gasoline2
  14. Equipment2

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
20041
20052
20063
20071
200811
20094
20104
20115
20121
20134
20144
20158
20163
20175
20182
20191
20201
20211
20221

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

18 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“GOT THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND FROM DAY 1 WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY THE CAR IS ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE THE WHEEL PULLS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BAD SO I HAVE TO PUMP THEM AND THEN IT STILL PULLS AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES 4 TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT WASNT THE DISC AND ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE SHOP TOLD ME THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE CRACKING UP AND SO ITS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AND I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPLACING SOMETHING THAT SHOULDNT BE MESSED UP MY CAR HAS LOW MILES IT STARTED MAKIMG CLUNKING NOISES WHEM GOING OVER A BUMP AND ANY TIME CAR IS MOVING IT IS SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FRPM FRONT OF CAR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2020Steering, Suspension, Service brakesODI 11363494

Engine and engine cooling

14 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE COOLANT AIR BLEEDER VALVE DO TO BEING A DEFECTIVE PART NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OR SIMILAR YEARS, I'M DISABLED AND NEED MY CAR FOR DR. APPOINTMENTS, DON'T WANT TO END UP IN CAR ACCIDENTS DO TO THIS ISSUE PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED OTHER INFO[XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10586257

Steering

13 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TAKATA THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN AS A RECALL ON A DODGE STRATUS AND TRIED TO REPORT IT AND WHOMEVER I BE TALKING TO IS IN DENIAL ABOUT THAT MY CAR IS SHOWING ME THE SIGNS THAT IT'S NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT'S A MALFUNCTION MY BALL JOINT IS BAD BECAUSE OF THE FRONT RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE HAS MESSED IT UP AND MY GAS GAUGE IS MESSED UP WITH THE ALARM AND TEMP CONTROL IS ALSO MESSED UP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2018Steering, Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11093420

Air bags

9 reports8 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE DRIVER HAD A SEIZURE AFTER THE CRASH AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CONTACT'S ACCOUNT OF WHAT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE AFTER BEING TOWED TO A YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH MONTHS AFTER IT HAPPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2018Steering, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11062444

Engine

5 reports
“CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST AND GOT UP TO 70 BEFORE I HAD TO MASH THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND PULL OVER AND FORCE IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY TO STOP THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE IT CONTINUED REV IN PARK AND NEUTRAL WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM PUTTING IT IN DRIVE'”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2015Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10767472

Service brakes

5 reports1 crash
“MY CAR IS PULLING TO RIGHT POPS EVERY TIME YOU MOVE CLICKES IN TURNING EVEN IN THE SLITES TURNING SHOCKS ARE BOTTOMING OUT EVERY TURN CANT GO OVER A SPEED BUMP WITH OUT IT HITTING HARD SCARED TO DRIVE MY KIDS IN IT PLEASE HELP HAPPENDS ALL TIME”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2017Suspension, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11055492
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.