Research · complaint index
Dodge Stratus years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 10 model years of the Dodge Stratus by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 1996 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 62 | 3 | 0.3 | 6 | 14 | Fewest complaints |
| 2004 | 144 | 6 | 0.7 | 7 | 24 | Typical |
| 2003 | 91 | 4 | 0.4 | 6 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 2002 | 174 | 7 | 0.8 | 6 | 14 | Typical |
| 2001 | 186 | 7 | 0.8 | 14 | 8 | Typical |
| 2000 | 240 | 9 | 1.0 | 9 | 16 | Typical |
| 1999 | 298 | 11 | 1.2 | 7 | 25 | Typical |
| 1998 | 284 | 10 | 1.1 | 7 | 26 | Typical |
| 1997 | 355 | 12 | 1.3 | 7 | 29 | Typical |
| 1996 | 564 | 18 | 2.0 | 11 | 37 | Most complaints |
- 200562 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 2004144 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 200391 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
- 2002174 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2001186 complaints · 14 recallsTypical
- 2000240 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 1999298 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 1998284 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 1997355 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 1996564 complaints · 11 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 8, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2005, 2003.
About this comparison
What Dodge Stratus years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 1996 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 10 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.