TroubleCAR
81
Trouble

1997 Dodge Stratus

Complaints: 349Avg mileage: 96,220 miSince: May 1997
CrashFire23 injured

Problem Areas

Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine
113
Engine: Gasoline
30
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
23
Air Bags:Frontal
18
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
17
Unknown or Other
15
Electrical System
10
Engine and Engine Cooling
10
Wiring: Front Underhood
8

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
100,000 miJan 16, 2004VISALIA, CA
CrashFire1 injured

THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BROADSIDE. THE VEHICLE RAN INTO SOME TREES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. A FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA. *SC *JB

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Nov 8, 1999WEST CREEK, NJ
CrashFire1 injured

UPON BEING STRUCK IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, NEAR THE BATTERY, MY CAR BURSTED INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 200 FEET DESIPITE VARIOUS METHODS OF APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I THEN DEPLOYED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THE POWER CUT OFF AND THE FINALLY DIED.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Aug 18, 1998HARVERY'S LAKE, PA
CrashFire3 injured

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH 3 OTHER VEHICLES, TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH, THE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. MOST DAMAGE DONE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
127,000 miAug 11, 2004HAUGEN, WI
Crash1 injured

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND HIT A DEER ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS $2500.00 IN DAMAGES.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Aug 20, 2003WATERTOWN, TN
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, A BULL WONDERED ONTO THE ROAD AND WAS HIT. UPON IMPACT WITH THE BULL FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES BASED ON DOCTOR'S EVALUATIONS. *AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 5, 2003NEW YORK, NY
Crash1 injured

WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE RACED, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WAS PROPELLED BACKWARDS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE RPM GADGE REGISTERED 8,000. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO PARK,IT HEISITATED THEN THE CAR WAS PROPELLED US FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED FOR ABOUT THIRTY FEET ON OUR DRIVEWAY, UNABLE TO STOP, HAVING THE BRAKES LOCK, THE CAR CRASHED INTO MY OTHER PARKED CAR AND THE PORCH OF MY HOUSE. FINALLY AFTER THE STRATUS PUSHED THE OTHER CAR TEN FEET TOWARDS THE ROAD ,MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS OUT OF THE CAR. MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SLIGHT CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BY THE GRACE OF GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AT MY DAUGHTER SCHOOL FAIR TO WHICH WE WERE ON OUR WAY. CHRYLER WAS NOTIFIED CONCERNING THEIR PRODUCT DEFECT. A GENTLEMEN REPRESENTING THEM HAS INVESTIGATED, WE ARE AWAITING HIS FINDINGS. PLEASE MKE SURE TO CHECK THE THROTTLE SENSOR, YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Feb 3, 2003HAW RIVER, NC
Crash1 injured

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER RECEIVED EXTENSIVE INJURIES. *JG

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 13, 2002HAW RIVER, NC
Crash1 injured

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 2, 2002KANSAS CITY, MO
Crash1 injured

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE IT WILL SURGE FORWARD, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO STOP. SURGING CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BURNING THE DRIVER'S ARMS AND HANDS. DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR A BROKEN NOSE. THE SURGING HAPPENDED TWICE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *TT

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
May 17, 2001PARTLOW, VA
Crash1 injured

THIS IS THE 2D SAME VEHICLE IN TOTAL LOSS CRASHES IN 2 WEEKS WHERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Apr 5, 2000CLOVERDALE, VA
Crash1 injured

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT 5 MILES PER HOUR COLLISION. NO DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR BUT OUR CAR HAD A BLOWN OUT WINDSHIELD, SIDE WINDOW, BLOWN APART DASH AND STEERING COLUM. ONLY DAMAGE TO CAR WAS IN THE INTERIOR. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Nov 16, 1998SPRINGVILLE, UT
Crash1 injured

ON JULY 27 1998 I WAS DRIVING MY DODGE STRATUS SOUTH ON STATE ST IN SPRINGVILLE I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT I CHANGED LANES TO THE RIGHT WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED RIPPING MY HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL I STOPPED THE CAR . MY GIRLFREIND AND HER KIDS WHERE IN THE CAR. AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I STOPPED. MY ARM WAS CUT UP FROM THE COVER ON THE AIRBAG. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. WHERE THEY REMOVED PLASTIC FROM MY FORARM. I CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED IT. I CALLED DOUG SMITH AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPEND THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THEY WHOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARANTY, BUT I HAVE EXSTENDED WARANTY THEY SAID TO HAVE MY AUTO INSURANCE TAKE CARE OF IT. MY AUTO INSURANCE WONT COVER FATORY DEFECTS. I WAS LUCKY I WAS'NT ON THE FREEWAY OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND OTHER MAY HAVE BEEN HURT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS NO ONE ELSE WOULD GIVE ME THERE TIME. THANK YOU.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Aug 5, 1998BURLINGTON, KY
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 60-65MPH, STRATUS REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

AIR BAGS
81,000 miNov 29, 2007MOUNT PLEASANT, MI
Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. SHE NOTICED OIL LEAKING AFTER THE CRASH. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT A NEW HEAD GASKET WAS NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
150,000 miFeb 19, 2004BROOKLYN, IA
Crash

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK *SC

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
Oct 31, 2002BRONSON, MI
Crash

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT LEAVING SKID MARKS. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Jun 6, 2002EL PASO, TX
Crash

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
Apr 23, 2002DOVER, DE
Crash

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR KNUCLE BROKE AND CAUSED RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO TURN UNDER AND FORCE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL INTO A DITCH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
May 8, 2001RAYNE, LA
Crash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Oct 6, 2000HENDERSON, NC
Crash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND REAR SEAT RELEASED FROM THE SEAT TRACKS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Other Stratus Years

Other Dodge Models