Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Stratus Coupe, most frequently naming the body & structure, electrical and fuel system categories. 25 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2003 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 3 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 2007 | 2 | 6 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 7 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 9 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 10 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 12 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 13 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. CAR DOESN'T SIT IN MUCH DIRECT SUNLIGHT. APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES REGARDING AIRBAGS. ALSO NOT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ON OTHERWISE NICE INTERIOR. I DO NOT TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON BUMPY ROADS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS COUPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. A MONTH AGO, WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED, THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PAINS TO THE RIGHT LEG, RIGHT KNEE, AND FOOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SPEAKER IN THE BACK CARGO AREA STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AND STEREO SHORTED OUT. *TR
PLASTIC COVER OVER DRIVER DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS CRACKED AND BROKE OFF CAUSING THE BUTTONS TO DROP INSIDE THE DOOR CAVITY. WENT TO DEALER TO GET REPLACEMENT PART, TOLD I HAD TO ORDER ENTIRE DOOR COVER AS REPLACEMENT FOR APPROX $800. NOW THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH SHUT. ATTEMPTED TO MOVE PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD LOCK ONTO METAL DOOR FRAME, NO LUCK. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR IF DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE STRATUS R/T. THE MAIN PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING IS: STRONG (DANGEROUS) GAS FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN. IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEB 2009. I CAN SMELL THE FUMES ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL IS STRONG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE EVEN WHILE IT IS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING OR HEAT ON BECAUSE IT SUCKS THE GASOLINE FUMES FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE CABIN. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIME AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. ALSO I'VE HAD OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW FIX THE PROBLEMS. I CANNOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE CONCERNS FOR THEIR SAFETY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT (FIRE HAZARD/POISONOUS) AND THAT SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I'M GETTING FREQUENT HEADACHES, WEAKNESS AND DIZZINESS AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR RIGHT NOW. *TR
MY STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN GOT LOCKED TO THE LEFT AND I ALMOST RAN INTO AND OTHER CAR. I WENT TO A REPAIR PLACE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY RACK AND PINION. I JUST GOT BACK FROM A TRIP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS THANK GOD BUT TO GO OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT SCARED ME PRETTY BAD I PARKED THE CAR IT IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
I HAVE 2 LARGE CRACKS IN MY DASH, MY CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND DOES NOT SIT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, ONE CRACK APPEARED OVER A YEAR AGO, I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD CRACKING NOISE, NOW AGAIN THE SAME THING ONLY THE NEWEST CRACK IS MUCH LARGER AND STILL GETTING BIGGER I ALSO HEAR OTHER CRACKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING SO I IMAGINE IT IS JUST MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I HAVE MORE CRACKS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS COVERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO CRACK IN SEVERAL PLACES. THIS RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS IN TERMS OF FRONTAL IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A CRASH THAT WOULD CAUSE CRACKS. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the "AB" NIC level will not program to the vehicle, use the "AC" NIC level part and submit a part warranty.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.
STRUCTURE
Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE
Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.