2002 Dodge Stratus Coupe Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Dodge Stratus Coupe, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure428.6%
- Electrical321.4%
- Fuel system214.3%
- Airbags214.3%
- Interior & seats17.1%
- Steering17.1%
- Visibility17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I HAVE TWO LARGE CRACKS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN THE DASH OF MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE CRACKS OCCURRED, THEY JUST APPEARED. BECAUSE OF THE CRACKS, I'M AFRAID THAT IN A CRASH THE DASH WILL FALL APART AND HARM THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEAKER IN THE BACK CARGO AREA STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AND STEREO SHORTED OUT. *TR
MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS COUPE HAS FAULTY STARTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERS TWICE BEFORE. THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHEN IT DIDN'T START, THEN HOURS LATER ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DID. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS, THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH A LARGE EVAPORATION LEAK. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM , KEPT THE CAR FOR 4 DAYS, THEN TOLD ME THE CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN. THIS LAST TIME THE CAR DIED WHEN I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I TRIED TO RESTART IT MANY TIMES WITH NO LUCK, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WHICH AT FIRST THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE PSM CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIX IT WHICH CAUSED A SHORTAGE , THEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS "DEFECTIVE WIRING". THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOW TAKING MY CAR APART AND TRYING TO REPLACE ALL THE FAULTY WIRING. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE, I HAVE SERVICE RECEIPTS SHOWING "WON'T START, DRIVABILITY CONCERN" DATING BACK FROM 6/13/02 , 14 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE NEW VEHICLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 2002 DODGE STRATUS COUPE HAS FAULTY STARTS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERS TWICE BEFORE. THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHEN IT DIDN'T START, THEN HOURS LATER ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DID. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS, THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH A LARGE EVAPORATION LEAK. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM , KEPT THE CAR FOR 4 DAYS, THEN TOLD ME THE CAR STARTED ON ITS OWN. THIS LAST TIME THE CAR DIED WHEN I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I TRIED TO RESTART IT MANY TIMES WITH NO LUCK, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, WHICH AT FIRST THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE PSM CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIX IT WHICH CAUSED A SHORTAGE , THEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS "DEFECTIVE WIRING". THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOW TAKING MY CAR APART AND TRYING TO REPLACE ALL THE FAULTY WIRING. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE, I HAVE SERVICE RECEIPTS SHOWING "WON'T START, DRIVABILITY CONCERN" DATING BACK FROM 6/13/02 , 14 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE NEW VEHICLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .