RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Stratus Coupe Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 25, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
56%
of 16 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Stratus Coupe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Apr 25, 2016

THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD FROM DRIVER'S SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS FROM THE FRONT WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD TO WHERE IT WRAPS OVER AND CONNECTS TO ENTIRE PANEL FACING THE FRONT SEATS IS WARPING AND PULLING AWAY FROM EVERYTHING IT IS SUPPOSE TO HELP HOLD INTO PLACE. IT IS NOW RISING ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. IF THIS AIR BAG DEPLOYS IT WILL DEFINITELY EITHER THROW THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD OR MASSIVE PIECES OF IT DIRECTLY TOWARD THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER (SINCE THE WARPING HAS DISLODGED IT FROM EVERYTHING) OR IT WILL DEPLOY AND THE WARPED DASHBOARD COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO BE THROWN UP TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD, SUN VISOR SUPPORT & NEW TETHER STRAP WHICH COULD CAUSE EVEN MORE ISSUES. THE WARPING HAS ALSO STARTED TO AFFECT EVERY COVER IT CONNECTS TO ON THE DASH, PULLING & PUSHING THEM LOOSE. THESE ITEMS CAN NOW ALSO BE THROWN THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY VEHICLE 6 MONTHS, THE SUMMER HEAT HAS NOT EVEN ARRIVED. AT THE RATE IT IS WARPING, I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL PROBABLY BE A MINIMUM OF 2 INCHES ABOVE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WITHIN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP US STAY SAFE AND RECALL THESE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. ACCIDENTS ARE BAD ENOUGH, WE NEED TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL INJURIES AND PROBLEMS THAT THESE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO CAUSE.

NHTSA ID
10861272
Incident
Apr 25, 2016
Mileage
119,102 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 21, 2014

SAME DASH WARPING PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS HAVE POSTED. NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FOR A REPLACEMENT THOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627026
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Body & structure
Filed Mar 26, 2012

I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS COUPE IN WHICH THE DASHBOARD IS WARPING AND COMING A LOOSE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN 2008 IN GREAT CONDITION, HOWEVER AFTER OWNING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS THE DASHBOARD STARTED PULLING AWAY FROM THE SPEEDOMETER, THE AIR CONDITION VENTS AND OTHER PLACES ON THE BOARD. JUST RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO SPREAD AND NOW THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT HAS STARTED UNHINGE ITSELF. THIS HAS BECOME VERY UNSETTLING BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAG WHICH IS ONLY A FEW INCHES ABOVE THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLOY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT SEVERAL OWNERS OF CAR ARE FACING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT MENTION, I HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT A WHITE FILM APPEARS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOW ABOVE THE DASH WHICH CAUSES A GLARE AND A IMPAIRMENT WHEN I DRIVE. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY WIPE AND CLEAN THE INSIDE WINDOW WHEN I DRIVE IN ORDER TO SEE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN CONDENSATION BUILDS UP ON THE INSIDE. AND THE CONDENSATION BUILDS UP BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD HAS FLIPPED UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY WIPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS IF I'M A HUMAN WIPER BLADE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453148
Incident
Mar 2, 2009
Body & structure
Filed Aug 14, 2010

I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS COUPE(ENGINEERED BY MITSUBISHI) AND MY CLEAR COAT HAS STARTED TO FADE LEAVING WHITE SPOTS ON THE TOP OF MY CAR RIGHT BEHIND THE SUNROOF. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO FADE ON THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE AS WELL. THIS ISSUE ONLY SEEMS TO BA HAPPENING TO THE CARS MANUFACTURED WITH BLACK PAINT. OTHER CARS I HAVE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM ALSO MANUFACTURED BY MITSUBISHI ARE 1995-2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING COUPE, DODGE AVENGER COUPE, MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, MITSUBISHI GALANT. ALSO, 2001-2005 DODGE STRATUS COUPE, CHRYSLER SEBRING COUPE, MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND GALANT. THE CONDITION WORSENS OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY START TO GO DOWN THE A,B AND C PILLAR AND HOOD OF THE CAR. AGAIN THIS IS ONLY WITH THE BLACK PAINT. THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BLACK PAINT ON THESE CARS AND AS THE OWNER OF ONE I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349339
Incident
Mar 11, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 18, 2009

DASH VINYL IS SEPARATING OR PEELING OFF AT THE DEFROST VENT FROM THE DASH. NO KNOWN WAY TO FIX IT. WILL NEED REPLACED WITH A BETTER DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259236
Incident
Dec 6, 2008
Body & structure
Filed Sep 9, 2008

THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL IS UNSTABLE. NEAR THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST VENTS IT HAS STARTED TO BEND UPWARDS ALONG THE VENTS EDGES. THE PASSENGER VENT, NEXT TO THE AIRBAG, HAS ALSO POPPED OUT A LITTLE DUE TO STRESS FROM THE DASHBOARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241423
Incident
Jul 15, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2008

THE DASH BOARD HAS WARPED AND PIECES ARE FALLING INSIDE THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10230035
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
71,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 13, 2007

I PURCHASED A 2003 STRATUS NEW. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE THE PAINT STARTED FLAKING OFF THE TOP. THE DEALERSHIP REPAINTED THE TOP WITHOUT COMPLAINT. THE SHOP MANAGER SAID THEY HAD ALOT OF THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. 500 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THE ENTIRE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE THE PAINT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE CAR AND AFTER BEING PUT OFF FOR FIVE WEEKS WAS TOLD THE DISTRICT MANAGER SAID TO BAD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS, AND BOTH ADVISED THE PRIMER WAS BAD AND THEY HAD SEEN ALOT OF THE 2003 DODGES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208747
Incident
Apr 2, 2005
Mileage
41,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 30, 2007

I BOUGHT MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS R/T ON JUNE 9, 2006. AFTER HAVING IT ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE DASH PAD STARTED TO COME UNDONE FROM THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192066
Incident
Jun 23, 2006
Mileage
34,000 mi

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

Data on this page last refreshed .