RoadVitals

1995 Dodge Stratus Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
24
Latest Oct 23, 2007
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.
8%
of 318 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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 steering

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

Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2007

DODGE HAS RECALLED 1999-2000 STRATUS BECAUSE POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING ON BACK OF ENGINE IN 2.4 LITER CARS. FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE A 1995 SAME MOTOR SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HASN'T BEEN RECALLED ITS NOT DODGE'S PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10206682
Incident
Oct 11, 2007
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 2006
Fire reported

TOOK MY CAR TO GET THE POWER STEERING FIXED AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE CAR'S ENGINE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE. I RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPAIR ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS, HOSES, HOOD, AND PAINT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. *JB

NHTSA ID
10176089
Incident
May 8, 2005
Mileage
113,642 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 17, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER HOOD AREA. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V001000, REGARDING THE STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10165781
Incident
Jul 30, 2006
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedSteering+1 more
Filed Aug 14, 2005

NUMEROUS FAILURES-SINCE I BOUGHT THIS "95 DODGE STRATUS WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES. 1) ENGINE MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE-I TOOK CAR TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP-BUCHANAN & YOUNG IN BURNSVILLE, NC AND HAD A NEW HEAD GASKET PUT ON. 2) I REPLACED THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I ALSO REPLACED THE BATTERY CABLES, SO THE CAR WOULD START, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE STARTER TO TRY TO GET THE CAR TO START. I STILL OFTEN HAVE TO GET OUT AND PECK ON THE STARTER WITH A SCREWDRIVER TO GET IT TO START---EVEN AFTER I HAD A NEW STARTER PUT ON. DATE: 8-10-05 3) WHEEL BROKE OFF/CAR NOT DRIVABLE-PARTS TO FIX PROBLEM & MECHANIC'S BILL 4) HAD TO REPLACE FLYWHEEL 5) HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COMPONENTS I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2,000 TO GET THIS CAR WITH VERY LOW MILES ON IT TO START. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132764
Incident
Aug 10, 2005
Mileage
31,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Aug 9, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED COMPUTER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ID
567054
Steering
Filed Oct 3, 2001

FIRST INCIDENT INVOLVED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON A RIGHT TURN. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD. SECOND INCIDENT WAS AGAIN A RIGHT HAND TURN IN AN INTERSECTION, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND THOUGH I WAS TURNING RIGHT THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BRAKED HARD, LUCKY CAR BEHIND ME SWERVED. THERE IS STEERING RELATED SAFETY RECALL ON 95 STRATUS, BUT DEALER SAYS MY CAR IS NOT COVERED AND WANTS ME TO PAY OVER 600 $ FOR REPAIRS. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE IS RUDE AND CALLOUS, REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE STEERING FAILURE AS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
752874
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
SteeringTransmission
Filed Jul 9, 2001

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY RIGHT TIE ROD BROKE. CONSUMER REPAIRED IT HIMSELF.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE, ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
892212
Incident
Jun 8, 2001
Steering
Filed Mar 6, 2001

DODGE HAS SEVERAL ITEMS WRONG WITH THERE FRONT ENDS.NEVER TELLING THE PUBLIC.MY DODGE HAS STEERING NOISE FROM DAY ONE.DODGE HAS 29 ITEMS IN THERE SYS.19 COMPUTOR ,IHAVE THE TOP 5 ITEMS WRONG WITH MY DODGE.NO DEALER AROUND ME HAVE EVER REPLACED A RETURN LINE FROM THE STEERING COOLER,THIS LINE HAS VERY LITTLE PSI. IN IT.WHEN THE SAID LINE LETS GO YOU LOSE ALL STEERING FLUID AND STEERING.DODGE WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS MATTER I MUST DO THIS REPAIR MY SELF,ABOUT 8HRS. LABOR AND $17.00 IN PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
742008
Incident
Mar 3, 2001
Steering
Filed Jan 29, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING POOR STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
879179
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 11, 2000

FALSE DASH SIGNALS DISPLAYED THAT BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OUT OF ORDER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
554496
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Mar 2, 2000

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS CONTINUALLY, SEVERAL COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS (EXCESSIVE PREMATURE WEAR). *MJS

NHTSA ID
551190
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Steering
Filed Dec 29, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS CAR HAS GONE OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
716599
Incident
Dec 28, 1999
Steering
Filed Jul 12, 1999

PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED . WHEELS "CROSSEYED" AS ENTERING M24 IN OXFORD MI. TOWED TO MOTO-MEDIC AUTO IN LAKE ORION MI WHERE NEW MOPAR TIE ROD WAS INSTALLED. NEXT DAY TOOK CAR TO VICTOR GEORGE CHRYSLERIN GRAND BLANC MI FOR INSPECTION OF OPPOSITE

NHTSA ID
708523
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Jun 11, 1999

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55-65MPH, APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS OF DRIVING FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND BACK TO POINT A, STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRIDGE PORT AUTO, AND HAD BOTH BROKEN TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. TIE RODS WERE FACTORY PACKAGED, AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GREASE THEM. TIRES WERE ALSO RUINED DUE TO TIE ROD END BREAKAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
839440
Incident
Jun 3, 1999
Heating & air conditioningInterior & seatsSteering+2 more
Filed May 6, 1999

WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION. WHEN WE FINALLY REALIZED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WARRANTEE WAS OVER. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A CAR FROM SATURN AGAIN, NEW OR USED.

NHTSA ID
706291
Incident
Jan 10, 1999
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+8 more
Filed Feb 14, 1999

RADIO STATIC.

NHTSA ID
530524
Incident
Jul 17, 1997
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 10, 1998

BECAUSE OF A BAD CONTROL MODULE THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO SECOND WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. ON THE HIGHWAY THIS CAUSED ENGINE TO JERK, AND THE RPM GO REVVING. ALSO CAUSED LOSS POWER STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832109
BrakesFuel systemSteering
Filed Feb 11, 1998

BRAKE PADS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
530961
Incident
Oct 15, 1997
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 1998

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING NOISE TO EMIT FROM STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID
528210
Incident
Nov 21, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+3 more
Filed Aug 30, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
522818
ElectricalEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jan 30, 1997

LOOSE BOLT IN TRANSMISSION CAUSED AN OIL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
514344
Incident
Dec 11, 1996
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Dec 17, 1996

ALTERNATOR BELT NOISE.

NHTSA ID
512988
Incident
Dec 2, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 7, 1996

SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, RESULTING IN STALLING OUT WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. TT

NHTSA ID
978829
Incident
Feb 5, 1996
Steering
Filed Nov 2, 1995

POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. TT VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE.*JB

NHTSA ID
974462
Incident
Oct 27, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .