RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Stratus Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
13
Latest Feb 4, 2015
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.
2%
of 554 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.
1
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 visibility

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

EngineOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Feb 4, 2015

R&R FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING FIX, HUB & BEARING ASSEMBLY TOTAL COST $214.55 CLEAN ENGINE TOTAL COST $83.46 ENGINE OIL LEAK, TRIED OIL STOP LEAK & SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR THE TIME BEING. RADIATOR/ANTIFREEZE LEAK, I'M SPENDING $150 MONTH FOR ANTIFREEZE. PUTTING IN 1-2 BOTTLES A DAY. PROBABLY WILL HAVE RADIATOR FIXED SOON. MUFFLER FELL OFF, CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE. NEEDS NEW SPARK PLUGS, CAN'T AFFORD THAT EITHER. NEEDS MANIFOLD GASKET, CAN'T AFFORD THAT EITHER. NEEDS OIL PAN GASKET, CAN'T AFFORD THAT EITHER. NEEDS NEW WIPERS, CAN'T AFFORD THAT EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10681330
Incident
Dec 4, 2014
Mileage
167,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I PURCHASED MY 1996 DODGE STRATUS IN THE SUMMER OF 1996 AND SO FAR I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE HEAD GASKET REPAIR THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $1600, ONE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $600 AND NOW AGAIN ANOTHER HEAD GASKET LEAK. IN THE YEAR 2000 THIS CAR SAT IN THE GARAGE FOR A TOTAL OF 11 MONTHS DUE TO NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO FIX THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED A SEVERE FINANCIAL AND A MENTALLY FRUSTRATING TIME DURING THOSE MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER SO PLEASE FORWARD ME ANY INFORMATION NEEDED IN GOING FORWARD WITH THIS LAWSUIT.

NHTSA ID
10070551
Incident
Sep 15, 2001
Mileage
58,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+5 more
Filed Dec 29, 2003

2ND REQUEST FAX FWD EMAIL FM BEHALF OF [XXX] (TX) RE NUMEROUS DEFECTS ON A 1996 DODGE STRATUS (VIN#[XXX]). *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, AND POOR DRIVEABILITY. THERE WAS STEERING OSCILLATION WHEN DRIVEN ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE WHEN THERE WAS AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATING IN TRAFFIC AND OR THE A/C WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WARM-UP SAG, HESITATION/DIE OUT, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED, INSIDE LIGHTS WORKED IMPROPERLY, ERRATIC LATE HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENT RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STRUTS. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10052043
Incident
Dec 29, 2003
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+6 more
Filed Sep 16, 2003

LTR FM JOVAN MATHEWS (TX) RE PROBLEMS WITH HIS 1996 DODGE STRATUS AND ASKING DAIMLER CHRYSLER TO INITIATE A RECALL. *MR THE A/C LEAKED, ELECTRIC CIRCUITS MALFUNCTIONED, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, HEAD GASKET, AND POOR DRIVE ABILITY. THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR BELT, ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES, REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS, PCV VALVE, DRYER, A/C COMPRESSOR, TIRES, ALL FILTERS, AND FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WINDSHIELD, STRUTS, SHOCKS, STEERING WHEEL, AND A HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION/VIBRATION ABOVE 50 MPH, ROUGH RIDE ON ROAD WITH IRREGULAR SURFACE, ERRATIC IDLE, PERFORMANCE LOSS, OVERHEATED,WARM UP SAG, HESITATION, REAR GRID DEFOGGER INDICATOR MALFUNCTION, INSIDE LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, LATE/HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, FREQUENCY RUMBLE OR GEAR NOISE FROM THE FRONT BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH, MUSTY ODOR, AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO CLEAR THE GLASS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040045
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Fuel systemSteeringSuspension+2 more
Filed Oct 5, 2000

POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
558284
Visibility
Filed Mar 21, 1999

DEFROSTER LACKS ADEQUATE POWER TO DEFROST REAR WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
704693
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningVisibility
Filed Feb 9, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID
543800
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+6 more
Filed Aug 27, 1998

DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY LOOSE, FIRST REPAIR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
539422
Visibility
Filed Feb 5, 1998

WINDSHIELD DESIGN ILLUMINATES DASHBOARD ONTO GLASS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
529920
Incident
May 1, 1996
BrakesVisibility
Filed Sep 12, 1997

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS (ICING), THE CONSUMER WAS IN COLLISION DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
522001
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Heating & air conditioningVisibility
Filed Sep 8, 1997

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
603832
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Visibility
Filed Apr 29, 1997
Crash reported

DEFROGGER DOES NOT ADEQUATELY DEFROST ALL SIDE WINDOWS, INCLUDING UPPER PORTION OF WINDSHIELD, IMPAIRS DRIVER'S VISION, NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. ACCORDING TO DEALER, NORMAL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
809967
Incident
Jan 15, 1997
Visibility
Filed Feb 18, 1997

POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602554

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 .