Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts 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 Aug 28, 2008
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.
3%
of 349 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge Stratus 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 seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Seat belts
Filed Aug 28, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. HE ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PARTS AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS AND NOTICED THAT EVERY VEHICLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD THE SAME FAILED COMPONENT. AS OF AUGUST 28, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
NHTSA ID
10240043
Incident
Aug 21, 2008
Mileage
150,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 9, 2003
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WHICH WAS RARELY USED, HAD DETACHED FROM SEAT. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT IT LOOKED AS IF IT WERE CUT. NLM SCC
NHTSA ID
10002452
Incident
Jan 28, 2003
Mileage
80,183 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 11, 2001
I HAVE AN EVENFLO MEDALLION V CONVERTABLE CAR SEAT, MODEL# 254191P2, MANUFACTURED 1/25/00. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS A PLASTIC HARNESS TIE THAT GOES ACROSS THE CHEST THAT THE SHOULDAR STRAPS SLIDE INTO. MY SON CAN VERY EASILY SLIDE IT OFF AND GET OUT OF THE STRAPS. I HAVE CALLED EVENFLO 9/11/01 AND SPOKE TO JENNY REQUESTING THEY SEND ME SOMETHING THAT SNAPS TOGETHER TO REPLACE IT. SHE TOLD ME THEY DO NOT MAKE ONE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR TOP OF THE LINE MODEL, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE)BUT SHE CAN SEND ME A NEW PLASTIC CLIP SO IT WILL TAKE HIM LONGER TO GET IT OFF. I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, THEY MAKE THEM FOR SOME MODELS, BUT NOT ALL. I PAID OVER $100.00 FOR THIS SEAT AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT WILL NOT PROTECT MY SON IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THIS COMPANY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ALL OF THEIR CONSUMERS, ONLY THOSE THAT BUY PARTICULAR MODELS. I AM ASKING YOU TO FIND OUT WHY!!! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL, WRITE OR E-MAIL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
NHTSA ID
752064
EngineSeat belts
Filed Dec 14, 2000
'HEAD GASKET' - WE BOUGHT A NEW 1997 DODGE STRATUS IN MARCH OF 1997. AT 20,718 MILES THE HEAD GASKET FAILED BADLY. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET IT FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY) WHILE THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS FINE UNTIL 72,000 MILES - AT THAT POINT IT FAILED AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND THE PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. 'HEADRESTS' - ON OUR 1997 DODGE STRATUS THE ADJUSTABLE HEADRESTS HAVE BROKEN - THE PADDED HEADREST BREAKS FREE FROM THE METAL POSTS HOLDING IT TO THE CHAIR. WE HAD THE PASSENGER HEADREST REPLACED - IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY BREAK FROM THE PRESSURE OF ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME - THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY.
NHTSA ID
737787
Incident
Jan 8, 1998
EngineSeat belts
Filed Sep 8, 1999
REAR SEAT BELT. ENGINE--CYLINDER HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA ID
609741
Incident
May 23, 1998
Body & structureElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Feb 16, 1999
THE MOVING STEERING SHAFT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS EXPOSED. A CLAMP ON THE STEERING SHAFT CAUGHT THE FLOOR MAT AND MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ALL STRATUS ARE MADE THIS WAY. THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS A SHIELD. IF CHRYSLER DOESN'T FIX THIS, I MAY SELL THE CAR. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING TIMING BELTS/IGINITION KEY/ HEAD RESTS/BODY, ELECTRIC MIRRORS,ETC.. THIS MAY BE THE LAST STRAW. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE WORKED ON CARS SINCE GRADE SCHOOL. A DESIGN FLAW LIKE THIS BORDERS ON CRIMINAL!!! IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN, I WOULD BE GLAD TO TESTIFY. IT WOULD BE AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE IF POSSIBLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
703376
Incident
Feb 5, 1999
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 18, 1998
Crash reportedFire reported3 injuries reported
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH 3 OTHER VEHICLES, TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH, THE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. MOST DAMAGE DONE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
826914
Incident
Aug 8, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Apr 21, 1998
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DESIGN IS TOO SHORT CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN LATCHING.
NHTSA ID
534424
Seat belts
Filed Nov 28, 1997
SEAT BELT HAS A MISSING PART, CAUSING BELT TO TWIST.
NHTSA ID
525501
Incident
Jul 10, 1997
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