RoadVitals

1997 Dodge Stratus Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
19
Latest Sep 21, 2004
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.
5%
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.
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 19 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 suspension

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

Suspension
Filed Sep 21, 2004

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING LEFT CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO DO THE REPAIRS AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10094000
Incident
Sep 14, 2004
Mileage
66,622 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 19, 2003

WHEN TURNING THE TIRES MAKE A NOISE DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051852
Suspension
Filed Nov 25, 2003

THE DEALERSHIP IS PROVIDING INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM 97 V 201 000. THE DEALERSHIP IS INDICATING THAT IF THEY REPAIR THE CONTROL ARM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, IT WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE SWAY BAR. THERE ALSO SOME DISCREPANCY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE VIN IS PART WITHIN THE REMEDY SCOPE. *PH THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10039832
Mileage
123,960 mi
Suspension
Filed May 20, 2003

AFTER THE RECALL REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED, IT THEN FAILED. RECALL # 97 V 201 000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020226
Incident
May 20, 2003
Suspension
Filed Sep 12, 2001

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION, HOWEVER UPON LEAVING DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE MANAGER THAT PART WAS UNDER RECALL(#750) THE SERVICE MANAGE ADVISED CONSUMER TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM CHRYSLER, CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS KNOW TO BE DEFECTIVE AND TO SEND IN ALL DOCUMENTATION, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT HE HAD NOT MET THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF THE RECALL, CONSUMER STATES HE COMPLIED THE WITH CONTROL ARMS INSPECTION PER RECALL ON DEC 15, 1998 BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID
563031
Incident
May 3, 2001
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 23, 2001

BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY RECALL #750. THE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER AND PAID FOR BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $633.00 COST AND THE $49.95 PLUS 8% SALES TAX WITH NO LUCK. REQUEST WAS DENIED FOR THE REASON THAT "ALTHOUGH THE RECALLED PARTS FAILED THEY DIDN'T FAIL FOR THE RECALL REASON." CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOT GIVEN THE OLD PARTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. *AK DAIMLER CHRYSLER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT STATING THAT THIS CASE FELL INTO GENERAL MAINTENANCE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
750975
Incident
May 3, 2001
EngineSuspension
Filed Jul 31, 2001

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 60,000 MILES. BALL JOINT REPLACED./ REAR OIL SEAL REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
749513
Incident
Jul 30, 2001
ElectricalEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed May 5, 2001

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWICE RESULTING IN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE. NLM

NHTSA ID
785414
Incident
Dec 15, 2000
Suspension
Filed Mar 9, 2001

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE UNDER HOOD, CONSUMER AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
882646
Incident
Jan 5, 2001
Suspension
Filed Sep 6, 2000

REPLACED ONCE DUE TO RECALL. MAKING SAME NOISE WHEN ORIGINAL FAILURE OCCURRED. WORRIED FAILURE WILL OCCUR AGAIN DUE TO NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
730454
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
BrakesSuspension
Filed Apr 27, 2000

BALL JOINTS WENT OUT AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
861039
Incident
Feb 27, 2000
EngineSuspension
Filed Mar 1, 2000

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ONGOING BODY IDLE VIBRATION

NHTSA ID
719530
Incident
Feb 23, 2000
Suspension
Filed Oct 4, 1999

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE VIBRATES. VIBRATION GET WORSE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BEING USED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM 6 TIMES. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON. *AK

NHTSA ID
849814
Incident
Apr 15, 1998
Suspension
Filed Aug 16, 1999

VEHICLE IS MAKING LOUD HUMMING OR ROTATIONAL NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER THE FASTER THE CAR IS GOING AND IT ALSO GETS VERY LOUD AND CHANGES TONE WHEN YOU ARE GOING AROUND A CURVE.

NHTSA ID
710034
Suspension
Filed Dec 2, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE; WHENEVER CONSUMER MAKES A TURN OR ROLLS OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED /REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
831645
Incident
Jul 15, 1998
Suspension
Filed Nov 30, 1998

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH HAS REOCCURRED. RECALL NUMBER 97V210000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
831420
Suspension
Filed Oct 29, 1998

DEALERSHIP HAS NO PARTS FOR LOWER CONTROL ARM AFTER BEING NOTIFIED BY OWNER OF RECALL 97V201000. *AK

NHTSA ID
829739
Incident
Oct 22, 1998
Suspension
Filed Apr 1, 1998

DEALERSHIP FAILED TO COMPLY WITH RECALL REPAIR NOTICE OF THE BALL JOINTS.

NHTSA ID
533483
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 1998

RECALL WORK ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DENIED TO CONSUMER FROM DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
531927

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 .