RoadVitals

1998 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.
17
Latest Oct 2, 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.
6%
of 272 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 1998 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 Oct 2, 2016

LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE

NHTSA ID
10911036
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Nov 1, 2015

HAVING ISSUES WITH DASH AND HEADLIGHT DIMMING,ALSO RADIO GOES OFF AND LOOSES MEMORY,DOOR LOCKS WON'T WORK WHEN RADIO GOES OFF. BURNT OUT DEFOGGER RELAY AND POWER AMP FUSE WITH NO POWER AMP, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE HORN RELAY YET TAKING ALL THOSE RELAYS OUT AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. ALREADY CHECKED LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, THAT WAS POPPING AMP FUSE. FIXED THAT STILL HAPPENING. ALSO GOES THROUGH 1 QUART OF OIL A MONTH BUT NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR WHEN MOVED. ?????? HELP!!!!!! THE OIL PROBLEM SHOULD FALL UNDER HAZARDOUS METERIALS ACT IF ALL THESE CARS ARE DUMPING USED OIL ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

NHTSA ID
10787527
Incident
Oct 20, 2015
ElectricalFuel systemSuspension
Filed Aug 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENACE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER DETERMINED BOTH TIMES THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 98V183000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID
10759378
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
5,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID
10692440
Incident
Feb 15, 2015
Mileage
74,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S RELATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE BROKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL 97V201000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR 1997 VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10188137
Incident
Apr 15, 2007
Suspension
Filed Nov 8, 2004

I BEGAIN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED AND THEN, MY HALF-SHAFT FELL OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY HALF SHAFT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THAT STUFF IS NOT CHEAP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10098488
Incident
Jan 8, 2002
Mileage
91,256 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING CORNERS HEARD A POPPING SOUND ON DRIVER SIDE. THIS ACTION OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10061400
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
78,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 1, 2004

SINCE JULY 2003, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. 7/2003-LEFT TIE ROD, 8/2003 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING, 1/2004 RIGHT TIE ROD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056277
Incident
Jul 7, 2003
Mileage
75,628 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 11, 2003

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY UPPER AND LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033639
Incident
Aug 11, 2003
Suspension
Filed Jan 24, 2002

WHEEL HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY FAILED AROUND 62,000 MILES ONLY ON ONE SIDE (PASSANGER). I BELIEVE PART WAS FAULTY AS THEIR IS A TSB 02-07-97 ON THIS PART. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE (BOTH THE DEALER AND THE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED). THEY CLAIM "OUT OF WARRANTY". THE WARRANTY CLAUSE SHOULD NOT MATTER IN THIS CASE AS THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM - IT SHOULD BE A RECALL!!*AK

NHTSA ID
757291
Incident
Sep 15, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jan 9, 2002

WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP ON THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE BUMPS, AND IT LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001850
Incident
Jun 10, 2001
Suspension
Filed Nov 18, 2001

FRONT STABILIZER JOINTS AND BARS HAD TO BE REPLACED, RIGHT FRONT BROKE. FIXED AT DEALERSHIP 11/16/2001. *AK

NHTSA ID
754665
Incident
Nov 12, 2001
Suspension
Filed Feb 11, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
740747
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Dec 26, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
738288
Suspension
Filed Sep 16, 2000

SOMEONE NEEDS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE. THE FRONT END AND STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN UNDER HARD BRAKING. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN AREA THAT REQUIRES ACCURATE HANDLING/BRAKING, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND IS BEING IGNORED BY THE DEALER AND NOW THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM EXIST IN A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN UNDETECTED/MIS-DIAGNOSED OR OTHERWISE NON-REPAIRED. I WELCOME YOUR EXPERT OPINION AND WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID
731671
Incident
Oct 2, 1998
Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 2000

HAVE A SERIOUS VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END DURING HARD BRAKING, MOST NOTICEABLY DURING DOWNHILL BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO VIBRATION THROUGHOUT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL AND FRONT DISK PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NEW TIRES AND FRONT END ALLIGNMENT HAVE NOT IMPROVED THE SITUATION WHATSOEVER. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH VIBRATION THROUGHOUT CABIN.

NHTSA ID
728441
Suspension
Filed Jan 27, 1999

THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE REAR WHEEL COMING OUT OF PLACE. DEALER SAYS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
834045

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 .