RoadVitals

2001 Dodge Stratus Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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 Dec 19, 2014
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 186 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.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 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 body or structure

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

Body & structureBrakesSteering
Filed Dec 19, 2014

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW WITH LITTLE PROBLEMS. HAD A FEW OIL CHANGES AND SOME BRAKE WORK DONE TO IT. BUT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE CHANGED ALL THE CALIPERS IN THIS CAR 2 TO 3 TIMES THE BREAK PADS MANY TIMES THE BALL JOINTS THE ROADERS THE SWING ARM AND THE CLUSTER DASH. THIS WAS A GREAT CAR TILL IT STOPPED GOING OVER 30 WITHOUT A TERRIBLE SHAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667226
Incident
Aug 8, 2014
Mileage
217,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 31, 2012
2 injuries reported

TRUNK DOOR DESIGN HAS A DEFECT THAT WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK DOOR TO SLAM DOWN WITH EXCESSIVE AND UNIMPEDED FORCE WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL DO SO ON ITS OWN, EVEN IN CALM WINDS. MULTIPLE INCIDENT HAVE OCCURRED WHERE THE TRUNK DOOR HAS SLAMMED DOWN WHILE THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER WAS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK TO RETRIEVE ARTICLES FROM THE TRUNK. CURRENTLY THE ONLY WAY TO SAFELY USE THE TRUNK IS TO HAVE A SECOND PERSON HOLD THE TRUNK DOOR WHILE THE FIRST PERSON PLACES OR RETRIEVES ARTICLES FROM THE TRUNK. INJURIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WERE MOMENTARY BACK PAIN AND ON ONE OCCASION A CONCUSSION (WHEN THE TRUNK DOOR HIT THE VEHICLE OWNER IN THE HEAD). NONE OF THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. PROBLEM GETS WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE (PARTICULARLY IF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IS FACING DOWNHILL), EVEN IF THE INCLINE IS SLIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10468522
Incident
Oct 26, 2011
Mileage
87,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2010

I LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO WINDOWS IN THE CARS. I WAS IN CLOSE CALL ACCIDENT AND I, WITNESS ANOTHER INCIDENT IN MINER DAMAGES TO CAR. I WAS CROSSING INTERSECTION AT SHARP ANGLE AND DID NOT SEE CAR CROSSING IT AT HI SPEED, NEAR MISS. I WITNESS INTERSECTION WHERE CAR MERGING IN TO TRAFFIC, FORCE VEHICLE OF THE ROAD TO SIDE, DAMAGING RIMS ON THE CAR OVER THE CURB SIDE WALK. SIMPLY EGG DESIGN CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE!!!! IT IS WORST THEN DISTRACTIVE DRIVING IS BLIND DRIVING ALL THE TIME. I RECOMMEND 80'S. AS A COMPARISON AND INSPIRATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10363641
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 9, 2006

DROVE THE VEHICLE THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE WERE NO SIGNS, WARNINGS OF ANYTHING WRONG. WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE NEXT AFTERNOON AND UPON START UP VEHICLE WAS MAKING A RATTLING, CLICKING NOISE, TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. HAD CAR TOWED, WAS TOLD OIL WAS SLUDGY , ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE, AT A COST OF MINIMUM END OF $5700. MECHANIC STATED HE HAD TWO MORE VEHICLES OF EXACT YEAR, MAKE, MODEL AND 2.7L ENGINE ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. HE STATED FURTHER, HE WAS SORRY, BUT WOULD HAVE TO DECLINE HIS SERVICE TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE ENGINE AS HE WAS ALREADY FED UP WITH DEALING WITH MANUFACTURER WITH THE OTHER TWO VEHICLES. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS CLAIMING OWNER FAULT, OF NOT MAINTAINING 3000 MILE OIL CHANGES, EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THE OWNERS HAD EVERY RECEIPT PROVING OTHERWISE. HERE I SIT WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW, HAVE NO FINANCIAL MEANS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS VEHICLE AS I BECAME DISABLED IN APRIL OF 2005 AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED BUDGET. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY MAJOR EXPENSE OR PROBLEMS AND IT WOULD LAST ME 15-20 YRS, NOT 5. I ALSO DIDN'T EXPECT TO PAY OVER $20,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT WOULD ONLY LAST 70,000 MILES. THIS WASN'T THE ONLY ITEMS I HAD TO HAVE FIXED, IN 2003 I HAD TO HAVE THE FAN FIXED FOR THE AC/HEATING AS IT ONLY WORKED ON ONE SPEED, THANK GOODNESS IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. WHICH I NEVER DID RECEIVE ANY RECALL LETTER OR ANY NOTIFICATION OF THIS PROBLEM. IN 2005 THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AND HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE GET WATER IN WHEN IT RAINS, HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO DEALER, THEY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT AND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS THE FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED AND WAS SO PROUD OF IT, TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF IT AND NOW I FEEL AND LOOK LIKE A COMPLETE FOOL, AS THE MANUFACTURER IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, PLUS HAS A VEHICLE THAT RUNS! THEIR OLD SLOGAN DODGE TUFF, THE NEW IS YOUR DODGE DOESN'T RUN, THAT'S TOUGH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10170261
Incident
Sep 13, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 2005

1. NO WARNING 2. VEHICLE HAS A LEAK WHICH CAUSES WATER(FROM RAIN OR SNOW) TO LEAK ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. I HAVE VACUUMED OUT AS MUCH AS 5 GALLONS OF WATER AT A TIME. I HAVE LOOKED VERY CAREFULLY AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE LEAK PATH. 3. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN FOUND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10110406
Incident
Feb 11, 2005
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Jan 16, 2004

DODGE STRATUS ENGINE DIE OUT DUE TO CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR THAT CAME IN CONTACT W/ A PROTECTIVE SHIELD, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED A GROUTED CIRCUIT. THEREBY CAUSING MY ENGINE TO DIE OUT. MY VEHICLE IS A LEASE, AND THE WARRANTY IS UP, AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION. RECALL INFO ON THIS CALL, AND THE PRIOR YEAR ARE NUMEROUS DEADLY ONE. THOSE WHICH CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY, OR DEATH. I WAS ALMOST A STATISTIC TODAY WHEN MY VEHICLE DIED OUT COMPLETELY IN AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT HOW RESPONSIBLE THE DEALERSHIP IS BECAUSE I NEVER RECEIVED ANY!!!! RECALL LETTERS. I RECEIVED THEIR BILL, BUT YET NO RECALL INFO. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. I HAVE PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED THREE OTHER VEHICLES FROM YONKERS AVENUE DODGE, AND HAVE TRADED THEM IN FOR NEW ONES, BUT THEY TOO HAD PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER NEVER GAVE ME ANY BREAKS IN PRICE. THEY JUST SAW A FEMALE WALK IN, AND READ THE "SUCKER" SIGN ON MY FOREHEAD. ANYHOW MY CAR IS NOW STUCK IN A SHELL GAS STATION, WHICH WAS CONSEQUENTLY OFF THE RAMP I WAS STUCK ON. I WAS PUSHED THERE TO GET ME OUT OF HARMS WAY. I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS DEALER TO CONTINUE TO STICK PEOPLE, OR CHRYSLER TO STICK PEOPLE WITH THE BILL TO A CAR THAT DIES OUT BEFORE THE LEASE IS UP!! IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE EMAIL ME. AS WELL AS LET OTHER DODGE STRATUS SE OWNERS KNOW THAT THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THESE CARS SUFFER FROM BEFORE THESE OWNERS GET KILLED, OR KILL OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. RESPECTFULLY, [XXX]. *CB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10054244
Incident
Jan 14, 2004
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 17, 2003

WHILE DRIVING REAR LEFT TIRE SHIFTED INWARD, AND VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE UNDER BODY TO THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE IN HALF. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051701
Mileage
49,800 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR IS WET. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THE WEATHER STRIPPING WAS REPLACED. FLOOR IS STILL GETTING WET. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH

NHTSA ID
10039858
Body & structure
Filed Jun 21, 2001

ON TWO OCCASIONS POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCKED WITHOUT KEY BEING IN IGNITION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES AFTER UNLOCKING THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR AND PULLING UP ON ANY OTHER DOOR, ALL THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
890907
Incident
Jun 20, 2001

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 .