Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 150 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Dodge Stratus. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 150 · page 1 of 6
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED OVER TIME WITH THE REMAINING THREE BALL JOINTS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILED. THIS CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN. THE WATER GOT HOT ENOUGH ON A 600 MILES TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO MISSISSIPPI THAT IT BOILED AND CAUSED THE OIL TO TURN INTO SLUDGE (MOLASSES LIKE CONSISTENCY). THIS CAUSED A LACK OF LUBRICATION OF THE DUAL CAMSHAFTS WHICH IN TURN BURNED UP. END RESULT WAS ENGINE FAILURE.
MY CAR HAS A BAD NOISE AND POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. I WAS TURNING OUT OF MY MOMS DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE COLLAPSED IN .. MY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE . AFTER MY CAR WAS JACKED UP MY LOWER A ARM AND BALL JOINT WAS BROKE .. I REPLACED EVERYTHING . A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT HAD TO BE REPLACED . MY CAR STILL MAKES A AWEFUL SOUND LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BRAKE . SHOULD I REPLACE EVERY PART IN THE FRONT . CAUSE IT DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILD .
MY DAUGHTER PULLED OUT OF MCDONALD'S TURNING RIGHT AND THE LEFT WHEEL COLLAPSED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. I HAVE READ ON LINE AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE CLICKING NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS CRACKED. THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD AS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ
GRANDAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM COLLEGE . VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE ON HIGHWAY BETWEEN MARBLE FALLS TEX AND BURNET TEXAS.. HER MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER CAR AND BARELY HAD TIME TO RESCUE SOME OF THE PERSONAL ITEMS BEFORE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. GRANDDAUGHTER BARELY ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE FIRE ON HER CELL PHONE.. THE FIRE BEGIN EITHER UNDER THE HOOD OR UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.. GRANDAUGHTER AND HER MOM WAS VERY DISTRAUGHT AND TERRIBLY UPSET UNTIL FIRE DEPT FROM BURNET ARRIVED ON THE SCENE . THEY WERE CALLED (911) BY A PASSING MOTORIST. THE BURNED OUT VEHICLE WAS HAULED IN TO BURNET TEXAS BY ADVANTAGE TOWING 512-756-7995. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM DODGE ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
I HAD SMELLED A BURNING SMELL IN MY CAR WHILE I DRIVE IT. MY HUSBAND HAD TRIED HIS BEST TO FIND WHERE THE SMELL IS COMING FROM. WE COULD NOT FIND IT AND NOW MY RADIO DOESN'T WORK, THE DOME LIGHT DON'T WORK AND THE LOCKS DON'T WORK. IN ORDER TO LOCK MY CAR I HAVE TO PUSH THE LOCKS DOWN. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH WHAT COULD BE THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR? I HAVEN'T BEEN DRIVING IT. *TR
NOTICED SLIGHT GEAR SLIPPAGE TRAVELLING 35-45MPH. ALL FLUIDS CHECKED, AT PROPER LEVELS. A WEEK LATER, ENGINE 'JERKED' WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE STOP, CHECK ENG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. ONCE ENGINE WARMED UP, STARTED HEARING A 'WHIRRING' NOISE FROM LOWER-MIDDLE AREA OF ENGINE. STOPPED @ LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THEY CHECKED FLUIDS AND VAC HOSES, NOISE STOPPED, BUT NOTICED COOLANT IN RESERVOIR SIDE 3/4 FULL & BOILING, TEMP GAUGE ON DASH 'NORMAL'. NEXT DAY, WHILE COLD, I CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL IN RESERVOIR (LEFT SIDE) STILL FULL, (HADN'T FLOWED BACK THRU SYSTEM ONCE COOL). I ADDED WATER TO 'FILL LINE', CHECKED CONDITION OF PRESSURE CAP (LOOKED FINE), PLACED & TIGHTENED, STARTED ENGINE, LET RUN A FEW MINUTES, LOOSENED 'AIR BLEEDER' ON TOP OF COOLANT BLEEDER HSNG. THEN I SLOWLY SHIFTED THRU ALL GEARS, W/FOOT ON BRAKE, LET AIR BLEED TIL SOLID STREAM OF LIQUID AND SHUT CAR OFF. WAITED AN HOUR, STARTED UP AND DROVE. CK ENG LT= OFF. FINE FOR A FEW DAYS, SAME ISSUES STARTED UP AGAIN. LOUDER 'WHIRRING', LIKE A BELT OR BAND SLIPPED. IRRATIC SHIFTING, TRANS NEVER FAILED. RAN BOTH CODE TESTS ON DASHCLUSTER=NO DTCS. JAN 2014-DROVE TO DODGE DEALERSHIP: DISPOSITION: REPLACE MOPAR 41TE TRANS. MY LOST WAGES / LOSS OF VEH USE(DEC/JAN) + BURDEN OF A LOAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION = MORE THAN I PAID IN FULL TO BUY THE CAR BARELY 6 MONTHS AGO. UNFAIR TO CUSTOMERS: ONGOING COMPUTER AND PCM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE SINCE 1999. THE 'OOPS' TECH SPEC-CORRECT TRANS FLUID ATF+4 HOW MANY DAMAGED & FAILED TRANSMISSIONS? REFUSED TO HONOR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY!! AND CONTINUED PLACING. SHAME ON ALL OF THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVES & ENGINEERS THAT GOT RICH FROM ROBBING THE CONSUMERS. YOU WERE 'SUCCESSFUL FAILURES' MOPAR, CHRYSLER-DODGE-DAIMER-IACOCCA, ETC. 90+ TSBS, NO RECALLS. CLASS ACTIONS DISMISSED! TIME FOR THE CONSUMERS TO PREVAIL. TIME FOR A CALIFORNIA CLASS ACTION!! *TR
I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR AND TURNED THE WHEEL JUST A LITTLE, I HEAR A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON STATING "AIR BAG". I HAVE ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS I HAD TO REPLACE MYSELF AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. NOW I HAVE A FAULTY AIR BAG THAT IS MAKING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURN THE WHEEL. I ALSO FOUND OUT I HAVE NO HORN. IT DOES NOT WORK SINCE THE AIR BAG IS FAULTY. I AM NOT PROTECTED WITH AN AIR BAG AND CAN NOT DEFEND MYSELF WITH MY CAR HORN...I NEED HELP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BACKING PLATE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE BACKING PLATE, CALIPER, BRACKET, AND PARKING BRAKE SHOES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN MAKING A BEEPING NOISE. APPROXIMATELY 60 SECONDS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AS WELL AS DAMAGING THE DASH BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND AN ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED TO INSPECT IT. OVER A MONTH LATER THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THEY DID NOT FEEL THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TRUNK FALLS CONTINUALLY AFTER STAYING IN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR A FEW SECONDS OR MINUTES. EVERYONE OF MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INJURED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO. I NOW HAVE A 6 INCH DIAMETER BRUISE ON MY ARM FROM THE LATEST INCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HEARING A TERRIBLE NOISE EVERYTIME I TURN MY 2002 DODGE STRATUS. OFTEN TIMES I CAN'T EVEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED AND I FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE TO HAVE MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THIS ITEM WAS RECALLED. *TR
I HAVE READ ABOUT THE KNOWN DODGE 2.7 ENGINE FREEZE ISSUE AND IT HAPPENED TO ME. PLEASE DO SOMETHING *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS WITH KELLY CHARGER GT TIRES (N/A), SIZE 205/60/ R16. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE TIRE SHOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE SECOND SET OF TIRES AND THE BUBBLES INCREASED IN SIZE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE VIA EMAIL BUT HAD NOT REPLIED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.
ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM THE HOUSE. I HAD 2 NEIGHBORS PUSH THE CAR BACK TO THE HOUSE. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE. HE TOOK OUT THE PARTS TRYING TO REBUILD THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THERE WAS SLUDGE THROUGHOUT THE PARTS. HE THEN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SAFE TO TRY AND CLEAN IT OUT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW FAR INTO THE ENGINE IT HAD GONE. I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE AN WHOLE NEW ENGINE. HE LOOKED FOR ENGINES BUT COULD ONLY FIND THOSE WITH HIGH MILEAGE. HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WOULD STAND-UP FOR LONG OR EVENTUALLY CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN. THE CAR IS STILL WAITING FOR AN ENGINE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION TO AFFORD IT. I RECENTLY STARTED TO LOOK AGAIN TO GET AN IDEA OF WHEN I MAY BE ABLE TO WORK ON THIS AGAIN. I REMEMBER HEARING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STRATUS' BUT WHEN I CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS FOR INFORMATION, THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL FEELING. THE CONTACT INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE BRACKET WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A SLIGHT INDENTATION IN THE ROAD WHERE IT HAVE BEEN NEWLY PAVED. I HEARD A LOUD "THUD" IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR FROM THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE. I PULLED OVER AND UNCOVERED THE WHEEL WELL AND SAW A HOLE WHERE THE STRUT MOUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR HOME AND CALL A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHILE TAKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE MADE THE SAME LOUD "THUD". WITHIN A FEW MILES MY CAR STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER. WHILE GOING AROUND A SMALL CURVE MY SHOCK CAME OUT AND TORE OPEN MY NEW TIRE. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO GET IT FIXED. WHAT WE FOUND WAS A CORRODED PIECE OF METAL, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT WAS MY "STRUT MOUNTS". I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT WITH MY STRUTS BEING ALMOST NONEXISTENT, AND THE TIRE BLOWING OUT THAT THE ACTUAL FRAME OF MY CAR COULD VERY WELL BE MESSED UP TOO. THE CAR IS STILL BEING FIXED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PART THAT WAS NEEDED WAS DISCONTINUED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. (I DID KEEP THE CORRODED PIECE OF METAL THAT WAS ONCE MY STRUT MOUNT.) *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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