2003 Dodge Stratus Owner Complaints

The problem is not with the tire itself, but with the lug nuts holding the tire on the car. In the past year I have had at least six lug nuts fail. I have had a rash of flat tires, mostly related to nails. In attempting to remove the tires to put on the spare, the chrome caps on the nuts have come off. In the first incident, I was able to strip the cover off the internal nut by hand. In attempting to remove the internal nut, the softer metal was stripped. I was forced to drive on a flat tire home to try and remove the rest of the nut. I had to call a tow truck to haul my car into the shop where they had to cut off the nut. I can document this and three other occasions of the lug nuts being stripped when trying to remove a bad tire. I can document an occasion when the shop replaced two faulty nuts when repairing one of my tires. In the most recent occasion, I was able to remove the tire. However, when handling the lug nuts the chrome cap came off in my hand. I am able to strip these caps and nuts by hand using an "X" lug wrench, which I had to buy because the wrench that came with the vehicle twisted out of shape while trying to remove the lug nuts. The shop is aware of this problem, and they keep putting these defective lug nuts back on. At my age, it is inconceivable that I would be able to strip these caps and lug nugs by hand. I have the documents, I can get you pictures, but I am not a computer whiz and am currently having problems getting my printer to link up with my PC to download files to send. I will have a family member copy this information and email it to me so I can attempt to send it to you with your reply.

NHTSA ID

11596104

Incident

Apr 23, 2023

Car was owned by school govement it has been worked on several times for bad suspension.and documented.ball joint bad suspension front and back.back dating 2 or 3 years.no accidents just bad suspension

NHTSA ID

11552307

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

When replacing the Clock Spring I noticed the Airbag serial number matched numbers from other vehicles for recall but my vehicle was not listed in recall.Vin number [XXX] 2003 Dodge Stratus Sedan INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11543328

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,037. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11279840

Incident

Oct 3, 2019

Mileage

180,037 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HORN HAD NO FUNCTIONALITY AND THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 178,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11000003

Incident

Jan 19, 2017

Mileage

178,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS, I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING AND I HEARD A KIND OF SNAP AND THEN I FELT AND HEARD A GRINDING IN MY STEERING WHEEL. FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHENEVER I HAD TO MAKE A TURN THERE WAS THIS NOISE LIST A SPRING WAS CAUGHT AND ALMOST WOULD GET CAUGHT AND I WOULD HAVE TO QUICKLY JERK THE STEERING WHEEL SO IT WOULDN'T GET STUCK AND KEEP ME FROM TURNING. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, SO IT WON,T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MY HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND I LOST FUNCTION OF MY SPEED CONTROL. I WAS TOLD THIS IS MY CLOCKSPRING. THIS FAULTY CLOCKSPRING WAS RECALLED IN MANY DODGE VEHICLES BUT HAS YET TO BE RECALLED IN MY VEHICLE. SEE SAFETY RECALL NO. B24 (11/01/2002) FOR 1998 DODGE VEHICLES BUT DODGE CONTINUED TO USE THESE FAULTY CLOCKSPRINGS THAT IN FACT SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918117

Incident

Jun 11, 2012

Mileage

114,150 mi

ONLY HAD MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS NOW. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT, EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BUT I STILL DID MAINTENANCE WORK ON IT ANYWAYS. I BARELY DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I'M A STAY AT HOME MOM SO I DON'T REALLY PUT MILES ON MY CAR. NOW MY CAR IS SUFFERING PROBLEMS FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ONE EVENING AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED OUT OF NOWHERE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND THEN WENT TO A MECHANIC AND PRETTY MUCH MY ENGINE IS SUFFERING. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT 2.7 ENGINES ARE VERY CRAPPY AND DOESN'T LAST LONG. I WISH I WOULD'VE KNEW THAT BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND MADE BETTER. NOW I'M OUT OF A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917307

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE CAR ONE ONCE MOVING AND THEN I STOP, AND PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT GEAR IN REVERSE AND GIVE IT A LITTLE GAS, AND THE VEHICLE ROCKS AND SHAKES, AND I WAS PARK, AND PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE AND GAVE IT A LITTE GAS AND IT ROCK AND SHAKES. I DID JUST HAVE NEW SPARK PLUGS PUT ON OLD PLUGS AND WIRES, AND A NEW FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE

NHTSA ID

10907015

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

196,000 mi

BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS RECALL. THEY FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO COMPLETE AN ALMOST 1,000 DOLLAR REPAIR FOR REPLACEMENTS.

NHTSA ID

10850750

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

110,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE PROTRUDED AND SEPARATED CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO BE EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,300.

NHTSA ID

10822929

Incident

Jan 28, 2013

Mileage

144,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SHATTERING THE CONTACT'S STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE AND A FRACTURED LEG WHICH NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10822769

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10766441

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD SHUT OFF SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS AND FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE FUEL PUMP MELTED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FUEL TANK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10744103

Incident

Jul 20, 2015

Mileage

123,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10735169

Incident

Nov 25, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN AS A RESULT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY. THE CONTACT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10628953

Incident

Aug 26, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

I WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL.THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.THEN I NOTICED THE HORN DID NOT WORK. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET I AM 100% CONVINCED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAS BROKEN.FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS THERE IS A RECALL ON CHRYSLER-DODGE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT ONLY ON CERTAIN YEAR-MODELS WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE YEAR OR MODEL OF THE VEHICLE IS IRRELEVANT IF THE CLOCK SPRING PART IN QUESTION (THE ONE IN THE RECALL) WAS/IS STILL BEING INSTALLED ON VEHICLES NOT IN THE RECALL LIKE MINE A 2003 DODGE STRATUS A LITTLE INVESTIGATION ON YOUR END WILL CLEARLY SHOW THIS TO BE THE CASE. I'D BE WILLING TO BET THAT MY CLOCK SPRING HAS THE SAME MANUFACTURING NUMBERS AS THE RECALLED CLOCK SPRINGS . *TR

NHTSA ID

10619168

Incident

Jan 30, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE CAR "CHUGGED" AND THEN STALLED. IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I PASSED THROUGH TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8-10 SINCE IT'S FIRST OCCURRENCE. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS IN A DRIVE-THRU WAITING FOR SERVICE AND THE CAR "SPUTTERED" AND THEN STALLED. IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512942

Incident

Jan 18, 2012

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO MOVE 45 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSIDERED AN ANOMALY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BALL JOINT HIMSELF. ONE YEAR LATER, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BALL JOINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 3/27/13

NHTSA ID

10499954

Incident

Feb 23, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT JOINT WAS FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND CV AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10439434

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO THE UPPER BALL JOINT IN MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS VEHICLE BROKE WHILE MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING. WE REPLACED THAT PART, AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FAIRLY NORMAL UNTIL THIS MORNING WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FOLDED IN JUST LIKE LAST TIME, THE BALL JOINT FROM THAT TIRE MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339922

Incident

Jun 24, 2010

Mileage

125,527 mi

BRAKE LINE BETWEEN GAS TANK AND FRAME OF CAR HAD RUBBED A PIN HOLE IN LINE BECAUSE OF TIGHT FIT , I GUESS. GAS TANK HAD TO BE DROPPED TO FIND PROBLEM, MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED FIRST THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT, IT WASN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID

10335881

Incident

Jun 2, 2010

I OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS AND IT SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE OF ITS 2.7 LITER ENGINE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR DOES NOT RUN DUE TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328994

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS TO THE BODY ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND ARE CORRODED AND POWDERY. THEY HAVE BROKEN AND I CAN SEE THEY ARE NO LONGER HOLDING ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320592

Incident

Mar 16, 2010

Mileage

75,125 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WITHIN A PERIOD OF 4 YEARS, THE BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. RECENTLY, SHE WAS ADVISED THE BALL JOINTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED A 4TH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10318006

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. HE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TWICE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT BY THEN HE HAD REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HE WAS NOT INJURED BADLY, BUT IS VERY SORE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10256623

Incident

Jan 27, 2009

Mileage

64,000 mi