RoadVitals

2003 Dodge Stratus Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Nov 13, 2019
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.
13%
of 75 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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 engine

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

EngineSuspension
Filed Nov 13, 2019

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
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2016

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
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2016

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
EngineFuel system
Filed May 21, 2013

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
Engine
Filed May 5, 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
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ABNORMAL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,000. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS 2.7L WITH SIX CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10253979
Incident
Jan 5, 2009
Mileage
95,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 9, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED CAUSING THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10152303
Incident
Mar 9, 2006
Mileage
20,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+1 more
Filed Sep 8, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAKING NOISE AND CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT I COMES FROM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10135903
Incident
Jul 29, 2005
Mileage
33,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2005

RELIABLE MECHANICS REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS ONLY 47,200 MILES ON IT.MECHANICS STATE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND IT IS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE, RANGING FROM $3,000 AND UP, SOON. AS I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING, I HAVE SEEN THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH OUR OIL CHANGES, AND FEEL THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THESE ENGINES JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. DODGE WILL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR CARELESSNESS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE OR SOME FAMILY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10111826
Incident
Feb 18, 2005
EngineInterior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 17, 2003

THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032998
Incident
Jul 16, 2003
Mileage
9,183 mi

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 .