Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO CORROSION. THE MECHANIC WILL REPLACE BOTH AT THE COST OF $460. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE ARE 3,000 OF THESE PARTS CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB
THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS ON OUR 2003 DODGE STRATUS ARE MADE OF A "POT TYPE" METAL. THE CAR HAS MID 30K MILES AND THE STRUT MOUNTS ARE CORRODED TO THE POINT THEY FELL APART. THE SHOCK WAS ACTUALLY BOUND UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPRING. THIS FORTUNATELY WAS CAUGHT BY MY WIFE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD RESULT IN AN OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION. STRUT COULD DIG INTO TIRE. CAR CAN FALL ON IT'S OWN SUSPENSION. HOW CAN YOU CONTROL A CAR IF IT IS ON AN UNSTABLE PLATFORM? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STRUT MOUNTS SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THEN SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR STRUT MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND REPLACED THEM AT THE COST OF $500. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HEARD A NOISE IN THE TIRE AREA AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE. ALSO, THE FRONT AND REAR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS WERE WORN OUT, AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT INNER, AND OUTER TIRE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 92,000. *AK
REAR STRUT MOUNT , MOUNTING EARS BROKE. *NM
AFTER HAVING MY TRANSMISSION LINES REPAIRED DUE TO A LEAK I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR OUT ON A TEST DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. WELL COMING INTO TOWN I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN FROM 65 MPH TO 55 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FEARING FOR MY LIFE I BEGAN TO GENTLY PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH IN WHICH I TOOK A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED IT JERKED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO APPROX 600,000 RPMS. IT STAYED LIKE THAT (PARKED AT HOME) UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CHECK INTO IT AND HERE IS WHAT THEY "CLAIM". SOMEHOW BETWEEN THE TIME THEY HAD IT AND THE FEW HOURS THAT I HAD DRIVEN IT SINCE I HAD IT BACK, THEY CLAIM THAT I BROKE THE COVER TO THE IDLE AIR TEMP SENSOR AND THAT IT BECAME LODGED IN THE AUTOMATIC IDLE SPEED MOTOR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO IDLE DOWN. NOW WHAT CONCERNS ME IS EXACTLY HOW CAN I BREAK THAT COVER? I AM NEVER UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR UNLESS I CHECK FLUIDS. THE COVER TO THAT THING IS EXTREMELY THICK. I BELIEVE THAT THE MECHANIC BUSTED IT WHEN HE WAS WORKING ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT GUILT. ALSO I HAVE HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END IN THE COLD WEATHER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE DRIED AND CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. WHY AM I HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT THEN IT'S WORTH? IT'S NOT FAIR. AND YES I KEEP UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD THAT RIDES IN THE CAR REGULARLY WITH ME. SHE COULD OF BEEN HURT OR KILLED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FELT A SLIGHT BUMP WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY FOUND IT WAS THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT WHERE WORN OUT. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
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
Data on this page last refreshed .