RoadVitals

2004 Dodge Stratus Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
11
Latest Dec 15, 2015
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.
8%
of 144 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Dodge Stratus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 brake

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

BrakesSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURES HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E023000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 10E059000 (SUSPENSION) WERE ISSUED FOR THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10810431
Incident
Dec 14, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 9, 2014

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HAD LOST MY BRAKES, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THE BRAKES LINE ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE, THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2013, AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE BROKE AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2013. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR BRAKES, MAYBE NEXT TIME I'LL BE TRAVELING THE INTERSTATE AND REALIZE I HAVE NO BRAKES WHEN I NEED TO APPLY THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578627
Incident
Sep 4, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 23, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER WHO STATED THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,565.

NHTSA ID
10472051
Incident
Aug 18, 2012
Mileage
129,565 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 2010

2004 DODGE STRATUS LEFT AXLE BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE TIRE FELL OFF, BRAKE ROTOR WAS REPLACED AND THEN THE BALL JOINT WENT BAD. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TRANSMISSION GASKET WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE SMELLED HOT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10317578
Incident
Mar 15, 2010
Brakes
Filed Nov 10, 2008

MY CASE IS SIMILAR TO ODI CASE 10151711. I PERFORM MOST OF MY CAR MAINTENANCE FROM OIL CHANGES TO BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. I HAD RECENTLY REPLACED MY PADS AND MADE SURE EVERY BOLT WAS TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 70 MPH AND HEARD A CLUNK AND IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING AS THE OBJECT HIT THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR. I THOUGHT SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING OUT THEIR WINDOW. ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE. AS I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND PULL OVER THE NOISE WENT AWAY. CONFUSED BY THE SUDDEN STOP OF THE NOISE, I PROCEEDED ANOTHER MILE OR SO DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNTIL THE NOISE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE STARTED UP AGAIN AND SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AT THIS POINT AND CAME TO A SKIDDING STOP. I TRIED TO PULL FORWARD AS I WAS OFF THE ROAD BUT VERY CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDDLE. I DECIDED TO TRY AND BACK UP AND I WAS SUCCESSFUL AND PULLED FURTHER OFF THE SHOULDER. I SAW THAT MY CALIPER HAD COME FREE AND BEGAN TO TAKE CHUNKS OUT OF THE ALLOY RIM. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OR DAMAGE ANY OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. $497.66 LATER (NEW BOLTS AND A RIM) MY CAR WAS MOBILE. I WAS OVER TWENTY MILES FROM HOME WHEN THIS OCCURRED. PHOTOS AND BILL AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10248380
Incident
May 21, 2008
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 20, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH WITH STEADY BRAKE PRESSURE APPLIED, THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND SLID INTO A TELEPHONE POLE COMING TO A FINAL STOP ON ITS SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR, AS WELL AS A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 DODGE SRT4. *AK

NHTSA ID
10153179
Incident
Feb 22, 2006
Mileage
32,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 2006

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A VARIETY OF NOISES FROM THE FRONT WHEEL AREA OVER 20,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS, INCLUDING REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND INSTALLING NEW DESIGN RIVETS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE BRAKE CALIPER BOLTS LOSE AND ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE CALIPER-- IF THE CALIPER HAD BECOME SEPARATED WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, IT MAY HAVE CONTACTED THE WHEEL RIM CAUSING FRONT WHEEL LOCK-UP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151711
Incident
Mar 3, 2006
Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 2005

AT 19000 MILES, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 12000 MILES. NOW THE CAR HAS 22000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDS FRONT ROTORS REPLACED AGAIN. I REFUSE TO AGAIN PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 55000 MILES OR MORE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A DEFECT IN THE ROTORS BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHY????????? *NM

NHTSA ID
10145887
Incident
Jul 10, 2005
Mileage
19,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 19, 2005

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND COMING TO A SLOW FOR A STOP LIGHT WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. I STARTED TO PULL OVER WHILE CONTINUING TO SLOW THE CAR WHEN IT CAME TO A SHARP STOP AND I COULD GO NO FURTHER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. I GOT OUT TO LOOK, AND SAW NO FLAT TIRE, BUT NOTICED FRONT RIGHT BRAKE GRINDED INTO RIM. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, AND THEY ASSESSED THAT A LARGE BOLT FELL OUT FROM THE BRAKE CALLIPER, AND CAUSED MY BRAKE TO SLIP OUT AND COLLIDE WITH THE RIM. MY CAR IS JUST OVER A YEAR OLD, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY BRAKE WORK DONE THUS FAR. THEY FOUND A REPLACEMENT BOLT FOR ME, AND I THEN DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT WAS WARRANTY COVERED, THEY SAID NO. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I NOT DRIVE ON THE RIM FOR FEAR OF NOT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE FRACTURES THAT WERE NOT VISIBLE, AND THAT HITTING ONE POT HOLE COULD COLLAPSE THE RIM AND DO FURTHER DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118111
Incident
Apr 14, 2005
Mileage
26,986 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 26, 2005

AT AROUND 32,000 MILES THE BRAKE SHOE BOLTS BROKE, AND THE SHOE GOT CAUGHT IN THE RIM CAUSING 1: THE RIM (INSIDE) TO GRIND AGINST THE SHOE AND FOREVER CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE RIM. 2: BENDING THE CALLIPER. AND 3: HAVING THE BREAKS GRIND THE ROTOR IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER IN WHICH THEY NEEDED TO BE GRINDED DOWN. I WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR THE STOP LIGHT (SPEED LIMIT WAS 25, I WAS GOING MAYBE 20), AND STARTED TO BREAK, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT WAS A VERY VIOLENT STOP. FOR A SECOND, I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE, BUT I GOT OUT SIDE OF THE CAR AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK, AND TURNING ON MY HAZZARDS. LOOKING AT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, I SAW THAT IT WAS FINE, LOOKED AT ALL OF THE OTHER TIRES, AND THEY ARE ALL FINE AS WELL. GOT BACK INTO THE CAR, AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. CAR DIDNT MOVE. PUT IT IN REVERSE...CAR DIDNT MOVE EITHER. WONDERING WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I PUT THE CAR AGAIN, IN PARK, AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES AGAIN. I NOTICED AT THIS TIME THAT SOMETHING LOOKED DIFFERENT WITH THE RIM. I GOT IN FOR A CLOSER LOOK, AND NOTICED IT WAS PRETTY BADLY DAMAGED. I PROCEEDED TO LIFT THE CAR, TAKE THE TIRE OFF, AND AS SOON AS I TOOK THE TIRE OFF, THE SHOE WAS HANGING AND WASNT BOLTED IN WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. HOLY CRAP, WAS I MAD. THEN WENT INTO ADVANCE AUTO, TO GET REPLACEMENT BOLTS, AND FOUND SOME, ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER BECAUSE THEY DIDNT HAVE ANY IN STOCK, AND THEY HAD TO CALL AROUND. AFTER PUTTING THE BOLTS ON, I DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 20 MPH, USING ABOUT HALF AND HALF (BRAKES AND E-BRAKE). I DID NOT WANT THAT TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. A DAY AFTER THAT HAPPEND I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO FIX IT ANYWAYS. TOTAL BILL WAS AROUND $130. $112 BEING LABOR, AND $18 FOR THE BOLTS AND OTHER PARTS. WHAT REALLY BURNS ME UP, IS THAT THIS SHOULDNT HAVE HAPPEND FOR ONE, AND I'M SOL FOR MY RIM AND CALLIPER. IT STILL MAKES A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN I MAKE TURNS AS WELL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114763
Incident
Mar 16, 2005
Mileage
32,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 2004

PURCHASED A 2004 DODGE STRATUS IN JULY OF 2003. BY DEMEBER 2003, AT 6,00 MILES, THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPAGE. IN JULY 2004, APX 12,000 MILES, THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO WARPAGE. I BEGAN TO SEE THIS FOR WHAT IS IS; A PERPETUAL PROBLEM SOON TO BE EXCLUDED FROM WARRANTY WORK. I TOOK A LOSS OF 1,500. ON THE VEHICLE SIMPLY TO GET OUT FROM UNDER IT. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DUE TO MY DRIVING STYLE, WHICH IS THE STANDARD LINE BEING GIVEN TO DODGE OWNERS. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB TO SEE IF OTHER DODGE OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS IT COMES STANDARD WITH MOST DODGE VEHICLES. IT APPEARS THE FINAL SOLUTION INVOLVES SHELLING OUT 400 BUCKS OUT OF POCKET FOR A HIGHER QUALITY ROTOR. CALL ME CRAZY, BUT I EXPECT STANDARD MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ON A VEHICLE TO ACTUALLY DO WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. I HAVE NEVER HAD ROTOR PROBLEMS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE OWNED. (GRANTED, THIS IS MY FIRST DODGE) THIS ISSUE CRIES OUT FOR A RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10088795
Incident
Dec 18, 2003
Mileage
6,435 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 .