Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
144
Latest Jul 9, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
25
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 19, 2004
What this page shows
Our database holds 144 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 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.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 144 · page 1 of 6
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated while reversing, the passenger's side front wheel detached. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair with similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,334.
NHTSA ID
11672372
Incident
Jul 6, 2025
Mileage
136,334 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 15, 2023
Fuel pump went out and in order for me to replace the fuel pump you have drop the tank. I could not get the intake hose off or the smaller fuel line along side it off. And there very little room to work with to get it off. And I have purchased the vehicle a little over a year ago and was not told about any recalls on this vehicle
NHTSA ID
11507459
Incident
Feb 5, 2023
Suspension
Filed Nov 29, 2021
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds and then lost motive power. Additionally, the front passenger's side ball stud separated from the ball joint housing, and the front passenger's side tire was stuck on the fender, preventing the engine from falling onto the ground. The failure almost caused a collision. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. While the vehicle was being placed on the flatbed tow truck, the oil filter fractured and detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
NHTSA ID
11442006
Incident
Nov 21, 2021
Mileage
51,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed May 25, 2021
2.7 liter engine should be recalled and replaced because? 1. The internal water pump which have been known to wear out prematurely and destroy the engine regardless how well the owner maintains vehicle. 2. Subframe and rear suspension crossmember should be replace due to rotting out prematurely. 3 Gloss on paint prone to pealing.
NHTSA ID
11418424
Incident
May 3, 2021
Suspension
Filed May 3, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WERE UNKNOWN RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE WHEELS WERE WOBBLING AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E059000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,508.
NHTSA ID
11415037
Incident
May 3, 2021
Mileage
116,508 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 13, 2020
I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I AM TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LACK OF CONTROL AND LOOSENING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AS I AM DRIVING. ALSO, THE SUSPENSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED NEGATIVELY.
NHTSA ID
11321000
Incident
Feb 4, 2020
Mileage
148,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 10, 2020
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5MPH, MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL COLLAPSED CAUSING COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL AND CONTROL ARM IN TURN CAUSING MY AXLE TO COME OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION AT THE CV JOINT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS BALL JOINT ISSUE BUT NOT FOR MY VIN SPECIFICALLY.
NHTSA ID
11308351
Incident
Jan 16, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 4, 2019
AS I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OR IDLE THE STEERING IS MAKING A SQUEAKING/CREAKING NOISE I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH RECALL: 10E059000 FRONT CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
NHTSA ID
11278104
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
139,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 16, 2018
Crash reported8 injuries reported
DRIVING ON A 35 MPH ROAD GOING ACROSS THE CROSS ROAD GOT HIT BY A TRUCK DOING ABOUT 70 MPH. HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER TO THE BACK EDGE TRUCK F THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. PUT INTO A SPIN THEN WAS HIT IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND BUMPER. NO AIR BAGS CAME OUT WITH MASSIVE TRAUMA TO BOTH MYSELF AS DRIVER AND MY PASSENGER. POLICE, AMBULANCE AND DOCTORS ASKED WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EXPAND. IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD OF WORKED LESS INJURIES WOULD OF HAPPENED. WE HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS THE ROAD AT LIKE ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN HIT.
NHTSA ID
11140568
Incident
Sep 22, 2018
Mileage
179,171 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER A BUMP, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 34782223. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
NHTSA ID
11112750
Incident
Jun 3, 2018
Mileage
151,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 19, 2017
THE BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY SEPARATED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL #10E059000 AND #09E056000. I THINK THE CONTROL ARM WAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PART. I'LL ATTACH PICTURES WITH THE PART NUMBER.
NHTSA ID
11024252
Incident
Sep 5, 2017
Mileage
233,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 30, 2017
CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREET. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN.
NHTSA ID
11011533
Incident
Jul 30, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 9, 2017
LATELY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER IT COMES ON THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED BUT NOW WHENEVER IT MALFUNCTIONS THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL ITS BEEN SITTING UNTOUCHED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TOWN (25 MPH) AND ON ROADS UP TO 55 MPHS.
NHTSA ID
11003866
Incident
May 29, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2017
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND I PARKED AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE. ME AND HIM WERE TALKING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF. NO ONE WAS TOUCHING THE CAR AND I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. AND I'M GLAD I WASN'T ON THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED.
NHTSA ID
10992066
Incident
May 29, 2017
Mileage
153,597 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed May 22, 2017
LOWER LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT BROKEN. THE OUTER BEARING CARRIER, FELL AWAY FROM THE SUSPENSION ARM, PULLING THE HALF SHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY JAMMED UP IN THE WHEEL WELL WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST FOLLOWING A TURN, IN A PARKING AREA.
NHTSA ID
10990936
Incident
May 21, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 2, 2016
CAR LOST POWER. NO ACCELERATOR OR POWER IN TRAFFIC.09/01/16 WAS LAST TIME.. DOES THIS QUITE OFTEN.
NHTSA ID
10903346
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
94,238 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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.
NHTSA ID
10821735
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
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
Fuel system
Filed Oct 2, 2015
CAR IS LEAKING FUEL
NHTSA ID
10779396
Incident
Sep 2, 2015
Mileage
117,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 11, 2015
Fire reported
I WENT TO VISIT SON AND YES I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO HAVE IT CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. SO I MADE IT TO MY SONS HOME THEN I HAVE TO MAKE A RUN TO THE STORE AS I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY TO DRIVE A GUY STARTS TO FLAG ME DOWN AND SAID THERE WAS SPARKS UNDER MY CAR AN SOON AS I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE WHOLE FRONT PART OF MY CAR CAUGHT A FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED CAR WAS TOWED. THEY SAY ITS NOTHING THEY CAN DO EVEN THROUGH IT IS A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THAT REASON,NO ONE WILL RETURN MY CALLS FROM THE COMPANY.
NHTSA ID
10715786
Incident
May 11, 2014
Mileage
13,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2015
Crash reported
HIT A CAR DOING 85 MPH RIPPING OFF MY FRONT BUMPER AN SIDE PANAL ON PASSSENGER SIDE ALONG WIT HEADLITE ASSEMBLY AN GRILL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10679306
Incident
Jan 24, 2015
Mileage
165,056 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 2014
Crash reported
I WAS FOLLOWING A SEMI WHEN HE MISSED HIS TURN AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO STOP AND I HIT THE BACK END OF THE TRAILER. HALF OF THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WENT RIGHT UNDER THE TRAILER AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. ON IMPACT, MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED BRUISING AND SEVERE PAIN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10636938
Incident
Sep 16, 2014
Mileage
127,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 25, 2014
MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY DODGE STRATUS I WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY THAT REPLACED MY WINDSHIELD THAT ALL THE DODGE CAR HES SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM WHERE WATER WILL GET IN THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND I WELL RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE ON THE ROAD TO THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SAFETY UP TO PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD ALSO IF THE AIR BAGS WHERE TO DEPLOY IT COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO DETACH FROM THE CAR I HAVE PHOTO OF THE CAR RUST UNDER THE WINDSHIELD I DON'T HAVE PITCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
NHTSA ID
10616444
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Mileage
100,900 mi
EngineFuel systemSuspension
Filed May 20, 2014
CAR IS DRIVEN ON REGULAR CITY STREETS AND FREEWAYS. ROADS I DRIVE ARE PAVED - NO COUNTRY, DUSTY ROADS AND AREA ISN'T HEAVY IN POLLUTION. I PURCHASE MY GAS FROM SHELL OR CHEVRON AND REFILL AT 1/4 TO 1/3 TANK TO REDUCE CHANCE OF PICKING UP SEDIMENT FROM FUEL TANK. NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY.THAT CAR WOULD DROP IN SPEED FROM 60 MPH TO 20 RATHER QUICKLY AND THEN FORGET ABOUT GOING UP A HILL. I WAS ALSO GETTING 8-10 MPG. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I NOTICED EVEN ON LEVEL CITY STREETS THE LOSS OF POWER. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WITH CALIFORNIA EMISSION REGULATIONS THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR WAS $ 1,600.00. A YEAR LATER, I NOTICED SOME LOSS OF POWER AND INCREASED FUEL CONSUMPTION. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED CAT CONVERTER REPLACED AGAIN AND PAID ANOTHER $ 1,600.00. ALSO WAS DIAGNOSED THAT REAR MOUNTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS NORMAL. VERY BOUNCY RIDE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10592744
Incident
Jan 3, 2011
Mileage
98,000 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
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.
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