Your vehicle report
1997 Dodge Stratus
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 349
- Received May 1997 to Oct 2020
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Head gasket leaks coolant into engine79 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Vehicle catches fire from wiring26 complaints · 7.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes21 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #04V021000On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
- Recall #98V183000Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key can cause a trapped key condition which can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 28 crashes, 34 fires, 23 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
- Front brake rotors warp and wear early
- Brakes make grinding or squealing noise
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1998 | 36 |
| 1999 | 59 |
| 2000 | 77 |
| 2001 | 62 |
| 2002 | 32 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 349 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 79 | 23% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 26 | 7.4% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 21 | 6.0% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 9 | 2.6% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 7 | 2.0% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 6 | 1.7% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 6 | 1.7% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Tie rod ends break or come loose | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 5 | 1.4% | – | NHTSA recall #97V201000 |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 5 | 1.4% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Serpentine belt breaks or slips off | 4 | 1.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 4 | 1.1% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #04V021000January 13, 20042,315,768 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Either circumstance may result in the vehicle rolling away without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on june 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA recall #98V183000August 6, 1998685,000 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The adjustment of the cable connecting the console shifter mechanism to the ignition key Can cause a trapped key condition which Can result in a low force required to depress the shift button. A combination of applying a mis-adjusted release button with a low force attempt to shift out of park with the key in the locked position, Can break the connecting pin in the shifter.
If this happens, the "ignition-park" interlock system will be nonfunctional.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect for proper operation of the system. Any vehicles that are not functional after the inspection will have the shift mechanism and cable replaced with a "self-adjusting" design.
NHTSA recall #97V201000November 13, 1997599,000 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lower control arm ball joint Can separate due to loss of lubrication.
Separation of the ball joint could cause a loss of steering control increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the ball joint end housing cover seal for leakage with a high pressure air tester and the rubber boot will be visually inspected for damage. If the cover seal leaks or the boot is damaged, the lower control arm will be replaced.
NHTSA recall #97V095000June 6, 1997219,000 vehicles affected
structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The secondary hood latch spring Can disengage from its retention hole if the hood is slammed shut.
If this condition occurs simultaneously without engaging the primary latch, the hood would not be restrained increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch spring with a longer end hook spring.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1997 Dodge Stratus.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN