IllustrationHEAD GASKET FAILURE. CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE, JUST HOPE THE ENGINE WILL NOT CATCH FIRE. *NM
1998 Dodge Stratus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge Stratus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 168.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Stratus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 67 of 272 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports17 fire reports16 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
121 reportsWHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIE ROD FELL OFF. *TC
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A STRATUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND I KNOW BUYER BEWARE. ANY HOW, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY GOT IT FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT IT FROM SAID THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND IT WASN'T A HEAD GASKET, BUT AN OIL PAN LEAK. ANYHOW, I BOUGHT IT(HO…
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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A STRATUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND I KNOW BUYER BEWARE. ANY HOW, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY GOT IT FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT IT FROM SAID THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND IT WASN'T A HEAD GASKET, BUT AN OIL PAN LEAK. ANYHOW, I BOUGHT IT(HOOK-LINE AND SINKER). WENT TO GET AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK. TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OTHERS AND THEY SAID IT WAS THAT. SO, I TOLD THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND GOT 300.00 BACK . THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A DODGE DEALERSHIP(GLADSTONE DODGE) HERE IN TOWN. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK, BUT ALSO SAID IT WAS MANY OTHER THING TO THE TUNE OF 2000.00, I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT JUST FOUND A HEAD GASKET LEAK AND A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS AND FIXED IT ALL FOR A 1000.00. WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET IS WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RECALLED? UNFORTUNATES, I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PARTS TO THIS BUT WISH I DID. *AK
RE FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON 1998 CHRYSLER DODGE STRATUS. *BF THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSED OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT AT LEAST 1 QUART EVERY OTHER DAY AND EVEN THEN THE OIL BARELY REGISTER ON THE DIPSTICK. *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CONSUMER HAD TO STOP TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. DEALER FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. OIL HAD SPRAYED FROM THE FRONT END TO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
MY 1998 DODAGE STRATUS LEAKS OIL TO THE TUNE OF AT LEAST 1 QT EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE TO KEEP A CASE OF OIL IN MY TRUNK TO KEEP UP WITH THE LEAK. AND THEN IT STILL BARELY REGISTERS ON THE DIP STICK. I HAVE A LARGE OIL STAIN IN THE GRASS OF MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. IT HASN'T BLOWN (YET) BU…
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MY 1998 DODAGE STRATUS LEAKS OIL TO THE TUNE OF AT LEAST 1 QT EVERY OTHER DAY. I HAVE TO KEEP A CASE OF OIL IN MY TRUNK TO KEEP UP WITH THE LEAK. AND THEN IT STILL BARELY REGISTERS ON THE DIP STICK. I HAVE A LARGE OIL STAIN IN THE GRASS OF MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. IT HASN'T BLOWN (YET) BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE REST OF THE CAR FALLS TO PIECES. I EMAILED A COMPLAINT TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND I GOT A "WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR DISSATISFACTION". THAT WAS IT. I HAVE READ ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE THE RESPONSES TO THEM ARE? HAS ANYONE GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THIS ISSUE? *AK
MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. AND COOLANT SPILLED INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE OVERFLOW. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S HEAD GASKET. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SC
ENGINE HEADGASKET FAILURE. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L AND A YEAR AGO WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 75000 MILES. I CONTACTED DODGE RECALL CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED FOR REPAIR QUOTES AND IT C…
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ENGINE HEADGASKET FAILURE. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE STRATUS WITH A 2.4L AND A YEAR AGO WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY ENGINE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR HAS 75000 MILES. I CONTACTED DODGE RECALL CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED FOR REPAIR QUOTES AND IT CAN RANGE FROM 600 TO 800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *AK
CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD BLEW A GASKET. MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT NO RECALL WAS ANTICIPATED FOR THAT PART. *AK
Official recalls
304V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Jan 13, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
99V244000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 15, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.
98V183000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Aug 6, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.