IllustrationPLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT. DT
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 reportsCAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL, BUT HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. APPARENTLY A COMMON AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE YEAR CAR. DT
HEAD GASKET FAILURE INTERNET REVEALS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM. CALLED CHRYSLER THEY SAID INDIVIDUAL DEALERS WOULD HANDLE PROBLEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. REPUTABLE DEALER ALSO AAA OFFERED TO REPAIR AS GOOD WILL FOR $378. I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE BENEFITS FROM MY EXPERIENCE. WHAT IS THE CORRECT THING FOR A …
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HEAD GASKET FAILURE INTERNET REVEALS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM. CALLED CHRYSLER THEY SAID INDIVIDUAL DEALERS WOULD HANDLE PROBLEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. REPUTABLE DEALER ALSO AAA OFFERED TO REPAIR AS GOOD WILL FOR $378. I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE BENEFITS FROM MY EXPERIENCE. WHAT IS THE CORRECT THING FOR A MANUFACTURER TO DO WHEN IT APPEARS EVERY SINGLE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL BEFORE THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE PART? CAN THE GOV'T HELP US? DT
STARTED WITH AN OIL LEAK THAT REQUIRED ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER TANK OF GAS. THIS SUDDENLY GOT MUCH WORSE, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND ALSO HAD NO HEAT INSIDE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A THERMOSTAT AND I PURCHASED ONE AND WENT TO REPLACE IT, ONLY TO FIND THE COOLANT LOOKING LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK. SEEMS TO BE A…
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STARTED WITH AN OIL LEAK THAT REQUIRED ABOUT A QUART OF OIL PER TANK OF GAS. THIS SUDDENLY GOT MUCH WORSE, ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND ALSO HAD NO HEAT INSIDE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A THERMOSTAT AND I PURCHASED ONE AND WENT TO REPLACE IT, ONLY TO FIND THE COOLANT LOOKING LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK. SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR INDICATION OF A RUPTURED HEAD GASKET. ENGINE WILL STILL RUN AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, ONLY THAT THE OILS IS BLOWING INTO THE WATER. WITH NO HEAT ON THE INSIDE, I WOULD HOPE THAT A HEATING/COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT. DT
OIL LEAK UNDER ENGINE HEAD, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME INTO CAR.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND OIL STAINS UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INDICATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AKCONSUMER SPOKE TO A DODGE REPRESENTATIVE WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JG
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $800 TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SURROUNDING THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL OF THE EXPENSE.*AK
HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ORIGINALLY IN NOV 00 AND WAS REPLACED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN THE NEXT 6-8 MONTH PERIOD. I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN EARLIERS THIS YEAR AND AM PREPARING TO TAKE IT IN FOR THE 5TH TIME.*AK
MY HEAD GASKET HASN'T TOTALLY BLOWN YET BUT MY CAR IS GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. I'VE HAD THE GASKET COVER REPLACED AND NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES INSTALLED. OIL STILL COMING OUT . I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR BUT NOT THROUGH THE DEALER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT 16000 MILES. ALBANY DODGE SAID THAT THEY COULD RESURFACE THEM FO…
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MY HEAD GASKET HASN'T TOTALLY BLOWN YET BUT MY CAR IS GOING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. I'VE HAD THE GASKET COVER REPLACED AND NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES INSTALLED. OIL STILL COMING OUT . I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR BUT NOT THROUGH THE DEALER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT 16000 MILES. ALBANY DODGE SAID THAT THEY COULD RESURFACE THEM FOR $90 A PIECE. I BELIEVE THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MESSED UP AT THAT TIME.*AK
MARCH 2002 NOTICED OIL LEAKAGE. HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED. THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE EVEN 60000 MILES ON IT. SECONDLY, THE CAR STARTING JUST THIS SUMMER HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. THE TEMPERATURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN RUNNING ON HIGH. IT STALL…
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MARCH 2002 NOTICED OIL LEAKAGE. HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED. THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE EVEN 60000 MILES ON IT. SECONDLY, THE CAR STARTING JUST THIS SUMMER HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASION. THE TEMPERATURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOVE 90 DEGREES AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN RUNNING ON HIGH. IT STALLS ONLY WHEN I'M AT A STOP OR IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC TRYING TO SHIFT FROM FIRST. I HAVE A STANDARD, THE CLUTCH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIPPING, AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT USER ERROR. THIS JUST STARTED STALLING THIS SUMMER. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. BUT IT STALLS CONSISTENTLY WHEN THE TEMP. REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES.*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.