IllustrationTHE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. ALSO, SHIFTS GEARS WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK.*AK
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
Power Train complaints
24 reportsVEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IT ROLLED BACKWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEN, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 04V021000 CONCERNING IGNITION INTERLOCK. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE A COLLSION OCCURRED AND THE PROBLEM HAD NORT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
WHILE IN PARK ON AN INCLINE WITH ENGINE TURNED OFF GEAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE
I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO MR. JAY W/ CHRYSLER CORPORATION THAT MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V183000, BUT HE WAS NOT INTERESTED.. *AK
GEARS CAN BE CHANGED WITOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM. HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROX 11,000 ON MY WAY TO AIRPORT TO PICK UP FAMILY ON APRIL 10, 1999. COULDN'T GET IT IN FOR SERVICE UNTIL APRIL 14, 1999. TRANSMISSION CLUTCH STARTED CATCHING OR SCRAPING ON SOMETHING SHORTLY AFTER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD WHEN WORK WAS COMPLETED (REPLACE…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM. HEAD GASKET FAILED AT APPROX 11,000 ON MY WAY TO AIRPORT TO PICK UP FAMILY ON APRIL 10, 1999. COULDN'T GET IT IN FOR SERVICE UNTIL APRIL 14, 1999. TRANSMISSION CLUTCH STARTED CATCHING OR SCRAPING ON SOMETHING SHORTLY AFTER HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD WHEN WORK WAS COMPLETED (REPLACED CABLES ON 11/18/1999) THAT PROBLEM WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT MILEAGE WAS 18,373. WAS AGAIN EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH ON 2/29/2000. UPON SPEAKING WITH SERVICE TEAM, WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BAD BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD BE REPLACING BOTH THE CABLES AND TRANSMISSION PARTS; I ALSO ASKED FOR THEM TO CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT , BECAUSE IT WAS COMING ON AND HAD A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE; VACCUM SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. ON 3/24/2000 INTERNAL PARTS OF TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED AT 22,349 MI. ON 06/05/2000 ENGINE STALLED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART, ENGINE WAS RUNNING REALLY ROUGH, REPLACED MAPPING COMPUTER @25,008 MI. CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 8/23/2000 STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. OPENED HOOD AND WATCHED GAS LEAKING ALL OVER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP ON 8/24/2000 W/ 29,539 MI. REPLACED CRACKED FUEL INJECTORS AND LEAKING HOSES. THE CAR IS NOW IN AGAIN BECAUSE OF YET THE SAME TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT. THINK . . . I'M DRIVING DOWN I 95 WITH MY FAMILY IN MY CAR. TRANSMISSION FAILS, BIG TRUCK RUNS THE CAR OVER . . . DOES CHRYSLER WANT THAT HEADACHE?
1998 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 DOHC, ON 7/15/2000 STARTED HEARING A LOW RUMBLE/GEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER ON 7/24/2000 AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE SHOT. TOTAL ESTIMATED BILL WAS $510.00. I TOLD DEALER THAT THERE WERE 2 TSB'S AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL WARRANTY AVAILA…
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1998 DODGE STRATUS 2.4 DOHC, ON 7/15/2000 STARTED HEARING A LOW RUMBLE/GEAR NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER ON 7/24/2000 AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE SHOT. TOTAL ESTIMATED BILL WAS $510.00. I TOLD DEALER THAT THERE WERE 2 TSB'S AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL WARRANTY AVAILABLE. TSB #'S WERE SB054434 AND SB6088758.*AK
I REQUESTED RECALL INSPECTION FOR TRANSMISSION POWER TRAIN ON 6-19-2000. WHILE LOOKING FOR INFO ON MY DODGE STRATUS 9 8 ON YOUR WEBSITE I ACCESSED RECALLS AND NOTICED THAT THEIR WERE TWO FOR THIS CAR. ONE WAS FOR BRAKE RECALL AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY HUNTSVILLE DODGE AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE INSPECTION THE OTHER RECALL WAS…
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I REQUESTED RECALL INSPECTION FOR TRANSMISSION POWER TRAIN ON 6-19-2000. WHILE LOOKING FOR INFO ON MY DODGE STRATUS 9 8 ON YOUR WEBSITE I ACCESSED RECALLS AND NOTICED THAT THEIR WERE TWO FOR THIS CAR. ONE WAS FOR BRAKE RECALL AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY HUNTSVILLE DODGE AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE INSPECTION THE OTHER RECALL WAS FOR POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THE RECALL DATE WAS OWNER NOTIFICATION OCT 1998 I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN DEC 98 AND ACCORDING TO THE INFO AT THAT TIME THIS CAR WAS ON THERE LOT AT THE TIME OF RECALL NOTIFICATION. I TOOK THE RECALL INFO TO DEALER AND ASKED IF THAT RECALL INSPECTION WAS DONE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THERE POSSESSION AND ON THERE LOT BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME IN DEC 98. THEY LOOKED IT UP I GUESS BY VIN AND TOLD ME NO IT WAS NOT I ASKED THEM TO DO IT WHILE THEY HAD IT THERE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD AND DID. MY QUESTION AND POSSIBLE COMPLAINT TO YOU IS SHOULD NOT THEY HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO DO THE RECALL INSPECTION WHILE IN THERE POSSESSION AT THE CAR LOT BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO SELL THE CAR. THANK YOU.*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.