IllustrationMileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #731813
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
What owners actually said
272 reportsNO SUMMARY
SOMEONE NEEDS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE. THE FRONT END AND STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN UNDER HARD BRAKING. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN AREA THAT REQUIRES ACCURATE HANDLING/BRAKING, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND IS BEING IGNORED BY THE DEALER AND NOW THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM EX…
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SOMEONE NEEDS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE. THE FRONT END AND STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN UNDER HARD BRAKING. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN AREA THAT REQUIRES ACCURATE HANDLING/BRAKING, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND IS BEING IGNORED BY THE DEALER AND NOW THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM EXIST IN A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN UNDETECTED/MIS-DIAGNOSED OR OTHERWISE NON-REPAIRED. I WELCOME YOUR EXPERT OPINION AND WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING FROM LANE TO LANE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHECKED IT. HAD NOTICED RIGHT TIE ROD HAD CAME LOOSE. HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT. LATER, WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE & VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HUSBAND NOTICED LEFT TIE ROD HAD CAME APART, CAU…
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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING FROM LANE TO LANE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHECKED IT. HAD NOTICED RIGHT TIE ROD HAD CAME LOOSE. HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT. LATER, WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE & VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED OUT. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HUSBAND NOTICED LEFT TIE ROD HAD CAME APART, CAUSING WHEELS TO FACE ONE ANOTHER. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE ROTORS WERE RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT. ALSO, BRAKE LINE WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE FIXED VEHICLE AND HE WANTS REINBURSEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (99V-244) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING A/C STOPPED BLOWING. CONSUMER SHUT CAR OFF AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT CLUTCH FOR THE A/C COMPRESSER WAS HANGING UP AND BURNED UP THE COMPRESSER.*AK
HAVE A SERIOUS VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END DURING HARD BRAKING, MOST NOTICEABLY DURING DOWNHILL BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO VIBRATION THROUGHOUT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL AND FRONT DISK PADS…
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HAVE A SERIOUS VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE FRONT END DURING HARD BRAKING, MOST NOTICEABLY DURING DOWNHILL BRAKING AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO VIBRATION THROUGHOUT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL AND FRONT DISK PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NEW TIRES AND FRONT END ALLIGNMENT HAVE NOT IMPROVED THE SITUATION WHATSOEVER. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH VIBRATION THROUGHOUT CABIN.
BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVERY 1500 MILES. NLM
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
1ST BRAKE FAILURE, 15,000 MILES, SECOND AT 40,000 MILES. ENGINEERING DEFECT, NOT ENOUGH SURFACE AREA TO COMPENSATE FOR CAB FORWARD DESIGN. MANY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HYDRAULICS. LETS GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/…
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1ST BRAKE FAILURE, 15,000 MILES, SECOND AT 40,000 MILES. ENGINEERING DEFECT, NOT ENOUGH SURFACE AREA TO COMPENSATE FOR CAB FORWARD DESIGN. MANY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS ABOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HYDRAULICS. LETS GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER ARTEMIS**725472
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.