IllustrationCAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY CAUSING PERSON TO HIT HEAD AND HAVE TO HAVE EMERGENCY TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL. THE WHOLE BUMPER WAS CRUSHED IN ALONG WITH THE RADIATOR BEING SHOVED INTO THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO EMT/POLICE, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB
2003 Dodge Stratus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
90–25K
1325–50K
950–75K
1175–100K
9100–150K
3150K+
54 reports with mileage · 21 unknown
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.
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
15 reportsTURNED INTO A PARKING SPOTAND HEARD SOMETHING POP IN STEERING WHEEL AREA. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON, HORN DOES NOT WORK AND CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING.I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME.*AK
MY CAR HAS 41,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE PAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/KNOCKING. THAT'S PROBLEM 1. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE AT WORK, AND I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL. I HEARD THIS POP AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON . ACCORDING TO THE OW…
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MY CAR HAS 41,000 MILES. IT IS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE PAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING/KNOCKING. THAT'S PROBLEM 1. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE AT WORK, AND I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL. I HEARD THIS POP AND THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON . ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I DO HAVE THE CAR IN THE SHOP. THE TECHNICAN WORKING ON THE CAR SAYS THE AIR BAG IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THE DODGE CORP. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR CHARGES!*AK
I BOUGHT MY DODGE STRATUS IN FEB. OF 2004, IT IS A 2003. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW GOING OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING OUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, THE CD PLAYER IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURE (AIR BAG SYSTEM) IS FAILING AS WELL. I HAVE OWNED OTHER…
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I BOUGHT MY DODGE STRATUS IN FEB. OF 2004, IT IS A 2003. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW GOING OUT, THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING OUT, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, THE CD PLAYER IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND NOW THE SAFETY FEATURE (AIR BAG SYSTEM) IS FAILING AS WELL. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS IN THE PAST WITH HIGHER MILES THAN THIS VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THIS ONE. I AM UPSET WITH THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT BUYING A NEWER CAR WITH LOW MILES SHOULD LEAVE THE BUYER FEELING HAPPY AND SAFE WITH THEIR DECISION. HOWEVER, I AM NEITHER HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING NOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS FIXED MOST OF THE PROBLEMS SO FAR (THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM LOOKED FOR A FEW DAYS...SO MUCH FOR SAFETY MATTERS!). I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WITH THE CHRYSLER (DODGE) COMPANY.*JB
STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND IS IN-OPERATIVE ACCORDING TO DODGE DEALER. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO IN-OPERATIVE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIVE AIRBAG THEY REPLIED "IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED WITH SAFETY, THEN PARK THE CAR AND DON'T DRIVE IT." NOTICE ON WEBSIT…
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STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND IS IN-OPERATIVE ACCORDING TO DODGE DEALER. CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO IN-OPERATIVE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIVE AIRBAG THEY REPLIED "IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED WITH SAFETY, THEN PARK THE CAR AND DON'T DRIVE IT." NOTICE ON WEBSITES THERE ARE RE-CALLS ISSUED FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME DEFECT BUT NONE ON STRATUS AT THIS TIME. DEALER WAS VERY RUDE WHEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND CHARGED $60 TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, WHEN I INFORMED THEM WHAT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH.*AK
Official recalls
215V338000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 2, 2015
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.
03V443000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 4, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
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
1PE02082 · 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.