IllustrationCAR STALLS, SPUTTERS, JUMPS, KICKS AND ALL WITHOUT WARNING. SHAKES A BIT WHILE DRIVING BUT REALLY ACTS UP WHEN SLOWING OR STOPPED. *TR
2004 Dodge Stratus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
210–25K
2425–50K
2250–75K
1475–100K
22100–150K
10150K+
113 reports with mileage · 31 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.
- Suspension. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
22 reports2004 DODGE STRATUS WITH REAR END PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAD THE RESONATOR REPLACED, AND THEN WAS TOLD THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN HER DAD WAS REPLACING THE STRUTS THEY BROKE INTO PIECES BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CORROSION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A MINOR PROBLEM WITH THE HORN.…
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2004 DODGE STRATUS WITH REAR END PROBLEMS. CONSUMER HAD THE RESONATOR REPLACED, AND THEN WAS TOLD THE REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN HER DAD WAS REPLACING THE STRUTS THEY BROKE INTO PIECES BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CORROSION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A MINOR PROBLEM WITH THE HORN. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE THINKS THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AS THE VEHICLE CHANGES GEARS, IT WILL NOT CHANGE SMOOTHLY AND ENDS UP JERKING BACK AND FORTH AS SHE TRIES TO INCREASE SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT, IS TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN ACCELERATE THROUGH TO THE NEXT GEAR *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AT THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE MACHINE HEAD WAS CONSTRUCTED INCORRECTLY, WHICH PREVENTED OIL FROM REACHING THE CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED UN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AT THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE MACHINE HEAD WAS CONSTRUCTED INCORRECTLY, WHICH PREVENTED OIL FROM REACHING THE CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE EXPENSES WOULD BE TAKEN UP WITH THE CHRYSLER DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON WET ROADS, SMOKE BEGAN TO ERUPT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY, AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAN BLADES HAD DETACHED AND PIERCED THE RADIATOR.
2004 STRATUS MADE A WHISTLING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DRIVING 70-80 MPH. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED IT SOUNDED AS IF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO FALL APART. THE CONSUMER THINKS SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR BROKE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE STEERING, TRANSMISSION OR THE RACK AND PINION. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE TIRES SPUN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THE HIT THE CONSUMER'S GARAGE. THE VEHICLE AND GARAGE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERT…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE TIRES SPUN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THE HIT THE CONSUMER'S GARAGE. THE VEHICLE AND GARAGE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED, HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM
MY CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF WHILE IN PARKING LOTS OR AT RED LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OUT LAST TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WAS ALL HOT! THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY AND THEY WOULD NEED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I READ A WEBSITE FORUM FULL OF STRATUS' T…
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MY CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF WHILE IN PARKING LOTS OR AT RED LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OUT LAST TIME I LET MY CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WAS ALL HOT! THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY AND THEY WOULD NEED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I READ A WEBSITE FORUM FULL OF STRATUS' THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STOP WITHOUT WARNING, THE RADIO STAYS ON AND EVERYTHING! THIS COULD LEAD TO A WRECK!*JB
THE CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND STALL IN PARKING LOTS AND INTERSECTIONS, WITH JUST 6,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE NOW GOING BAD AS WELL. IT ALSO WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, MY WIFE WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AND REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR TH…
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THE CAR WILL IDLE ROUGHLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND STALL IN PARKING LOTS AND INTERSECTIONS, WITH JUST 6,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE NOW GOING BAD AS WELL. IT ALSO WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, MY WIFE WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AND REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM TODAY. LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME I DID NO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN A CAR STALLS BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAYS IT DID NOT AND THEY DROVE IT A FEW MILES AND DID NOT HAVE TROUBLE. I WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT TODAY. *NM
WHILE AT A STOP ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO JERK FORWARD. CONSUMER PRECEDED TO DRIVE HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE STALLED. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLS IT CUTS OFF EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN KICKED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. *TC
Official recalls
315V338000 · 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.
04V313000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 29, 2004
ON CERTAIN 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOLDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A LEAKAGE OF FUEL AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, IT COULD RESULT A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.