CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREET. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN.
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
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
13 reportsLATELY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER IT COMES ON THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS FI…
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LATELY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER IT COMES ON THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED BUT NOW WHENEVER IT MALFUNCTIONS THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL ITS BEEN SITTING UNTOUCHED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TOWN (25 MPH) AND ON ROADS UP TO 55 MPHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS AS 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING BUT THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO FLUCTUATE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS AS 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING BUT THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO FLUCTUATE RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,252.
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE AT A STOP OR COMING TO A STOP, TOOK TO DEALER IN 2009 DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT HAS DONE THIS EVER SINCE. TODAY IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATED HARDER WILE AT A COMPLETE STOP MAKING ME HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME NO DAMAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. AS A RESLUT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY SUFFERED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED REGARDING THE INCIDENT. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. AS A RESLUT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY SUFFERED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED REGARDING THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED10/13/11 *BF UPDATED 11/02/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AS HARD AS SHE COULD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP SHE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AS HARD AS SHE COULD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT INTO DRIVE. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER HIT TWO PEDESTRIANS AS WELL A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT INTO DRIVE. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 40 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONSUMER HIT TWO PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. HE CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE CURB AND THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AMBULANCE AND POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. TWO PEDESTRIANS, THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE WITH CONCERNS OF HIGHER THAN NORMAL ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE EACH TIME AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 11/16/11*LJ UPDATED 11/18/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE RPM'S RAPIDLY INCREASE AND BRAKING CAPABILITY IS REDUCED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE RPM'S RAPIDLY INCREASE AND BRAKING CAPABILITY IS REDUCED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,500. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY START TO RACE JUST OVER 2000 RPM'S. UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB
CAR AFTER RUNNING THE FIRST FEW MILES,WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR ACCELERATE BY IT SELF. YOU CAN FEEL IT PULLING WHEN BRAKES ARE ON. HAVE TAKEN IT THEY DRIVE IT DOES NOT DO IT THEY SAY CAR IS OK. IT'S TRUE THIS HAPPENS MAY BE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF THEIR HAS BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HAVING…
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CAR AFTER RUNNING THE FIRST FEW MILES,WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CAR ACCELERATE BY IT SELF. YOU CAN FEEL IT PULLING WHEN BRAKES ARE ON. HAVE TAKEN IT THEY DRIVE IT DOES NOT DO IT THEY SAY CAR IS OK. IT'S TRUE THIS HAPPENS MAY BE ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF THEIR HAS BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM STOPPING. THE RPMS REVVED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 205, AND THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM STOPPING. THE RPMS REVVED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 205, AND THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED. THE DEALER HAS DONE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND FOUND NO SOLUTION. CHRYSLER OFFERED HER NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OR ANY FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A CAR AS A RESULT OF THE SURGING.*AK
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.
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