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2005 Dodge Stratus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Dodge Stratus are lower than the model-year median of 168.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

53 reports with mileage · 9 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

14 reports
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93,000 miles · May 2, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE COOLANT AIR BLEEDER VALVE DO TO BEING A DEFECTIVE PART NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OR SIMILAR YEARS, I'M DISABLED AND NEED MY CAR FOR DR. APPOINTMENTS, DON'T WANT TO END UP IN CAR ACCIDENTS DO TO THIS ISSUE PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED OTHER INFO[XXX] INFO…

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THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE COOLANT AIR BLEEDER VALVE DO TO BEING A DEFECTIVE PART NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OR SIMILAR YEARS, I'M DISABLED AND NEED MY CAR FOR DR. APPOINTMENTS, DON'T WANT TO END UP IN CAR ACCIDENTS DO TO THIS ISSUE PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED OTHER INFO[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586257

75,000 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

***UPDATE ON MY INITIAL COMPLAINT*** MECHANICS HAVE DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF MY NON-STOP OIL LEAKS/SPILLS IS FROM A MOVING CRANKSHAFT THAT CAUSES THE SEAL TO POP OUT, AND THUS, CONTINUOUS OIL SPILLAGE. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO LUCK. IT IS NOT FIXABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381375

75,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

DECEMBER 2010 I NOTICED A MASSIVE OIL LEAK/SPILL UNDER MY CAR. TOOK TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY. THEY TOOK APART TIMING COVER SET AND DID SOME REPLACEMENTS. COST APPROXIMATELY $900. A FEW WEEKS LATER, AN EVEN BIGGER OIL LEAK/SPILL. TOOK TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPLACED SOME SORT OF PART FOR FREE SEEING AS IT WAS THE SAME/SIMILAR ISSUE…

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DECEMBER 2010 I NOTICED A MASSIVE OIL LEAK/SPILL UNDER MY CAR. TOOK TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY. THEY TOOK APART TIMING COVER SET AND DID SOME REPLACEMENTS. COST APPROXIMATELY $900. A FEW WEEKS LATER, AN EVEN BIGGER OIL LEAK/SPILL. TOOK TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPLACED SOME SORT OF PART FOR FREE SEEING AS IT WAS THE SAME/SIMILAR ISSUE AND I WAS JUST RECENTLY IN THERE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, YET ANOTHER MASSIVE OIL LEAK/SPILL COMING FROM MY CAR. TOOK TO SHOP IMMEDIATELY (3RD TIME IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS). MECHANIC SAID OIL DEFINITELY LEAKING FROM ENGINE AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO OIL LEFT IN THE ENGINE. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ARE AT A LOSS. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM W/OUT A CAR FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG...AGAIN. THE SHOP OWNER SAYS HE IS WORKING ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUE AND THAT HE IS CONTACTING DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND NATIONAL RECALL TO SEE IF I AM THE ONLY ONE. I DON'T HAVE ANYMORE MONEY AND TIME FOR THIS. I NEED MY CAR FOR WORK AND OTHER PEOPLE CANT DRIVE ME AROUND ANYMORE. ON TOP OF THAT, MY LANDLORD SAYS THAT I MAY NOT BE GETTING MY DEPOSIT BACK DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE OIL COMING FROM MY VEHICLE HAS DONE TO THE GROUND IN OUR PARKING GARAGE. PLEASE RECALL!! I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381154

80,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT DOES IT OUT OF NO WHERE. I WAS ON A BUSY HWY AND IT ALMOST CUT OFF. MY CAR SPUTTERED ALL THE WAY HOME AND THEN IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPEN. A DAY OR TWO LATER IT HAPPENS ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365517

71,246 miles · Apr 26, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT THAT KEEPS MOVING, WHICH IS CAUSING THE CRANK SEAL TO POP OUT, SO IT CAUSES OIL TO START POURING OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER, AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAD ALSO TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANICS MORE THEN ONCE TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM DOES…

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MY 2005 DODGE STRATUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT THAT KEEPS MOVING, WHICH IS CAUSING THE CRANK SEAL TO POP OUT, SO IT CAUSES OIL TO START POURING OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER, AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAD ALSO TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANICS MORE THEN ONCE TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM FIXIBLE. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM, AND IT WASN'T CAUSE BY US DRIVING THIS CAR. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JAN/2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327533

56,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

DODGE 2005 STRATUS ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE SEIZED UP. NO OIL IN ENGINE CAUSED STALL. OIL LIGHT CAME ON & THOUGHT THAT IT INDICATED LOW OIL. INSTEAD OIL LIGHT INDICATED NO OIL IN ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE SEIZE UP, TIMING BELT BREAKING, STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274869

62,015 miles · Oct 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A FATALITY. THE PROBLEM THAT DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS IS IN THE 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM 2005 TO PRESENT. THE CRANKSHAFT MOVES INSIDE THE ENGINE (ENDPLAY) AND PUSHES THE FRONT MAIN SEAL TO COME OUT. THIS SPILLS THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF OIL ONTO THE ROAD AND COVERS THE BOTTOM OF THE…

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I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A FATALITY. THE PROBLEM THAT DODGE/CHRYSLER HAS IS IN THE 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM 2005 TO PRESENT. THE CRANKSHAFT MOVES INSIDE THE ENGINE (ENDPLAY) AND PUSHES THE FRONT MAIN SEAL TO COME OUT. THIS SPILLS THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF OIL ONTO THE ROAD AND COVERS THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. WHEN I HAD THE CAR TOWED THE SHOP SAID IT WAS SURPRISING THAT THE CAR DID NOT CRASH FIRE. DODGE REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR, BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245244

56,000 miles · Sep 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY SO THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE KEPT RECURRING FOR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY SO THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY. A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE KEPT RECURRING FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE PART NEEDED FOR INSPECTION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE AT THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT RENTED A U-HAUL TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED; HOWEVER, THEY ALSO COULD NOT PROVIDE A CODE FOR THE FAILURE. ANOTHER DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE FOR THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION AS WELL. SHE RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND A HALF WITHOUT ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE HAS RECENTLY RECURRED AND TAKES PLACE WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC OR DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALES DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT FOR FOUR DAYS. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER NEW AND DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241745

74,000 miles · Jul 23, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VEHICLE TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE HIM, CAUSED HIM TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT OF HIS HOOD WAS JAMMED UNDER THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VEHICLE TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE HIM, CAUSED HIM TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT OF HIS HOOD WAS JAMMED UNDER THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WELL. BOTH VEHICLES BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED AND FILED REPORTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VIN AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10235451

48,848 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAL ON THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT FAILED AND BEGAN LEAKING OIL. A REPLACEMENT SEAL WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A 1/4 INCH MOVEMENT IN THE CRANKS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAL ON THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT FAILED AND BEGAN LEAKING OIL. A REPLACEMENT SEAL WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A 1/4 INCH MOVEMENT IN THE CRANKSHAFT AND THE SEAL FAILED AGAIN. THE TIMING BELT WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,848. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219556

Official recalls

3

15V338000 · 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.

04V579000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Dec 9, 2004

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND CONVERTIBLE MODEL VEHICLES, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE COMPONENT MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

04V532000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Nov 2, 2004

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR OUTBOARD RETRACTOR AND TURNING LOOP BOLTS ON THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE AFFECTED FASTENERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.