IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL RATTLED. WHILE BRAKING, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
2006 Dodge Stratus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Dodge Stratus are lower than the model-year median of 168.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →74Owner complaints
Model-year median: 168
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2006 Dodge Stratus
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 74 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Suspension: 23 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 14 reports
- Air Bags: 13 reports
- Steering: 9 reports
- Electrical System: 8 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Stratus years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
70–25K
1925–50K
1450–75K
375–100K
12100–150K
4150K+
59 reports with mileage · 15 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 23 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 →
- Air Bags. 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.
19 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
74 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT GREASE WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND UNIVERSAL AXLE WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACT…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT GREASE WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND UNIVERSAL AXLE WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/16/16*JB
CAME IN TO KNOWLEDGE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS RECALL NOTICES IN REFERENCE TO BALL JOINT ISSUES. MY DRIVER SIDE IS STARTING TO MAKE NOISE, BUT I OWN MY CAR AND DO NOT HAVE A DEALERSHIP TO GO TO. CAN I BE DIRECTED TO A DEALERSHIP THAT CAN DO THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT?
WHILE INVESTIGATING A MINOR TWO VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASH INVOLVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER HAD SUSTAINED SWELLING AND ABRASIONS TO HIS HANDS AND FOREARMS FROM THE AIRBAGS, AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF SORENESS IN THE SHOULDERS. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS…
Read full complaint
WHILE INVESTIGATING A MINOR TWO VEHICLE TRAFFIC CRASH INVOLVING THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER HAD SUSTAINED SWELLING AND ABRASIONS TO HIS HANDS AND FOREARMS FROM THE AIRBAGS, AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF SORENESS IN THE SHOULDERS. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS CALLED FOR. UPON EXAMINING THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT THEY WERE RIDING IN, I SAW THAT THE ONLY DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH WAS TO THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER. A VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING TO THE RIGHT OF THEM AND SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THEM ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT VEHICLE (CHEVY TRAILBLAZER) STRUCK THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER OF THE DODGE STRATUS, AS IT TURNED (SIDESWIPED). THE DAMAGE TO THE STRATUS DID NOT SEEN SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, AND THERE WAS NO DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM. *TR
2006 DODGE STRATUS. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING ANY INFORMATION ON VEHICLE SHE PURCHASED FROM NJ TREASURY DEPARTMENT. STATES IT WAS TAKEN FROM HER DRIVEWAY *CN
AT THE IMPACT OF ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SLUDGE ON THE PICK UP TUBE CLOCKED THE SCREEN AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. ALWAYS HAD THE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. NEVER HERD OF HAVING TO DROP THE PAN AND CLEAN A PICK UP TUBE WHEN DOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. OWNED LOTS OF CARS IN THE 30 YEARS I BEEN DRIVING A…
Read full complaint
THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SLUDGE ON THE PICK UP TUBE CLOCKED THE SCREEN AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. ALWAYS HAD THE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. NEVER HERD OF HAVING TO DROP THE PAN AND CLEAN A PICK UP TUBE WHEN DOING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. OWNED LOTS OF CARS IN THE 30 YEARS I BEEN DRIVING AND NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS. CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER A YEAR AND I STILL HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS EVERY MONTH. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW ENGINE. THANKS DODGE. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A DODGE AGAIN. PIECE OF CRAP ENGINE. *TR
1. DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH ON STRAIGHT HIGHWAY 2. CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE ON RIGHT REAR. INSIDE OF SIDE WALL OF TIRE BLEW OUT. ENTIRE TREAD UNZIPPED AND SEPARATED FROM BOTH SIDE WALLS. 3. REPLACED WITH SPARE TIRE. *TR
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.