Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Stratus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling58
- Suspension41
- Steering26
- Air bags26
- Power train20
- Electrical system19
- Vehicle speed control11
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Structure9
- Visibility6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2001 Stratus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Dodge Stratus failed the safety check 4.53% of the time — 126% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 101,890 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ALLOWED THE REINFORCEMENT YARD TO BREACH THE INNER LAYER OF SOME AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOSES WEAKENING THE INNER WALL WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OUTER LAYER ONLY OF THIS 3-LAYER FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE DESIRED OZONE PROTECTION DUE TO A PROCESSING ERROR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE BUILT WITH SUSPECT ALUMINUM EXTRUSION SECTIONS WHICH MAY NOT RETAIN THE AIR BAG DOOR DURING AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT EVENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THROUGH DEGRADATION OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE SILENCER PAD AND A SHEET METAL PANEL (QUARTER INNER UPPER), THE PAD MAY FALL ONTO THE MAP LIGHT LOCATED IN THE REAR SEATING AREA NEAR THE C-PILLAR TRIM PANEL (LH AND RH). THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE THE PAD TO MELT, CREATING A HOT SMELL AND/OR SMOKE DURING LONG PERIODS OF ILLUMINATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 2001 Dodge Stratus: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 634087 | SUBJECT REGARDING REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 634082 | CHROME WHEEL CARE. *SLC |
| 634077 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *SLC |
| 634066 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND. *SLC |
| 633939 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE VINYL SURFACE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEING DAMAGED OR BLEMISHED. *SLC |
| 633459 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INTERIOR GURGLING SOUND, OVERHEATING AND/OR POOR INTERIOR HEATING AT IDLE. *SLC |
| 629159 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL RETENTION/WARPED ALONG BELT LINE CONDITION. *TT |
| 629133 | SUBJECT REGARDING LOW OR NO CABIN HEAD, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM SYSTEM FILL PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 629131 | A VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT LOW OR NO CABIN HEAT, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND / OR COOLANT BOTTLE DAMAGE AFTER SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 628328 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FLICKERING TRIP COMPUTER AND/OR RADIO DISPLAY, INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, AND/OR OVERHEAD/DOME LIGHTS. *TT |
| 628218 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE TRAVELER MODULE MAY TRANSMIT AN ERRONEOUS SECURITY SYSTEM SIGNAL IF THE VEHICLE IS FACING WEST WHEN STARTED, PREVENTING THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. *TT |
| 628198 | ON SOME VEHCLES, THE POWER SEAT HAS SLIGHT FORE/AFT MOVEMENT MOST NOTICEABLE DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. *TT |
| 628191 | EXPERIENCING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *TT |
| 628188 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE IDLE ROUGHNESS FOLLOWING A COLD START, ENGINE SPEED FLARE OR ROUGH IDLE WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. *TT |
| 628186 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MODERATE TO SEVERE HIGH WAY SPEED 45-60 MPH VEHICLE SURGE. *TT |
| 625650 | SUBJECT REGARDING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 625582 | EXPERIENCING HONK OR FOG HORN SOUND COMING FROM THE A/C EXPANSION VALVE. *TT |
| 621942 | THIS BULLETIN REINFORCES A REQUIREMENT TO CEASE THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING SUPPLEMENTAL OIL ADDITIVE TREATMENTS IN ALL DAIMLERCHRYSLER ENGINES. *TT |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620956 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND. *TT |
| 620950 | ADVANCE SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING STEERING COLUMN CLICK SOUND. *TT |
| 620936 | SUBJECT REGARDING WATER LEAK INFORMATION. *TT |
| 620075 | WHEEL ALIGNMENT OUT OF SPECIFICATION. *TT |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation