IllustrationI OWN A 2003 DODGE STRATUS AND IT SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE OF ITS 2.7 LITER ENGINE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR DOES NOT RUN DUE TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
2003 Dodge Stratus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
90–25K
1325–50K
950–75K
1175–100K
9100–150K
3150K+
54 reports with mileage · 21 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
6 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ABNORMAL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT ABNORMAL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,000. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS 2.7L WITH SIX CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED CAUSING THE FAILURE. …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED CAUSING THE FAILURE.
DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAK…
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DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE SOURCE OF THE SQUEAKING NOISE WAS UNKNOWN. THE ENGINE, A CALIBER TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AIR CONDITIONING, BRAKES, AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A STILL A SQUEAKING NOISE AND CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE IT I COMES FROM. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK
RELIABLE MECHANICS REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS ONLY 47,200 MILES ON IT.MECHANICS STATE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND IT IS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE, RANGING FROM $3,000 AND UP, SOON. AS I'VE D…
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RELIABLE MECHANICS REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OIL ON MY 2003 DODGE STRATUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE WHICH HAS ONLY 47,200 MILES ON IT.MECHANICS STATE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND IT IS LIKELY TO NEED REPAIRS OF THE ENGINE, RANGING FROM $3,000 AND UP, SOON. AS I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING, I HAVE SEEN THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE ARE FAITHFUL WITH OUR OIL CHANGES, AND FEEL THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN READING THAT THESE ENGINES JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. DODGE WILL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM IF SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR CARELESSNESS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I REALLY FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE OR SOME FAMILY GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.*AK
THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO…
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THE 2003 DODGE STRATUS WE OWN IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. RAPIDLY OVERHEATING AND SHUTTING DOWN, NEAR ACCIDENT WITH SUDDEN STALLING IN TRAFFIC, REGULATORS ON THE ENGINE FAN GOING OUT, HEADGASKETS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NOT A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED 2 TIMES AND STILL MALFUNCTIONS. JUST GOT CAR BACK FROM SHOP AND HAVE TO RETURN IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK
Official recalls
215V338000 · 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.
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
1PE02082 · Safety Belt Cinching Latch Plate
Opened Nov 6, 2002 · Closed Apr 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.