Illustration2003 DODGE STRATUS FUEL GAUGE DIAL CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO EMPTY ONCE FUEL IS PLACED IN GAS TANK, SHOWING EMPTY ONLY AFTER A REFILL OF GAS. DO NOT KNOW WHEN HAVE FUEL IN CAR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT ATTEMPTS TO REACH CHRYSLER IS IMPROBABLE. *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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
5 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT PAID $349 FOR A FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTERWARDS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DIAL CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO EMPTY ONCE FUEL IS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT PAID $349 FOR A FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT. AFTERWARDS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DIAL CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO EMPTY ONCE FUEL IS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH CHRYSLER, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTOR, BUT SHE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT PERTAINS TO HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
1. I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. 2. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & WAS RESET. 3. FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACING. I ONLY HAVE 57K MILES AND THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS (03V443000). I ALSO HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS THE CLOCKSPRING AND HAS ALSO BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. NEITHER OF THESE A…
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1. I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. 2. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & WAS RESET. 3. FUEL PUMP NEEDS REPLACING. I ONLY HAVE 57K MILES AND THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS (03V443000). I ALSO HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS THE CLOCKSPRING AND HAS ALSO BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. NEITHER OF THESE ARE SHOWN AS RECALLED ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF AND SHE SMELLS GAS. HER VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE THAT SHE READ IN A RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE POWERTRAIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # WERE UNKNOWN. THE CU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF AND SHE SMELLS GAS. HER VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE THAT SHE READ IN A RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE POWERTRAIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
BOUGHT A CAR FROM DODGE IN LUBBOCK TX HAVE NOT RECEIVED MT PLATES OR STICKER FOR THE CAR CALLED DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME SOMEONE ELSE HAS MY PLATES AND STICKERS AND THERE FINANCE COMP HAS OUR TITLE. I DARE NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND I AM PAYING FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE I HAVE CALLED DODGE AND I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE COULD YOU PLEAS…
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BOUGHT A CAR FROM DODGE IN LUBBOCK TX HAVE NOT RECEIVED MT PLATES OR STICKER FOR THE CAR CALLED DODGE AND THEY TOLD ME SOMEONE ELSE HAS MY PLATES AND STICKERS AND THERE FINANCE COMP HAS OUR TITLE. I DARE NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND I AM PAYING FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE I HAVE CALLED DODGE AND I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. ALSO THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE MY VIN NUMBER ON THERE CAR. *NLM
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.