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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 complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2022
EngineSuspensionUnknown Or Other

Unknown the only thing that I can tell you for sure is that struts are bad Call was like this when I bought it

NHTSA ODI #11454339

130,000 miles · Sep 22, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST AND GOT UP TO 70 BEFORE I HAD TO MASH THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND PULL OVER AND FORCE IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY TO STOP THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE IT CONTINUED REV IN PARK AND NEUTRAL WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM PUTTING IT IN DRIVE'

NHTSA ODI #10767472

123,000 miles · May 7, 2015
EngineService Brakes

I PURCHASED FROM CAR CHAMPS ON MARCH 27TH STOPPED WORKING MARCH 30TH AND DECIDED TO START RUNNING AGAIN APRIL 4TH THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS OUT OF USE AND BROKEN I CALLED CAR CHAMPS NO ONE RETURNED CALLED OR RESPONDED THE CENTER HAD DATES AND TIMES AND COMPLAINT'S, AS TO SITUATION THE DAY I FINALLY GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM ON MY APPOI…

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I PURCHASED FROM CAR CHAMPS ON MARCH 27TH STOPPED WORKING MARCH 30TH AND DECIDED TO START RUNNING AGAIN APRIL 4TH THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS OUT OF USE AND BROKEN I CALLED CAR CHAMPS NO ONE RETURNED CALLED OR RESPONDED THE CENTER HAD DATES AND TIMES AND COMPLAINT'S, AS TO SITUATION THE DAY I FINALLY GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM ON MY APPOINTMENT WAS SET FOR THE 9TH HALF WAY THERE TO CAR CHAMPS THE CALL CENTER CALLS ME AND SAS SERVICE MANAGER WHO IS ALSO THE WORKER CANCELED BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY, ME STATING THE WHOLE TIME I FEAR FOR MY LIFE IN THIS VEHICLE THEY SOLD ME WHICH I NEEDED A VEHICLE SO BAD FOR MY WORK THAT I TOOK IT HAD BEING TOLD IT WAS THE ONLY ONE I COULD GET I ASKED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AT PURCHASE IS THIS CAR GONNA STOP OR BREAK DOWN ON ME MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE LOT SAID NO IT WON'T IT'S GOOD CONDITION, THAT WAS A LIE 30 DAY WARRANTY STILL IN EFFECT I WAS THERE FOR 4 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES TOPS, IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS A NEW CONDITION DISCOVERED AFTER BEING TOLD IT HAD CRACKED BREAK PADS WHICH COULD OF BROKEN COMPLETELY AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP I COULD HAVE DIED, AS I'M DRIVING AWAY AFTER THE 5 HOUR DELAY 2 NEW LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE OIL LIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED AND RAN THERE PHONE OFF THE HOOK TILL SOMEONE ANSWER I WAS TOLD TO GET MY CAR THERE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE HAD TO GO.MIND YOU I'VE BEEN CALLING SINCE 9AM THAT MORNING L I RUSHED DOWN THERE FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP GOING 40/45 MILES PER HOUR ON A HIGHWAY, 18 WHEELER SLAMMING BREAKS AND BUMPIN AND TOTALLY FEARING FOR MY LIFE AFTER H A 5 HOUR AND 30 MINUTE WAIT FOR CAR CHAMPS TOW TRUCK TO GET US AND TAKE US TO THERE SERVICE LOT, AS OF TODAY THEY TOWED LONER VEHICLE GIVEN TO ME AFTER I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL 2 DAYS CUZ OF THERE ACCIDENT AND LEMON CAR LEAVING A MESSAGE SAYING WERE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS AND DO A CAR SWITCH OUT THEN REPOSSESSING THERE CAR STILL UNDER 30 DAY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715084

134,000 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10547285

100,000 miles · Jan 30, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10495276

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.