1998 Dodge Stratus problems
The 1998 Dodge Stratus has 334 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (37%) concerns engine. Next are brakes (18%) and steering (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 334 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 37% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 30 and 19
- Injuries and deaths
- 24 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 78 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 23 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 16 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 78 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 76,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 65,000 miles (33 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 30 complaints mention a crash; 19 complaints mention a fire; 24 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Dodge Stratus with enough data (209 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The first day that consumer took vehicle home he experienced brake failure. Consumer was backing up and the brakes failed to stop vehicle. A second time, consumer was driving approximately 25 MPH when a truck stopped in front of vehicle. When driver applied brakes there were none, she rear ended the truck .
2nd accident, brake pedal went to floor, car did not slowdown, direct fronal impact 45MPH, driver's & passenger's airbags did not deploy.
Nar 03/17/2003 the head gasket were defective and leaked prematurely in the 1998 dodge stratus. The consumer requested that he be reimbursed for the attempt to repair defective head gaskets in the amount of $ 300.00 from the dealer.
While the vehicle was parked consumer noticed fluid leaking from underneath the vehicle. It was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that head gasket needed to be replaced. The consumer stated that the tie rod fell off.