10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,232 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Dodge Stratus:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

Oct 082018

Stratus

  • 73,083 miles
Got this car 2 years ago and from day 1 when applying the brakes all the way the car is almost uncontrolable the wheel pulls one way or the other bad so I have to pump them and then it still pulls and I have replaced the brakes 4 times to make sure it wasnt the disc and also replaced the wheel bearings and the shop told me the lower control arm and upper and lower ball joints are cracking up and so its not safe for me to drive and I dont have the money to be replacing something that shouldnt be messed up my car has low miles it started makimg clunking noises whem going over a bump and any time car is moving it is squeaking noises coming frpm front of car

- Auburndale, FL, USA

problem #10

May 032018

Stratus

  • 180,500 miles
Takata there are several things that I have seen as a recall on a Dodge Stratus and tried to report it and whomever I be talking to is in denial about that my car is showing me the signs that it's needs to be fixed because it's a malfunction my ball joint is bad because of the front right steering knuckle has messed it up and my gas gauge is messed up with the alarm and temp control is also messed

- Murphysboro, IL, USA

problem #9

Feb 042016

Stratus

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Stratus. While making a right turn, the steering wheel locked without warning and the vehicle crashed into a light pole. The driver had a seizure after the crash and was transported to the hospital for medical attention. Only the front passenger side air bag deployed. A police report was filed, but it was not consistent with the contact's account of what occurred. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or dealer. After ten days, the vehicle was no longer accessible after being towed to a yard. The manufacturer was made aware of the crash months after it happened. The failure mileage was not available.

- Granite City, IL, USA

problem #8

Feb 042016

Stratus

  • miles
The contact owned a 2005 Dodge Stratus. While making a right turn, the steering wheel jerked and locked. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a pole and damaged the front end. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that only the passenger side air bag deployed. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right knee and had a seizure that required medical attention. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a state matter. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Granite, IL, USA

problem #7

Feb 062017

Stratus 4WD 6-cyl

  • 121,517 miles
The vehicle was purchased in 2013 " as is" (used) F rom a car lot. There were at least 2 or 3 alignments completed due to repairs on related parts. After each alignment, the steering wheel would turn to an angled position after a few days or a week. When turning the steering wheel to the right or turning it to the right while backing up in reverse, a loud pop can be heard coming from the vehicle. The noise has always seemed to come from the left side of the car. Everything suggested as repairs has been done. Both ball joints were replaced. All front and back struts were replaced. Also there has been a problem with the suspension causing noise and bouncing while driving. All of this has happened on city streets, driving about 35 mph or much less. A mechanic suggested in 2013 that the car might have an electrical problem but almost everything has worked well for the past 4 years with no problems except for the windshield wiper speed which does not work on the regular back and forth and super fast speed. The wiper switch was replaced which didn't help. A Dodge dealership checked it last week and said that the wiper motor works. Only one of many auto repair places tried to charge me for an elec issue. Also in 2013, the first car repair shop I took it to did not detect any recalls and they listed a different VIN # which is:[xxx], on my paperwork. A dealership told me it was not valid when I contacted it for parts. A different VIN # is on the car title which is in my name. Could this car be part of a chop shop scam? I've had a problem trying to find parts that match the color and year especially for an inside door panel. Also I filed police reports because someone has entered the car repeatedly and illegally without forced entry and may have a key. The seller of the car was dishonest when the car was purchased. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #6

Jul 042016

Stratus

  • 160,000 miles
Was driving 25 mph driving on paramount blvd at whittier blvd, in pico rivera, ca, when the car made a loud clunking noise, then felt as though we were dragging something. Only drove 50 feet before pulling over, as it was impossible to drive. We thought it was initially a flat tire, until we got out. Our mechanic inspected it, and determined that the lower control arm had failed on the passenger side. It was clear from the picture that the ball joint was rusted and snapped free of its housing.

- El Segundo, CA, USA

problem #5

Mar 042015

Stratus

  • 93,000 miles
This car is a death trap. I have lost control of the steering many times it seems to be worse in any curve. I must drive it under the speed limit at least 5 miles to safely keep it on the road. I am terrified everyday in this car. When using the brakes the whole car shakes violently an does not stop well even at low speeds(brakes are new)

- Fancy Gap, VA, USA

problem #4

Aug 052015

Stratus

  • miles
I was backing out of the driveway on his way to work and all of a sudden he couldn't steer. The right front tire just turned in sideways and wouldn't move with any movement of the steering wheel. We jacked up the car to see what happened and we saw the arm with the ball joint was completely detached from the socket. By the looks of it, the crack is near the retaining ring groove. We can manually move the tire as it is completely detached from the front suspension control arm. I was very upset with this and the fact I wasn't notified this was an issue. Not only could my life have been in danger but also my nephew who I let use the car and all of those other drivers on the roads everyday. An issue like this would for sure cause a fatality at a fast speed as I drive the interstate daily with my twin girls. This issue best be fixed and more notification is requested on any other issues pertaining to my car! if its not a recall, make it a recall! very dangerous!!!!!

- Abercrombie, ND, USA

problem #3

Jun 062014

Stratus

  • 101,000 miles
My daughter was driving through a parking lot and the car suddenly stopped. She got out and looked at the front and discovered the both front wheels were turned out in opposite directions. The tie rod had broke and came apart. This could have been disastrous at highway speeds. I was able to fix it at home, but as a father, I worry about just this thing happening!

- Dysart, IA, USA

problem #2

Feb 102014

Stratus 4-cyl

  • 149,000 miles
One day I went to back out, I turned the wheel and hear this crunching, clunking sound which sounded like a huge rock scrapping on metal. I immediately stopped and walked around the car and saw nothing. It started again as soon as I started the car back up. Anytime I turn the steering wheel, I heard this sound. I took it to a mechanic who told me it was the tie-rod ends. He said a lot of people have this issue but there was no recall yet. I called the dealer to see if they would fix it since there were a lot of complaints. Nope ! the dealer said they could not fix it for free without an official recall. It's a costly repair $900-$1100 B/C it requires many different services - tie rod ends, tires, balance, alignment, but they would not drop the price by a single penny. Now they are doing a piecemeal recall beginning with the trucks. Why not force them to recall them all ? I have been on multiple sites and I have seen complaints from as far back as 2003 to as recently as 2014. I wish the government was a hard on the dealers as the dealers are on the buyers.

- Columbia, SC, USA

problem #1

Apr 182014

Stratus 4-cyl

  • 180,453 miles
As I pulled into the car lot where I am buying the car I heard a kind of clunk but was unsure what it was. I went in and made my car payment upon starting my car and putting in reverse to leave my car would not turn in any direction. I put the car in park and shut it off went back into the car salesman and asked him if he could help figure out what was going on. He jacked the car up and checked to see the problem but was unable to see anything until he removed the drivers side front tire. Here he immediately noticed that the rack and pinion had broke free from the tie rod end and was unable to get back together as the bolts that held these parts together were stripped completely out and there was no way to fix..

- Richwood, OH, USA