10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
16 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,389 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 1997 Dodge Stratus:

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

problem #18

Jul 202004

Stratus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles
Consumer's son was driving on the road and hit a deer on the front driver's side toward the center of the hood. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. There was $2500 in damages.

- Haugen, WI, USA

problem #17

Jan 042004

Stratus 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
While driving at 40 mph the vehicle was involved in a collision. Upon impact, the dual airbags did not deploy. No injuries were reported.

- Brooklyn, IA, USA

problem #16

Aug 202003

(reported on)

Stratus

  • miles
While driving at 55 mph, under normal weather conditions, a bull wondered onto the road and was hit. Upon impact with the bull frontal airbags failed to deploy. Driver sustained neck and back injuries based on doctor's evaluations.

- Watertown, TN, USA

problem #15

Feb 032003

(reported on)

Stratus 4-cyl

  • miles
Consumer was involved in a collision in which the air bags did not deploy. Consumer received extensive injuries.

- Haw River, NC, USA

problem #14

Jul 272002

Stratus

  • miles
Consumer states vehicle was involved in a head-on collision while driving causing damage to the front of the vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. Manufacturer notified.

- Haw River, NC, USA

problem #13

May 302002

Stratus

  • miles
Consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle at 30 mph and neither air bag deployed. Manufacturer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #12

Apr 242001

Stratus

  • miles
This is the 2D same vehicle in total loss crashes in 2 weeks where airbags didn't deploy.

- Partlow, VA, USA

problem #11

Apr 272001

Stratus

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 40mph. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy.

- Rayne, LA, USA

problem #10

Oct 062000

(reported on)

Stratus

  • miles
Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which air bags did not deploy, and rear seat released from the seat tracks.

- Henderson, NC, USA

problem #9

Apr 022000

Stratus

  • miles
Airbags deployed at 5 miles per hour collision. No damage to other car but our car had a blown out windshield, side window, blown apart dash and steering colum. Only damage to car was in the interior.

- Cloverdale, VA, USA

problem #8

Jan 112000

(reported on)

Stratus

  • miles
This vehicle ran into the rear of another vehicle while braking from the speed of 70 mph. Upon impact, air bag did not deploy. The dealer has been contacted.

- Newbury Park, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 061999

Stratus

  • miles
For no apparent reason while sitting at a traffic light, the air bag on the driver's side deployed. Vehicle was taken to dealership for repairs.

- North Wales, PA, USA

problem #6

May 211999

Stratus

  • miles
While driving at 35 mph airbags deployed. Vehicle was not involved in a collision. Driver sustained minor injuries. Manufacturer has been notified.

- Falkville, AL, USA

problem #5

Jan 141999

Stratus

  • miles
Vehicle went out of control while turning off freeway. Hit by another vehicle which caused major damages in front of vehicle. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Dealer/manufacturer notified.

- Chiscago, MN, USA

problem #4

Jul 271998

Stratus

  • miles
On July 27 1998 I was driving my Dodge Stratus South on state St in springville I was slowing down for a light I changed lanes to the right when my driver side airbag deployed ripping my hand off the steering wheel I stopped the car. My girlfreind and her kids where in the car. And jumped out of the car when I stopped. My arm was cut up from the cover on the airbag. I went to the hospital. Where they removed plastic from my forarm. I called the police and reported it. I called doug smith and told them what happend they looked at the car and said they whould not cover it because it was out of waranty, but I have exstended waranty they said to have my auto insurance take care of it. My auto insurance wont cover fatory defects. I was lucky I was'nt on the freeway or I would have been killed and other may have been hurt. Please look into this no one else would give me there time. Thank you.

- Springville, UT, USA

problem #3

Aug 081998

Stratus

  • miles
When vehicle was involved in a crash with 3 other vehicles, traveling about 10 mph, the shoulder belt did not restrain the driver, and there was no deployment of the driver's side or passenger's side air bags. Most damage done to the driver's side and the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle is being repaired.

- Harvery's Lake, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 091998

Stratus

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving approximately. 60-65mph, Stratus rearended another vehicle. Upon impact, neither air bag deployed. Driver sustained minor injuries.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #1

Aug 221997

Stratus

  • miles
While driving at 40mph the vehicle had a frontal impact on the passenger's side of the vehicle, hitting the left side of the other vehicle, and the defective airbag system did not deploy which did not protect the occupants in the accident. Sensors are located behind the headlight.

- Stevenson, AL, USA