Menu

1998 Dodge StratusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 272 owner complaints about the 1998 Dodge Stratus, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

44
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Stratus median · #6 of 12 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints27258 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage65kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 17, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Dodge Stratus has problems

272 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling1215
Service brakes, hydraulic428
Power train245
Steering196
Air bags1716
Suspension170
Seat belts111
Electrical system112
Vehicle speed control92
13 other systems317

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

1998 Dodge Stratus recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Lever and linkage: floor shift

Recall 04V-021 · Jan 13, 2004 · 2,315,768 vehicles

Risk. EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch

Recall 98V-183 · Aug 6, 1998 · 685,000 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

65kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 33 engine and engine cooling complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 25% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles29under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

11 owners mentioned a cost

$800median

Middle half: $395 – $850

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Stratus year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Stratus median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Dodge Stratus safety ratings

1998 Dodge Stratus 4-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Dodge Stratus frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Dodge Stratus, and the recalls they led to.

  1. AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCKEA03011 · closed Jan 30, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-021
  2. SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATEPE02082 · closed Apr 23, 2003
    No recall
In owners' words

What Stratus owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

1998 2.7 V-6 ENGINE IN DODGE STRATUS VEHICLE. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON COST OF REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD BY MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS ENGINE HAS FAILED IN THIS SAME MANNER FOR ALL OF THE VEHICLES. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000-5000…
Complaint 10247729 · Nov 5, 2008 · 135,800 miles
WELL I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY OIL PRESSURE SENSOR ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY, IT SEEMS LIKE I REPLACE IT EVER 6 MONTHS OR SO, IT HAS BEEN LEAKING OUT OF THE ELECTRICAL END OF THE SENSOR BUT NEVER LEAKS OUT OF THE THREADED END THAT GOES INTO THE BLOCK, IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BLOW UP MY MOTOR THAT LAST…
Complaint 10244020 · Sep 30, 2008
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED. ATTEMPTS TO FIND A REPLACEMENT HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. ALL SALVAGE YARDS THAT HAD ONE SAYS THAT THEIRS IS ALSO CRACKED. *TR
Complaint 10198542 · Aug 5, 2007

Own a 1998 Stratus?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.