2005 Dodge Stratus: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 62 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2018
“My seatbelts for my two window seats don't have the safety lock function. I was putting my sons car seat in my car and the seat belt wouldn't lock when I pulled it all the way out like its supposed to. I tried both sides and neither of them worked but both my front seatbelts work.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jul 2018
“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 up”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“I was driving down dundee rd in illinois and it was rain/snow mix and as I was coming to an intersection the car failed to stop and when the impact happend the airbags failed to deploy and the car was in motion on a city street”Owner report · Service Brakes · Nov 2017
“2005 dodge stratus sedan 4 door automatic 2.7 w less than 60k miles. Reverse went out after what I think was a clinking sound near the front. It drives normally, just does nothing in reverse. If the car is parked it will roll backwards if the car is on a incline. Transmission rebuild is more than the car is worth. This should be a recall. So many dodge transmission issues, they are losing many customers.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge stratus. While reversing out of the driveway, the front passenger side wheel fractured and the ball joint detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09e056000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2016
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Jul 2016
“Tl* 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.”Owner report · Steering · Feb 2016
“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'”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2015
“While I was driving the front driver side wheel broke off it was the control arm I have had it fixed. A couple of months after that incident I had the front passenger side tire also do the same. I got it fixed. Now my back driver side wheel is tilting in like it wants to break off. Since noticing this I have not driven it and has been stuck in my driveway 4 months until I can figure out a way to get it fixed without having to pay for something like this again”Owner report · Wheels · Jul 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 14 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.
Remedy: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR OUTBOARD RETRACTOR AND TURNING LOOP BOLTS ON THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
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.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
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.
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.
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.
ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND CONVERTIBLE MODEL VEHICLES, THE RIGHT STEERING KNUCKLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE COMPONENT MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Stratus by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Dodge Stratus reliable?
NHTSA has 62 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Dodge Stratus. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Stratus problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 74,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Dodge Stratus have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.