The 1996 Dodge Stratus has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,100,568 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 776 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN04V0210002004-01-132,315,768 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence
EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
POWER TRAIN98V1830001998-08-06685,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED…
Consequence
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
SUSPENSION97V2010001997-11-13599,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence
SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
STRUCTURE97V0950001997-06-06219,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC96V0750001996-05-03151,800 affected
Defect
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.
Consequence
BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC96V0740001996-05-0290,000 affected
Defect
CORROSION OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE THE SOLENOID VALVES TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
Consequence
IF EITHER FRONT WHEEL VALVE STICKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE FROM A STRAIGHT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLATE AND SILICONE GREASE INJECTED INTO THE SOLENOID CAVITY TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING96V0060001996-01-1140,000 affected
Defect
IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.
Consequence
INADEQUATE SEALING AND RETENTION OF THE PLUG CAN RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
224
8fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
101
1crashes13fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
38
1crashes1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
23
6crashes2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
18
1crashes2injuries1deaths
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
14
12crashes9injuries
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12
2fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
12
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints776
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, I'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will…”
“R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, I'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will…”
“R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, I'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will…”
“General tire altimax rt size 195/70r14 bulge on sidewall when installed a brand new tire. After installation observed one of four tires with a bulge on sidewall of tire. Bulge not an indentation. Vehicle was not driven and no obvious installation or bead damage from the outside. Installer said…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the front drivers side tire separated from the vehicle, struck the curve and traveled into traffic. The vehicle was later towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic inspected the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the front drivers side tire separated from the vehicle, struck the curve and traveled into traffic. The vehicle was later towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic inspected the…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1996 dodge stratus. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle unexpectedly engulfed into flames. The vehicle was unoccupied and the fire department extinguished the flames, which originated underneath the hood. The vehicle was completely destroyed and remained at…”
“I just bought a 1996 dodge stratus and it has mutiple problems. The main thing is it stalls and dies while your driving down the road and has almost caused a crash more than once. It has recalls and iam going to take it to have it fixed. It also has other problems like with the door locks,the hood…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA03011 Opened 2003-07-17 · closed 2004-01-30
AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS…
InvestigationEA03011 Opened 2003-07-17 · closed 2004-01-30
AUTO TRANS IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS…
InvestigationEA97016 Opened 1997-09-29 · closed 1997-11-20
LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE
BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 6, 1997, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA.THE RECALL WILL ALSO COVER 1996 AND 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS/DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES, AS WELL AS 1995 THROUGH 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING…
InvestigationPE02082 Opened 2002-11-06 · closed 2003-04-23
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS.…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Dodge Stratus as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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