RecallRepo

1997 Dodge Stratus Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Dodge Stratus has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,818,768 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 451 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

POWER TRAIN 04V021000 2004-01-13 2,315,768 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 TRAIN 98V183000 1998-08-06 685,000 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.

SUSPENSION 97V201000 1997-11-13 599,000 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.

STRUCTURE 97V095000 1997-06-06 219,000 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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
117
1crashes3fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
32
3fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
23
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
5crashes3injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
18
16crashes1fires13injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
17
2crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
15
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
6fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
8
1crashes7fires1injuries
Total complaints451

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Notice a smell from under the hood while driving open the hood fire put the fire out notice power hose had leak in it I feel dodge should be held accountable for this malfunction”

STEERING · reported 2020-10-03

“Takata recall, horn don`t work, millage don`t work ,gas light comes on and neddle moves up and down alot”

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · reported 2018-04-09

“Takata recall, horn don`t work, millage don`t work ,gas light comes on and neddle moves up and down alot”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2018-04-09

“Either the oil light or cruise light will come on and car loses all power. I have to pull off road and put car in park turn it off and sometimes it will just start right back and sometimes I have to wait for about 30 mins for it to start back. I have only had the car since march of 2013 and it has…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2013-04-20

“Tire had a bulge at the bead line. Had a slow leak and was out of balance. I returned the tire to firestone. They showed me that the tire was missing rubber at along the tire bead and was not repairable. The tire was replaced at no charge. *kb”

TIRES · reported 2011-12-31

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge stratus. The contact stated that the fuel filler hose was loose and would not keep fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2011-09-06

“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge stratus. The power steering high pressure hose was leaking into the engine. The 2.4 liter engine had a leak directly above the exhaust system. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was called and informed him that there were no recalls or…”

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS · reported 2010-10-16

“Car was sitting front of my daughter's house and it caught fire under the hood on the driver's side. Car was totally destroyed. *tr”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2010-07-18

Defect investigations

Investigation EA03011 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…

Investigation EA03011 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…

Investigation EA97016 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…

Investigation PE02082 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.…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Dodge Stratus as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.