KnownCarProblems2001 Dodge Stratus Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Dodge Stratus, most often about the engine (32% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Stratus model year since 2000 and has 10 recalls.
Most common 2001 Dodge Stratus problems
Engine
59 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
While driving on the highway suddenly there was a pop and then a banging noise. Consumer immediately pulled off the highway, lifted the hood, and saw flames coming from the engine compartment. Consumer extinguished the fire with a gallon of water. Vehicle was towed to a mechanic, who determined that engine rod bearing…
Original owner of a 2001 Dodge status with a 2.7 liter engine, want to register my complaint of an engine oil light going on at idle. From web posting I see this is a common problem with the vehicle. It has about 72,000 miles on it.
Suspension
41 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Dodge Stratus. While making a u-turn at 10 MPH, the passenger side front tire leaned halfway down to the ground. Dodge has not been notified and the vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN and purchase date were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 73,000.
2001 Dodge Stratus. Loss of control. Resulting in 2 separate crashes. I did sustain injury in the last incident. I was trying to turn left into a parking lot, wheel turned only partially. I could not get it to move the correct direction, and I ran into a tall (15in.) curb. Sustained whiplash and a large knot on my…
Steering
26 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: column, linkages, gear box (other than rack and pinion), hydraulic power assist.
: the contact stated the steering was hard to turn to the right. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, who determined the steering gear, wheel bearing, and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. There was a NHTSA recall, #00v225002, regarding the gear box. The vehicle was not included in the recall due…
There was a complaint I just read by [] odi cse number[], and I agree with him about this complaint be handled as a top priority investigation. I bought this as a used car, I knew I'd end of having to put some money into it since I was not buying a brand new car. But I've only had it for 6 months and have to put quite…
Air bags
26 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Air bag light constantly on, horn and cruise control quit working at the same time. It is my understanding air bag is inoperable at this point and the cause is a broken clockspring in steering wheel. This is a major safety hazard that Dodge should be required to fix at no charge.
I have had my car for a little over 3 years now. First it was the passenger side ball joint. Then a year later it was the ball joint on the driver side plus the control arm. Then it was the brakes and rotors. Then right after that I find out the ball joint I had just replaced on the passenger side needs replaced…
Transmission
20 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, axle assembly.
I purchased my vehicle in july 2005. The vehicle was okay until feb-2006, the transmission stopped shifting. This caused the vehicle to jerk very hard and loose power. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist 3 times and still was not repaired. I was told that he could not fix it. The vehicle is still doing…
While driving the automatic transmission went out. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop. The transmission had to be replaced. The transmission lasted for only 1 and a half years.
Electrical
19 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn, instrument cluster/panel.
Automatic transmission failed @70,000 miles cost $1800.00 to rebuild. Dash lights flicker constantly. Radio works for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before it shuts itself off. Wont come back on till car has been sitting for at least 12 hours, only to start all over.
Air bag light constantly on, horn and cruise control quit working at the same time. It is my understanding air bag is inoperable at this point and the cause is a broken clockspring in steering wheel. This is a major safety hazard that Dodge should be required to fix at no charge.
Brakes
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 76,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, fluid, slack adjusters, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
I purchased a used 2001 Dodge Stratus in february 2003. The car had a total of 48702 miles. Within the first week, the car was taken back to the dealer for brake problems. The front brakes was missing some type of brakes clips. This was repaired by the dealership. Their was also a noise from the steering column. The…
I have had my car for a little over 3 years now. First it was the passenger side ball joint. Then a year later it was the ball joint on the driver side plus the control arm. Then it was the brakes and rotors. Then right after that I find out the ball joint I had just replaced on the passenger side needs replaced…
Speed control
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
Dodge Stratus 2001, 46000 miles. Car was purchased used from the US government on public sale. Air bag light on, horn does not work, cruise control also affected. This is caused by faulty clockspring part located in steering wheel. I called Dodge after discovering on your web site that there was a recall for 1,500,000…
: the contact stated the air bag light illuminated constantly, the cruise control was inoperable and there was a clicking in the steering column when the wheel is turned left or right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined a spring in the steering wheel needed to be replaced. Also, the contact stated…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Dodge Stratus recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began july 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Mitsubishi motors north america, inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 chrysler sebring and dodge stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passenger side sun visor from detaching if the passenger frontal air bag deploys and the passenger side sun visor is folded down in a certain position.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: cooling unit and lines
Risk: Fluid leakage from the cooler hoses can cause transaxle driveability problems and smoke if the oil contacts the front exhaust pipe.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transaxle oil cooler hoses. Owner notification began april 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A hose manufacturing process allowed the reinforcement yard to breach the inner layer of some automatic transmission hoses weakening the inner wall which could result in leakage of the automatic transmission fluid.
Seats
Risk: In the event of a crash, the bolts may not properly secure the seat and could cause increased injury to the driver of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat mounting bolts and then replace the bolts if necessary. Owner notification began february 5, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A number of incorrect driver side seat mounting bolts were installed into vehicles.
Child Seat
Risk: In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an addendum to the owner's manuals.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." some of the owner's manuals for these vehicles are missing instructions that provide a step-by-step procedure, including diagrams, for properly attaching a child restraint system's tether strap to the tether anchorage.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: This hose is considered to be inadequate.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel return hose.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The outer layer only of this 3-layer fuel return hose does not contain the desired ozone protection due to a processing error.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A separated air bag door could injure a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Passenger air bags were built with suspect aluminum extrusion sections which may not retain the air bag door during an air bag deployment event.
Engine
Risk: Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die-out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
Body and structure: underbody shields
Risk: Smoke inhalation could be harmful to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will remove the insulation pad from behind both rear map lights.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Through degradation of the bond between the silencer pad and a sheet metal panel (quarter inner upper), the pad may fall onto the map light located in the rear seating area near the c-pillar trim panel (lh and rh). This contact could cause the pad to melt, creating a hot smell and/or smoke during long periods of illumination.
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Risk: A loss of steering control could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the steering gear assembly if a loose nut connection is found.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A nut in the steering gear assembly was not properly tightened, resulting in symptoms ranging from steering wheel vibration to stiff steering, and in the worst case, no ability to turn left.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Safety belt cinching latch plate
Summary
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. Additionally, the report rate is low (1.60/100k).the information available fails to establish the existence of a defect trend at this time.further allocation of agency resources to this issue is unwarranted and the preliminary evaluation is being closed.
Questions about the 2001 Dodge Stratus
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Dodge Stratus?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (59 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); suspension (41 complaints, typically around 75,500 miles); steering (26 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Stratus have?
- 10 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 3, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Dodge Stratus?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Stratus model year since 2000, with 186 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.