Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine — runs 4.9× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
554Complaints
11Recalls
36Crashes
36Fires
26Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (40.4% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 4.9× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
Complaint category
Reports
Official status
Reference
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
224 · 40.4%
Recalled
Recall 96V006000
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
101 · 18.2%
Recalled
Recall 96V006000
Power Train:automatic Transmission
38 · 6.9%
Recalled
Recall 04V021000 · Recall 98V183000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
23 · 4.2%
Recalled
Recall 96V075000 · Recall 96V074000
Air Bags:frontal
14 · 2.5%
No official action
—
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
14 · 2.5%
No official action
—
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS12 · 2.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12 · 2.2%
Percentages are the share of the 554 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
INADEQUATE SEALING AND RETENTION OF THE PLUG CAN RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
IF EITHER FRONT WHEEL VALVE STICKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE FROM A STRAIGHT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park itPark outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“REPORTED OIL LEAK, LEAK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKET, DISSASSEMBLY OF ENGINE ALSO REVEALED CRACK IN THE SHOCK BLOCK ( BOTTOM HALF OF ENGINE BLOCK NEAR…”NHTSA complaint 704751 — filed 03/22/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“REPORTED A OIL LEAK TO DEALER AND HAD INSPECTED BY THEM,WAS TOLD IT WAS A HEAD GASKET,INFORMED DEALER TO GO AHEAD AND FIX BUT WAS…”NHTSA complaint 704526 — filed 03/16/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“VEHICLE HAD BEEN DROPING OIL, UP TO A QUATER EVERY OTHER DAY. A MECHANIC HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT AN OIL LEAK CAME FROM THE ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 835510 — filed 03/05/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Stratus?
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 224 of 554 NHTSA complaints (40.4%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (101), power train:automatic transmission (38), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1996 Dodge Stratus have?
554 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 36 involved a crash, 36 involved a fire, and 26 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 1996 Dodge Stratus have any recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E056000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1996 Dodge Stratus's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
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