1996 Dodge Stratus Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 554 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Dodge Stratus overview page.
What owners report
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION.”NHTSA complaint 833789 — filed 01/20/1999
“THERE WAS A SHUDDER TYPE SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, THE CAR LOST POWER, BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND LIGHTS CAME ON THE…”NHTSA complaint 540744 — filed 09/02/1998
“TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTERNALLY. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS COST IS TO CONSUMER.”NHTSA complaint 827193 — filed 08/25/1998
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Dodge Stratus have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Dodge Stratus: 38 of 554 complaints on file (6.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1996 Dodge Stratus have in total?
554 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 36 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
