Equipment
NHTSA campaign 09E043000 · 2009 · reported 07/07/2009
THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Dodge Stratus Problems & Recalls
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 3.3× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
272Complaints
7Recalls
25Crashes
17Fires
18Injured
0Deaths
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 (28.3% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 3.3× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 77 · 28.3% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 21 · 7.7% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components | 14 · 5.1% | Recalled | Recall 99V244000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 14 · 5.1% | Recalled | Recall 99V244000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 13 · 4.8% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 · 4.8% | 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.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 272 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.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
NHTSA campaign 09E056000 · 2009 · reported 10/09/2009
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
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
NHTSA campaign 10E059000 · 2010 · reported 12/27/2010
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 System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
NHTSA campaign 06E088000 · 2006 · reported 10/23/2006
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 99V244000 · 1999 · reported 09/15/1999
DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. 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
NHTSA campaign 04V021000 · 2004 · reported 01/13/2004
EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING. 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
NHTSA campaign 98V183000 · 1998 · reported 08/06/1998
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park 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
“EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CHRYSLER REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER REPLACING THE HEADGASKET TWICE, THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THAT…”NHTSA complaint 754534 — filed 11/14/2001 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED, PLUS THERE IS MUCH MORE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE PROBLEMS I HAVE LISTED…”NHTSA complaint 754515 — filed 11/14/2001 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“HEAD GASKETS FAIL ON CHRYSLER 2.4 LITER ENGINES LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REDISIGNED SEE SERVICE BULLETIN #…”NHTSA complaint 754300 — filed 11/09/2001 · 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 1998 Dodge Stratus?
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 77 of 272 NHTSA complaints (28.3%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (21), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (14), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Dodge Stratus have?
272 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 25 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, and 18 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Dodge Stratus have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E043000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Dodge Stratus's reported problems?
2 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.
