Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 96 Dodge Stratus, I purchased it year of 97. I received numerous recalls on this vechicle since the day of purchased. I followed up on each recall that I received. As time went on I had numerous problems with this vehicle. Over the years I aways believe in Chrysler products to be safe and sound.I feel that it's been truly unfair too loyal consumers such as myself many others. I don't understand why a company such as Chrysler and engineers would engineered a product like the Dodge Stratus with so many defects. On Saturday November 5, 2005 I went to pay a bill about five to ten miles away from home. Return home, park the car, lock the doors went into my apartment. About ten minutes later a neighborhood boy knock on my door and said your gold car is on fire. I ran outside to see, yes it was my car on fire! Fire was coming from underneath the hood. …
R&r front left wheel bearing fix, hub & bearing assembly total cost $214.55 clean engine total cost $83.46 engine oil leak, tried oil stop leak & seems to be working for the time being. Radiator/antifreeze leak, I'm spending $150 month for antifreeze. Putting in 1-2 bottles a day. Probably will have radiator fixed soon. Muffler fell off, can't afford a new one. Needs new spark plugs, can't afford that either. Needs manifold gasket, can't afford that either. Needs oil pan gasket, can't afford that either. Needs new wipers, can't afford that either.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Stratus. While the vehicle was parked at a gas station, the contact was informed that her vehicle was smoking under the hood. She was able to take the vehicle to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine compartment suffered a melt down. A report was filed with the manufacturer, but they would not assist. The current and failure mileages were 193,000. Updated 8/7/09 the PCM and power shifter were faulty. Updated 08/11/09.
Consumer states vehicle caught fire while driving. Dealer diagnosed fire was result of the engine cylinder head plug being loose. This caused oil to leak which resulted in engine fire. Related recall 96V006000, consumer's v.I.n. Not included. Ts
One of the oil galley plugs on the 2.4l engine of our daughter's 1996 Dodge Stratus came out, and the car spewed most of its oil out into the engine compartment. Chrysler had a recall (#671) on these back in 1995 as several fires occurred. Our VIN fell within the range of vins affected, but we were told it was not part of the recall. The recall ended with cars manufactured oct. 13, 1995 and our car (we were told) was manufactured oct. 14th. The fix as of that date was a change to the cylinder head machining and the plug thickness. Obviously, either our engine is one from before the change was fully implemented, or the change was not a cure all, as the plug on ours came out. …
It all began when we purchased a brand new 1996 Dodge Stratus in oct 1995. The car gave us little if any trouble the first year. The second year and every year since it has been a#1 headache. The second year alone the car was in the shop 17 times. The repairs were major ones as well as minor ones including replacement of air compressor on air conditioner, starter, replacement of head gasket twice once at 11565 miles second at 20495 miles and guess what now at 69000 miles.thank goodness the first two were covered under warranty. I filed a complaint within the warranty period with the dealership, the attorney general as well as good old Chrysler. I was told by Chrysler I could always buy an extended warranty anfd they would open a complaint file on me so that if any of the same problems occured, I could contact them. Well I have contacted them but they say they can't do anything. …
Three head gasket was replaced three times. The consumer had experienced problems with the vehicle after one year of purchase. The consumer had been without the vehicle every other month. The vehicle had a perpetual oil leak and since the vehicle was no longer under warranty, she had to seek help from an independent mechanic. The vehicle had so much oil leaking out, the consumer placed oil in the vehicle instead of gas. Chrysler would not do anything. The vehicle had started to leak transmission fluid, also the front seal began to leak as well, the check engine light had come on, then the vehicle started missing out, sputtered, and the starter was intermittent due to a short. The consumer had requested a refund of repairs. …
On 12/18/1997 I purchased a 1996 Dodge Stratus at a buy here pay here lot that went out of business. Within 6 months of owning the vehicle I was backing out of a sloped driveway. I felt a bump and kept driving. Before I could reach the end of the street my oil lamp came on. I stopped at the gas station check the oil and discovered I needed oil. I put oil in the car and got on the interstate. My car all of a sudden stopped pulling. After the car was towed to the shop the dealership informed me that the oil pan had a hole in it and most likely got it during the bump. I had to get a new motor for the car which a $500 deductible had to be paid by me and the other $3600 was paid by allstate(my insurance company). Last year in late April the same thing happened again and the car hasn't been repaired since or of course driven. …
Currently own a 1996 Dodge Stratus 4 cylinder, and it is sitting in my driveway and I am unable to use it, as the head gasket blew out of it, and will cost over $1500 do replace(and so I hear even if you do replace it, the head gasket will blow again shortly after due to the improper design of the engine)..this is so well known a problem, and I am disgusted to think that with our family being lifetime Dodge/Chrysler people, the company would ignore safety and allow this problem to continue in later models. What is it going to take to get some help here!!!! I am a poor mom of two children, one disabled, and thought that I was makng a good purchase with the Stratus. I currently cannot afford to have the vehicle fixed, and have been unable to get my disabled child to the doctor as I do not have reliable transportation......this is pathetic! Please someone help!
I have a 1996 Dodge Stratus (71,000 miles) with a severe oil leak from the head gasket. It is a 2.4l engine and like all others if has failed. Chrystler knows they have a poor product and a failure of a design, but they do not want to take any responsibility for their mistake. This car has been driven very little, mostly to school to drop off the kids and to the local stores. A car with less than 9,000 miles a year on it should not have a $1000.00 repair to such a major part. The chrystler corporation should repair all 2.4l engines at their cost because it is terrible engine. I will never buy another chrystler product and I will attempt to ersuade everyone I know from making the mistake I made !
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
In certain vehicles, the engine cylinder head oil galley plug does not seal properly and engine cylinder head oil is not adequately retained.
Remedy: Dealers will install an expansion plug and retaining bracket over the cylinder head oil galley plug.
Engine complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1996 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 335 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1996 Dodge Stratus, 60% of the model year's 554 complaints. The component named most often is engine (224 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Stratus engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 96V-006 (gasoline, Jan 11, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Stratus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 22 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.