Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Drove home from work. Parked car in private lot. Approxamately ten minutes later. Neighborhood kids notified me that the car was smoking. Upon responding. I noticed that the car had flames coming from underneath engine and hood area. Called fire department. The fire department stated that it was an electrical fire. Car was totaled. The power steering hose ( part # 4764-347a / 0777c/ 25517 df 3251 3/8" id # 03067f1) ruptured and leaked onto the exhaust pipe manifold and ignited the power steering fluid stating the fire. I personally noted the smell of power steering fluid coming from vehicle.
Dt: contact's wife went into walmart and 15 minutes later 1997, Dodge, Stratus caught on fire in the parking lot. The originated from under the hood, possibly around the battery box or the master cylinder. The car was completely destroyed. This happened on June 5, 2005. The only problem the contact had with the car prior to tthe fire was the check engine light caming on sometimes. The car has cruise control, and electric windows.
Dt: the vehicle is a 1997 Dodge Stratus. At 27,000 the oil light came on while the consumer was driving and the vehicle cut off. When the consumer had it towed to the dealership they replaced the timing belt and pulleys. At 39,000 the engine would not start. When it was towed to the dealership again, they found that one coil was shorted, the PCM was bad, the timing belt had to be replaced again, they had to replace the module, the relay, and the plug wire. The whole electrical system had to be replaced. Later at 62,000 miles it was leaking oil and would not start. It was towed to the dealer were the timing belt had to be replaced a third time, the head gasket and package, the plug and plug wires, and the spark plugs were also replaced. Currently at 89,000 the timing belt and head gasket need replacing. The vehicle is over heating and will not start. …
While car was parked in a parking lot, apprx 30 min's when someone noticed the car was on fire. The fire dept was called and a tech from the place I was at went out with a fire ext. And put out the fire. Fire dept arrived and determined that the fire was started in a door panel swith (pwr door lock or pwr mirror switch) car was towed to scully motor and I calle d Chrysler, they did a though investigation and found the fault to be in the pwr mirror switch. They have been great and have assummed responsibility for totaling my car and doing a complete buy back which is in the process. My concern is for the safty of others who May not have the good fotune I had of not being in the car since it burnt up at a fast pace. Hope this helps others, thanks karen.
Engine started smelling like burnt rubber, also started smoking, hearing electrical popping noise and then engine started burning with the glow of flames coming from under and out of the engine hood compartment. My children and I jumped out of the car crying and very excited, truamatized by the sole fact of maybe getting burned up in the car or blown up. I then , without haste, went to my apt. And dialed the police at "911" and was dispatched over to the fire department. After, approximately 10 mins., the fire department arrived and extinghised the fire and made their report and speaking with me about the turn of events prior to the fire.
I was going to my cousins graduation and had asked an officer about parking when he directed me where to go when I turned I heard a pop and smoke started coming from under the hood and it caught fire. The fire department was called out and the fire was put out. My car was towed to a towing yard, and the next day towed to my property. Everything in engine compartment burned. I had it looked at by a mechanic and he said that it was probably an electrical fire.
Parked vehicle in garage and went into the house, about 5 minutes later heard a loud noise, went out to the garage and flames were coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Had to pull the vehicle from the garage into the open. Called the fire department and they put fire out. Fireman stated that it was an electrical fire, and the vehicle was totaled.
Consumer's brother started vehicle up to drive vehicle over to consumer's house. In process of driving, smoke coming from underneath. Consumer smelled the smoke. Backseat started to evaporate. Everything that was inside off vehicle was demolished. The clogged exhaust system caused the engine to blow out.
Dt: the consumer owns a 1997 Dodge Stratus. She says that her vehicle caught on fire. The fire department told her that the fire started by a short in the driver's side panel. She contacted Dodge and they said they wouldn't do anything about it because it was not their problem and it was not on recall.
Upon being struck in the left front wheel well, near the battery, my car bursted into flames. The vehicle continued to travel another 200 feet desipite various methods of application of the brakes. I then deployed the emergency brake. The vehicle didn't stop until the power cut off and the finally died.
Electrical complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Dodge Stratus, 9% of the model year's 349 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Dodge Stratus electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1997 Dodge Stratus, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Dodge Stratus electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 16 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system 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.