Most common 1999 Dodge Stratus problems
Share of the 251 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Stratus complaints by model year
Best Stratus years: 2005, 2006, 2003. Years to avoid: 1996, 1997, 1995. Compare all years →
1999 Dodge Stratus recalls (3)
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.4 liter engines, the high pressure power steering hose May prematurely heat age and develop a leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high pressure power steering hose free of charge. The the recall began on April 10, 2006. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock May fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock May also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been placed in the park position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new load-limiting push rod into the floor shifter lever of the affected vehicles. Owner notification began on June 14, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The right rear brake tube can contact the exhaust system clamp and wear a hole in it.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake tubes for visible evidence of contact with the exhaust system clamp. If the tube shows evidence of contact, it will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Dodge Stratus:
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
Three of the manfacturer complaints and two of the manufacturer crashes reported above were duplicates of odi reports.the majority of crashes occurred after operators parked the vehicle without engaging park gear position; a non-functional ignition-park interlock system subsequently failed to prevent key removal before the operators exited the vehicle.most of the crashes were minor and involved minor property…
Engine compartment fires
On June 29, 2005, odi opened preliminary evaluation pe05-036 to investigate complaints of engine compartment fires in model year (my) 1999-2000 Chrysler cirrus, Dodge stratus and Plymouth breeze passenger cars (ja cars). The ja cars were introduced in my 1995 and ended with my 2000.they were produced with 2.0l, 2.4l and 2.5l engines.the incident data in the failure report summary of this resume are for subject…
Safety belt cinching latch plate
There are no injuries or fatalities associated with this alleged defect.while conducting this investigation, odi found that the subject cinches meet the load bearing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, and that many of the reported failures were due to incorrect child safety seat installations.
Power steering fluid fires
Odi has received 29 reports of engine compartment fires that appear to be related to power steering hose leakage in model year (my) 1999 and 2000 Chrysler cirrus, Dodge stratus and Plymouth breeze vehicles (ja-cars) equipped with 2.4l engines.these reports indicate that the fire resulted from a power steering hose leak or that it occurred after an extended drive and shortly after being parked - conditions consistent…
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports cannot be determined due to missing or incomplete information.the fatality incident involved an…
What 1999 Dodge Stratus owners say
Engine & cooling all 55 →
Engine caught on fire on my 1999 Dodge Stratus. Parked vehicle and went inside the store, and came out and vehicle was on fire. Had the vehicle towed to my house. Contacted Dodge, they sent out an inspector to review the vehicle. The inspector said, the vehicle should have exploded and do not fix the vehicle, Dodge will fix this for you. Rec'd a letter from Dodge, stating they denied my claim to fix vehicle, but would not offer any reason. They also would not give me a copy of the inspection report, they indicated that I would have to hire an attorney to get a subpoena to get a copy of the report. Called the inspector back, found that really strange they always give the reports out and they must be hiding something. Called Dodge 4 different times and they were rude and hung up on me. They would not transfer me to any one, and did not answer my questions. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, there was an abnormal noise coming from the steering column. The contact also indicated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to the diagnose the cause of the failures. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Steering all 49 →
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Approximately 30 minutes later, while coming to a complete stop, the contact noticed that her vehicle was on fire. All the passengers exited the vehicle without injuries. The entire front end of the vehicle was completely destroyed. Both a fire and a police report were filed. The dealer stated that the fire May have been due to a recall and would forward the information to the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the fire was not due to NHTSA campaign id number 06V001000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections). The contact later entered her VIN into the Dodge website and discovered that her VIN was included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 95,000.
Dt*: the contact stated on July 26, 2006, while at a red light, the vehicle started smoking from all of the vents resulting in the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames. The fire department came and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The fire originated from under the hood. Prior to the incident, power steering fluid had to be added to the vehicle every two-three weeks. A recall was found on the internet, NHTSA campaign id # 06V001000; steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and and connections the same day as the incident. The dealership was made aware of the incident. The contact just received a recall letter from the manufacturer on 8-8-06, NHTSA campaign id # 06v0010000; regarding the steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and and connections.
Brakes all 42 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While driving at various speeds, the contact noticed a burning rubber odor and shaking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the rear passenger side wheel hub, wheel, tire, and brake drum were extremely hot. The contact independently changed both rear brake shoes, springs, and drums; however, the failure recurred. The contact independently diagnosed that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
My girl friend came home and said the car was smoking so I went to look at it and yes smoke was coming from the firewall side of the motor right above the exhaust manifold .I did some research and found a recall on the high pressure hose for the power steering pump so I called the number given and Chrysler set me up with haddad Dodge in bakersfield california we set an appointment for the repairs to be done , I brought the car to them and they kept it for 4 days I called them about the car and they said it was ready I picked it up later that afternoon drove approx 6 miles home it was smoking slightly but no where near as bad as before so I thought nothing of it , maybe just residual from before the repair.the following morning I drove from real rd to fair view ave and the car was smoking heavily I stopped in front of a friends house opened the hood and there was a fire burning on the …
1999 Dodge Stratus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 33 / 27 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Dodge Stratus a good car?
Based on 251 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Stratus rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Stratus at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Dodge Stratus?
The engine & cooling — 55 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the steering (49) and brakes (42).
How many recalls does the 1999 Dodge Stratus have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Dodge Stratus, the most recent from January 5, 2006 (hose, piping, and connections). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Stratus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2006 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1997 and 1995. See the full Dodge Stratus years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Stratus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.