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 1999 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving the vehicle I came to a stop to make a left hand turn and as I started without warning the vehicle stalled and lost power of steering wheel and brakes I almost hit another car. This wasn't the 1st time car has stalled while driving but the one where is came close to causing an accident
I was in my 1999 Dodge Stratus all of maybe 15 minutes traveling to the store. I turned it off and went in the store for maybe 5 minutes. I started my car again and traveled to a friends house maybe 10 minutes from the store. I was in their home probably 10 minutes tops. When I went to leave I noticed smoke coming out from under my hood and flames shooting out from under the front of my car. We tried unsuccessfully to put the fire out. When the fire department finally arrived my car was totally engulfed in flames. I had liability insurance so I just lost my car because it was totaled. Then in April of 2006 I get a recall (e23) from daimler Chrysler and I am totally amazed. This is probably what happened to my car. I notified daimler Chrysler and the sent someone out to take pictures of my car and then sent me a letter denying my claim. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. On October 31, 2007, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact heard a faint clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. She pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. She then noticed a faint puff of smoke rising from the vehicle; however, she did not think it was a serious concern because the smoke was so faint. The vehicle eventually caught fire. The contact noticed sparks coming from underneath the vehicle and huge puffs of black smoke. The fire department arrived at the scene. They opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and the contact believed a report was filed. The fire department was uncertain of the cause of the fire, but stated that it May have been electrical. The vehicle was destroyed. …
On dec. 12, 2004 myself, my daughter , & her step-daughter were on our way to go shopping approximately 60 miles from home. We stopped at approximately 45 miles and ate lunch, then continued the other 15 miles. We exited the 1999 Dodge Stratus and entered the store. After approximately 5-10 minutes, an in-store page went out that a vehicle of our description was smoking badly. When I looked out the store window, I saw the vehicle was mine. I ran out to the parking lot to find my car (1999 Dodge Stratus) motor was on fire with fire coming out from underneath the motor and black smoke boiling out. By the time emergency vehicles arrived (police and fire department), my car was fully in flames. Fire fighters extinguished the fire finally, but my car was totally destroyed. The hot-spot on the hood was on the driver side near the windshield.
I was borrowing my parents 1999 Dodge Stratus .I staopped to pick up my children at the daycare.. Left the car for only 2 minutes and when I returned to leave the car was on fire..there was a black smoke billowing out of the engine compartment and the whole motor was on fire..the fire dept was called and extinguished the fire nothing on the interior was ruined only the hood on the drivers side and the moter looks like a heap of melted plastic. Prior to this incident the drivers side window was going up and down on its own somedays it would be stuck up and somedays it would be stuck down.. Luckily my parents had ins to cover the vehicle which now is a total loss but now they need money for a down on another vehicle.. Anyone with an attorney or other info please contact me. [email]
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While the vehicle was idling for approximately 20 minutes, it burst into flames. The fire department extinguished the underhood fire, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. A firefighter stated that the fire originated from an electrical failure. The manufacturer stated that they issued a recall, NHTSA campaign id number 06V001000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections). They would not assume any financial responsibility for the failure. She never received a recall notice from the manufacturer. The contact has pictures of the failure and a copy of the police report. The failure and current mileages were 115,000.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While parked in the parking lot, the vehicle caught fire. The fire and police departments suggested that the fire could have been caused from bad wiring within the instrument panel. The contact stated that the entire instrument panel and engine were completely destroyed. She stated that there was no ignition source that could have caused the fire. The vehicle was towed and the contact is still waiting to hear from the mechanic. She has also been experiencing brake failure and have had them replaced twice. A police report was filed. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 140,000.
Dt: after the consumer drove for awhile parked the vehicle, she came outside and the vehicle caught on fire. There was fire and smoke coming from under the hood. The fire department was notified. The vehicle has been scrapped and no one had looked at it. Also, the windshield wipers malfunctioned and the radio had turned on while the keys were out of the vehicle. There had been no previous problems with the vehicle.
Car was working fine, tuned up in May, kept up on oil changes, etc. My fiance was on the way home from getting the tires rotated and noticed smoke. He pulled over and didn't see anything. He got back in and flames started to shoot out. Fire dept came and extinguished the fire. Most of the front end is completely incinerated. The radiator and engine block had to be swept up. Front end completely melted. It's under investigation.
Dt: on 8-25-05 the consumer had the vehicle parked when his wife came out of the store to find the vehicle on fire. The fire department was contacted. No one has been able to determine the exact cause of the fire. The consumer stated that the fire appeared to have started in the computer area, but because of the damage he could not be sure. There had been no previous problems or warnings before this happened.
Electrical complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1999 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the electrical system of the 1999 Dodge Stratus, 14% of the model year's 251 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Stratus electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1999 Dodge Stratus, though it has 3 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 1999 Dodge Stratus electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 20 fires and 0 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.