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 1999 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
My wife drove about 25 minutes to a flea market. Bystanders there told her that there was smoke coming out from under the vehicle. When she stopped, they told her that her vehicle is on fire and to get out. She immediately got her children out. A man there popped the hood and saw that the engine compartment was on fire. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle ran fine the day before.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. While parked at a store parking lot, the vehicle's hood caught fire. The puerto rico police department filed report number 200835803237. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer advised the contact to have her insurance company investigate the failure and forward them the report. The current and failure mileages were 54,000.
Drove 4 to 5 miles, then the vehicle was parked inside of the garage when it caught on fire in the engine compartment and totaled . The fire department was called to extinguished fire. No injuries. The insurance company will come out tomorrow for inspection. Please fill in additional information.
A fire started under the hood of my car (Dodge Stratus 1999) after I parked it after driving for about half an hour. There was no prior indication of anything amiss. Fire department put out the fire, but I am told the car cannot be repaired. I have had regular maintenance on this car.
My son drove his 1999 Dodge Stratus back to his college dormitory when he saw smoke from under the hood. He pulled into a parking space just before fire erupted from under the hood. The fire totaled his son's vehicle as well as damaged an adjacent vehicle.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling at 50-55 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment. 5 minutes prior to the incident, the contact noticed grey smoke escaping from under the hood. The vehicle was pulled over and the fire department and police was alerted. The fire was extinguished and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The fire department was unable to determine what caused the fire. A representative of daimler Chrysler inspected the vehicle on 06/04/06, but did not provide any feedback. A letter was received from the manufacturer dated 06/09/06 that declared daimler Chrysler would not be held responsible for all the incurred damages to the vehicle. A card was also received from daimler Chrysler alerting the contact to call the dealership about recall e23 about a week before the incident occurred. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that the power steering failed. The vehicle began smoking underneath the hood , and the mechanic replaced the power steering pump and hose. Also, the contact stated that the transmission failed and caused the indicators on the instrument panel to malfunction. This failure prevented her from determining how fast she was driving. In addition, the gears failed to shift from second gear. The mechanic stated that a sensor in the transmission and the air conditioning system failed. Also, the cooling system failed, and the water pump and timing belt were replaced twice. The failure began when the vehicle ran hot. She will collect the work reports and receipts from the dealer regarding the other failures that occurred. The current mileage is 105,000, and failure mileage was 79,000.
Took my '99 Stratus to my mechanic for an oil leak. I was told it was a head gasket problem and that is common in that year. Did some research on the internet and found a number of complaints confirming this. I called Dodge and they deny having any knowledge of the problem. When I told them about the complaints on this and other sites he again denied any knowledge of it. I was told that it's my problem not theirs. After this experience there is no way I will ever buy a Chrysler product again and I don't think anyone should.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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…
Engine complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Dodge Stratus, 22% of the model year's 251 complaints. The component named most often is engine (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Stratus engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 9 fires and 0 injuries 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.