Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The vehicle caught fire while parked in a parking lot. The vehicle was smoking approximately one month before the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and both a police and fire report were filed. The dealer stated that the smoke was due to power steering fluid entering the engine. There were two safety recalls on the vehicle: NHTSA campaign id number's 04V021000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift), which was previously performed on the vehicle and 06V001000 (steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections), which was scheduled to be repaired. The purchase date and powertrain were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 140,000.
I bought a car in jan 2020 which has been sitting a few/couple years and I found 3 recalls on it. 1999 Dodge Stratus 2.4. I emailed u s customer care/ Dodge customer care and got mail back stating yes on 3 recalls and a dealer in reno nv to call. I called and service and parts dept said yes on recalls. Bring it in to check and advise to fix. Got mutil mails from customer care stating they had car under last owner and I told them I was new owner. Next mail was, claim/s are closed. I asked why now 3 times and no answer except a take survey. No service or repairs have been done on this car other then to find out there was 3 recalls and now customer care doesnt want to do anything to fix this car. I dont understand how one day there is and the next day claim closed. The only difference is I am a new owner. One recall is for a fix power steering hose so car wont catch fire. …
On June 22, 2002 I was dirving my car to wv. Half way there the transmission 'popped' out of 5th gear. I pulled off at the next exit in search of assistance where I found the transmission would not remain in 3rd gear either. In this small town I was unable to find anyone who could/would look at my car so I proceeded to charleston where my dad and a cousin who could look at my car were. It was found that my transmission had no fluid in it - so this was replaced with fluid as close to the original as possible so we could get back to richmond. All 360 miles I had to drive holding my gear shift into 5th gear or 3rd gear when needed in order to make it home. The dealership was wonderful! They said my clutch cable was broken and I had several oil leaks! They repaired everything and it was all covered under the power train warrenty. Thank you for that warrenty! …
The problem with the brakes is that they do not stop the car. It feels like when you hit the brakes that the transmission won't disengage. It May not really be a disengagement problem but the brakes have never been good at stopping the car. When you hit the brakes the car nosedives but feels like it won't stop. It is like you have to get out of the seat and stand on the brakes. The feel is like the old brakes that had heat build up. You would get that outgassing that would resist pedal pressure. This has resulted in many near accidents and finally an accident. I also drive a pick up truck and those brakes work much better. I beleive there is an inherent defect with the brakes. It is also possible there is a frame problem. I don't see how a less than 10 MPH accident could crush the hood and the front end to over 2600 bucks of damage. …
On two separate crashes car came out of park and into reverse. First time broke mirror off of drivers door, thought maybe didn't have it all the way in park until one week later car was in park got out while car was running with two passengers inside after about 5 minutes with me standing in the door car kicked out of park and into reverse running me down. Door got stuck in dirt and bend backwards crushing the fender. Called one Dodge dealer and they denied there being a recall on the transmission and was told it was impossible for car to kick out of park and into reverse. Called a second dealer and was told yes there had been a recall and he looked up my VIN # and said my car had been repaired. My husband said that it was possible to take car out of park and into reverse without the key being in and unlocked. Car can also be bumped into neutral while driving on highway.
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.
Dt: consumer bought car in 1999. Two years later transmission failed, and consumer paid $2,500 to replace it. Consumer said that when she got into vehicle and sometimes when she left vehicle the doors did not lock, and sometimes the passenger side window will not roll down. Consumer thought she had all this fixed, but problem recurred. Dashboard shut down/gauges did not work, and tdashboard illumination malfunctioned. When consumer drove dashboard ca me on at once/gauges will began working, and light came on . Consumer had to replace wiring and sensors, but problem recurred.
After driving short distances (under 15 miles) the park shift interlock does not engage. Ignition key will not turn all the way to the off position, can not be removed, and the shifter can move freely without depressing the shifter button. Shifter button becomes soft and does not lock. This can occur with or without engine running. This began happening after safety recall #04V021000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift) was completed.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. The contact stated that when she attempted to accelerate, the vehicle felt as if it would stall and failed to move. The failure has occurred every day since the vehicle was purchased. She also stated that the vehicle would not start when the key was turned in the ignition. She has not taken the vehicle to the mechanic. The current and failure mileages were 69,000.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Dodge Stratus. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the key would turn in the ignition but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic and it was determined that the neutral switch failed. The current and failure mileages were 131,000. Return usps, made 2nd attempt 08/27/07 failed.
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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…
Transmission complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Dodge Stratus, 14% of the model year's 251 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Stratus transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Stratus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain 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.