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 2001 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While parked and turned off, my '01 Dodge Stratus r/t encountered an engine fire. The entire engine is almost beyond recognition. There was no indication that anything of the kind was wrong; the car had been running as usual. A simple google of "Stratus engine fire" turned up an overwhelming occurrence of Stratus owners with this same problem. It appears to have started near the fusebox, which was also the location of the fire in the countless search results. The car had idled too high from a few days after I purchased it. We had the idle air control valve changed and the idle speed adjusted by the shop four or five times, yet nothing would stop the high idle. The only thing that would decrease it was to turn the air conditioner on--which brings me to another problem. The drain holes for the air conditioner are not sufficient for drainage. …
1. The car battery of my 2001 Dodge Stratus rt went dead on Sunday morning. I purchased a correct replacement battery and installed it on the vehicle. 2. Upon starting the car after installing the new battery, the car would not idle but would only shut down. I tried this several times and I could only keep the car running while giving it gas. I tried driving the car and it drove OK until I released the gas pedal in order to slow down, stop, or make a turn and each time the car engine shut down. 3. I managed to drive the car to the Dodge dealer, stalling out at stop signs, stop lights, intersections, and turns. The car would always restart and by giving it gas and throwing it back into drive, I could continue. …
Noticed my car seemed to be losing performance. Failure started when my car would shut off while I was driving when I turned on the heat. This happened 4 times in one day and the fourth time I almost had an accident on interstate 5. I did have Firestone check the vehicle and they could not find the cause. I search this site for recalls and found recall number 00V299002 which states " prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die out, increasing the risk of a crash" which is exactly what I'm experiencing when I drive. I have kept up the maintenance on this vehicle with jiffy lube and Firestone, so there should be no reason why this is happening other than a manufactures defect. …
I have a Dodge Stratus se sedan, 2001 model.. While turning left into a parking lot the steering wheel almost locked up, then something snapped and broke inside. I regain steering but my airbag light was on and remains on. The other controls on the steering wheel such as cruise control and the horn do not work.. I feel the cruise control not working, the wheel freezing up momentarily until you break the ribbon wire inside the clockspring both are safety hazards. The part that is defective is the clockspring.. It is available from the dealer only at a cost over $129.00.. It is very cheaply made and is essentially a ribbon wire wrapped around a plastic spool. It is capable of binding up and preventing the steering wheel to turn. One should be inspected and any engineer will agree it is very poorly designed. …
Dodge Stratus 2001, 46000 miles. Car was purchased used from the us government on public sale. Air bag light on, horn does not work, cruise control also affected. This is caused by faulty clockspring part located in steering wheel. I called Dodge after discovering on your web site that there was a recall for 1,500,000 grand caravans that had a same problem caused by their faulty clockspring. Grand caravans also had air bag light on, horn was not working and cruise control was off. I express my concern to Dodge since this is a safety issue and I was hoping they will consider fixing this. I been told to take the car to dealership for diagnostics and after they receive results they will consider fixing this. Diagnostics were performed and result was that the clockspring was broken. Dodge declined my request for fixing the problem. …
Purchased a used 2001 Dodge Stratus and about a week after purchasing it I was backing out of a parking space at the store when I heard a snap/pop sound from the steering column. Air bag light came on and now everytime I turn the wheel I can hear a popping or clicking sound. The irony is that I bought it because my 96 Dodge intrepid is having electrical issues which included the air bag light being on and affecting the electric windows and the heater/air conditioning blower so I have no heater nor defroster. I have always been a Chrysler/Dodge person and have always owned one since I was 18, but I am beginning to think I need to change my loyalty to another make and model.
Dt: the contact stated in December 2005 the air bag light illuminated. Afterwards, the steering wheel became extremely hard to turn left or right, and a there was a crackling noise in the driver's side steering column. Also, the horn and the cruise control were inoperative. There is a technical service bulletin 0801001 on the clock spring.
Clock-spring broke when I was backing out of a parking space and turning the steering wheel to the left. Now my air bag light stays on and everything electrical on the steering wheel does not work, this includes the horn, cruise control and the airbag. If this is not a safety issue deserving of a recall then what exactly is?
Air bag light constantly on, horn and cruise control quit working at the same time. It is my understanding air bag is inoperable at this point and the cause is a broken clockspring in steering wheel. This is a major safety hazard that Dodge should be required to fix at no charge.
Automatic transmission failed @70,000 miles cost $1800.00 to rebuild. Dash lights flicker constantly. Radio works for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before it shuts itself off. Wont come back on till car has been sitting for at least 12 hours, only to start all over.
Electrical complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Dodge Stratus, 10% of the model year's 218 complaints. The component named most often is horn (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Dodge Stratus electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Dodge Stratus, though it has 10 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 2001 Dodge Stratus electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire 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.