Most common 2002 Dodge Stratus problems
Share of the 163 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 →
2002 Dodge Stratus recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and…
Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Dodge Stratus:
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.
What 2002 Dodge Stratus owners say
Engine & cooling all 51 →
Grandaughter was returning home from college . Vehicle suddenly caught fire on highway between marble falls tex and burnet texas.. Her mother was following in another car and barely had time to rescue some of the personal items before entire car was engulfed in flames. Granddaughter barely escaped the vehicle without injury. She was able to get several pictures of the vehicle fire on her cell phone.. The fire begin either under the hood or under the front of the car and was completely engulfed in a matter of minutes.. Grandaughter and her mom was very distraught and terribly upset until fire dept from burnet arrived on the scene . They were called (911) by a passing motorist. The burned out vehicle was hauled in to burnet texas by advantage towing [phone]. We have never received a recall from Dodge about the possible fire hazards on this vehicle.
The internal water pump failed. This caused water to leak into the oil pan. The water got hot enough on a 600 miles trip from florida to mississippi that it boiled and caused the oil to turn into sludge (molasses like consistency). This caused a lack of lubrication of the dual camshafts which in turn burned up. End result was engine failure.
Suspension all 31 →
My car has a bad noise and popping sound in the front end. I was turning out of my moms driveway when my front passenger tire collapsed in .. My upper ball joint broke . After my car was jacked up my lower a arm and ball joint was broke .. I replaced everything . A week later the driver side ball joint had to be replaced . My car still makes a aweful sound like something is about to brake . Should I replace every part in the front . Cause it dangerous for myself and my child .
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Stratus. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that the rear driver side ball joint fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the ball joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred over time with the remaining three ball joints detaching from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.
Air bags all 21 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Dodge Stratus coupe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V338000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. A month ago, while driving an unknown rate of speed, the contact struck a deer and the air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained pains to the right leg, right knee, and foot. A police report was not filed and the contact did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was not inspected to determine why the air bags did not deploy. …
First complaint...on more than one occasion on wet roadways I would begin to slow down farther behind than normal for my stop or turn. Every single time my breaks locked up on me and I slid. A couple of times almost ended in a collision. I was involved in an accident dealing with a train. When I stopped the train hit the front end of my car. It pulled off my bumper, hood, radiator, coolant each landing at least 75 feet away. It also twisted my engine, transmission, bent my frame, and rear axle. All the while my battery blew up. Out of all of that my air bags did not deploy.
2002 Dodge Stratus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Dodge Stratus a good car?
Based on 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Stratus rates average: 27% fewer complaints than 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 2002 Dodge Stratus?
The engine & cooling — 51 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (31) and air bags (21).
How many recalls does the 2002 Dodge Stratus have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Dodge Stratus, the most recent from June 3, 2016 (inflator module). 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 2002 Dodge Stratus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 29% 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.