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 2002 Dodge Stratus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
On 9/3/08 I had brought my 2002 Dodge Stratus 2.7l v6 in for a coolant system flush. I was charged $129.95. Soon after, I smelled burning coolant, but the dealership had said it was just excess burning off. Two weeks later on 9/23/08, I was on rt 1 to out to my sister-in-laws in lancaster, pa, when my car overheated and had to shut it down on an off ramp. I got out of the car, and all the coolant was leaking out. I had it towed back to miller Dodge, and they had informed me my water pump has failed and has to be replaced, along with the timing tensioner chain. It cost me $628.63. I had argued with the Dodge dealership because they just did maintenance involving the water pump, and now it is dead. They said I would have to fight with Chrysler about it. I found a bulletin on mycarstats.com regarding my engine that the water pump appears to fail after a coolant flush is performed. …
Engine failed at 54,800 miles on my 2002 Dodge Stratus se. Car was taken to the dealer for a slight engine knock. Car had no problem starting. We left the car there for them to diagnose the problem. They called and said that I needed to replace the engine (2.7l dohc 24 valve v-6) at no cost to me that it was under warranty. We agreed and 3 day's later they called and told me that the warranty was canceled and would not tell me why. I gave them all my maintenance records. When we arrived to pick up our car, the service advisor told us that the car May not start because it had been sitting there for 2 weeks. That's bull... He then told us that the car had jumped time and that they would put it back in time for us and split the cost. We agreed yet again and left the car there. …
On my way to work one morning, the car stopped in the middle of the street. It was two blocks from the house. I had 2 neighbors push the car back to the house. I eventually took it to the mechanic, who told me the problem was the engine. He took out the parts trying to rebuild the engine and noticed there was sludge throughout the parts. He then told me it was not safe to try and clean it out, because there is no guarantee how far into the engine it had gone. I would have to purchase an whole new engine. He looked for engines but could only find those with high mileage. He was not sure if the engine would stand-up for long or eventually cause me to have to change it again. The car is still waiting for an engine. I have not been in a financial situation to afford it. I recently started to look again to get an idea of when I May be able to work on this again. …
2002 Dodge Stratus began to hesitate and act like it was stalling driving a 10 mile commute. Wife pull over, opened the hood, but saw nothing wrong. Being only a couple miles from home she attempted to restart the car. The car would not start and didn't sound right. She called our mechanic and had the car towed to his business. He told us that after making several attempts to start the car that the engine seized. Both the water and oil were well within the normal operating range. The car has only 58,000 miles on it has been well cared far and driven by my overly cautious wife. As I have learned more about this engine I have found plenty of evidence online that the 2.7l v6 engine is probably one of the worst examples of faulty engineering in memory. This could have caused very serious problems, and Chrysler should have been forced to recall this. …
I drove to knoxville, tn. I went to a basket ball game. On the interstate the engine started knocking real terribly. I called my mom and she said to check the oil in the morning. I did it was at a perfect level.(I had got the oil changed about a week before this trip.) I had the car towed to a maintenance shop. They said the oil holes are to small to let sufficient oil through to the engine and that the oil was like gummy at the bottom of the engine(how would any one know that) and it ruins your engine. I had another maintenance shop check my car at home in wi. They said the same thing the mechanic said in tn. The car needs a new engine. The car is in my drive way because I have no money to put a new engine in the car. My mom was good enough to drive to tn and rent a uhaul with a trailer and bring my car back. …
I was driving my 2002 Dodge Stratus on the interstate when the engine dies. I coasted to the bottom of the exit ramp and attempted to start the car. All it would do is click. A call to aaa and the car was toed to the dealer. I call from the dealer later in the day revealed a seized engine. My husband confronted the dealer and asked to have the engine opened up for inspection. Sure enough large deposits of oil sludge. I asked the deal where we go from here and he said a replacement engine is $4900.00 after all the years of taking the car to the dealer for repairs and scheduled oil changes I must know replace the engine. How can Chrysler not be aware of this problem with all the attention it is getting.
One day after we purchased a 2002 Dodge Stratus from a private seller, the car died and had to be towed to a mechanic. He had it for 3 days but car started for him. 2 days later car died again so we towed it to a Dodge dealer. He had it for 2 days and informed us the engine was shot due to oil sludge and a timing issue. It would need an engine replacement for $6100. We drove the car less than 20 miles, didn't make our first payment on a 3 year loan and have no car to drive. I still have a 10 year old Dodge caravan, but was not aware of the defective 2.7l engine Dodge knowing sold to consumers. Never buy another Dodge.
While on 495 long island expressway the car made a load knocking sound and died. When towed to our mechanic he said it was engine failure. This happened in nov. 2007(the car was purchased new in August 2002), and there were no funds to fix it which has caused transportation/financial difficulties in regard to work from nov. 2007 until the present,June 2008. The daimler Chrysler rep. Said they weren't responsible because we didn't bring the car to them for our oil changes. I just received an estimate to replace the engine with a jaspar engine for 4,500 to 5,000 dollars.
Engine complaints in other Stratus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2002 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2002 Dodge Stratus, 31% of the model year's 163 complaints. The component named most often is engine (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Dodge Stratus engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2002 Dodge Stratus, though it has 2 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 2002 Dodge Stratus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 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.