Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 13 | 18% | 56,000 miles |
| 2005 | 11 | 17% | 53,000 miles |
| 2004 | 16 | 11% | 70,000 miles |
| 2003 | 17 | 19% | 63,000 miles |
| 2002 | 21 | 13% | 65,000 miles |
| 2001 | 29 | 13% | 84,000 miles |
| 2000 | 9 | 4% | 110,000 miles |
| 1999 | 10 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 1998 | 17 | 6% | 65,000 miles |
| 1997 | 24 | 7% | 117,000 miles |
| 1996 | 18 | 3% | 168,000 miles |
| 1995 | 18 | 6% | 98,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Stratus. While driving 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
While investigating a minor two vehicle traffic crash involving the above mentioned vehicle, I noticed that both front air bags had deployed. The driver had sustained swelling and abrasions to his hands and forearms from the airbags, and the front seat passenger complained of soreness in the shoulders. No medical treatment was called for. Upon examining the damage to the vehicle that they were riding in, I saw that the only damage from the crash was to the right front corner. A vehicle that was traveling to the right of them and slightly ahead of them attempted to make a left hand turn. The left side of that vehicle (Chevy trailblazer) struck the right front fender of the Dodge Stratus, as it turned (sideswiped). The damage to the Stratus did not seen severe enough to warrant an air bag deployment, and there was no direct frontal impact between the two vehicles. Pictures are available.
I was driving down dundee rd in illinois and it was rain/snow mix and as I was coming to an intersection the car failed to stop and when the impact happend the airbags failed to deploy and the car was in motion on a city street
Hello,my name is [redacted] . I was involved in an motor vehicle accident on August 1 of 2008. I was driving a 2005 Dodge Stratus. My vehicle collided with another vehicle. My car sustained major front end damage. The damage was so severe my vehicle was totaled by my insurance company. My speed limit on impact was between 35-40 miles an hour. I was shocked my air bags didn't deploy. Luckily, myself and my mother was wearing our safety belts. I feel at the speed I was driving my air bags should have deployed. I called the manufacturer of the Dodge Stratus on Friday August 8, 2008, still I haven't received a response. Please assist me with this matter. Thank you
Driving on a 35 MPH road going across the cross road got hit by a truck doing about 70 MPH. Hit on the passenger side front bumper to the back edge truck f the front passenger tire. Put into a spin then was hit in the rear passenger tire and bumper. No air bags came out with massive trauma to both myself as driver and my passenger. Police, ambulance and doctors asked why the air bags did not expand. If the air bags would of worked less injuries would of happened. We had just stopped at a stop sign and proceeded to cross the road at like about 15 MPH when hit.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45mph with steady brake pressure applied, the ABS brakes locked up resulting in a rear end collision. Upon impact, the vehicle rolled over and slid into a telephone pole coming to a final stop on its side. The airbags did not deploy. Although the contact was wearing a seatbelt, no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was totaled due to the extensive damage. The police were on the scene and a report was taken. The insurance adjustor, as well as a factory representative, inspected the vehicle and determined the airbags should have deployed. The vehicle is a 2004 Dodge srt4.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Dodge Stratus. The contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle while stopped at a traffic light. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was unavailable.
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. …
Related recalls (3)
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.
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Passenger air bags were built with suspect aluminum extrusion sections which May not retain the air bag door during an air bag deployment event.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Stratus years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (29), 1997 (24), 2002 (21), 1995 (18) and 1996 (18) model years. Airbag complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Dodge Stratus airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 16V-401 (inflator module, Jun 3, 2016); 15V-338 (inflator module, Jun 2, 2015); 00V-306 (frontal, Oct 12, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Stratus airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (104 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (5).
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.