This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My 2004 Dodge Stratus has defective parts. The aluminum rear strut upper mount brackets corroded so bad theft fell apart in 4 pieces and corrosion dust. These brackets are obviously defective to fall apart like this on a vehicle only 6 years old. There needs to be a recall for Dodge to replace these parts or pay for the parts already replaced. I need the car. I can't wait for a recall. I will keep the defective parts.
Through normal driving I exited off a highway ramp and heard a loud clang and thought my car had bottomed out. When I looked under the car the part that attached my rear drivers side tire to the shock had broken free. A neighbor told me it was the upper link to the rear view. My car is now undriveable. The rear wheel tilts onto the shock and rubs, also every small bump in the road sounds and feels like the car is bottoming out.
There was a distinctive rattle coming from the right rear suspension. The failure was the upper strut mount. The right and left strut mounts were replaced. The original material was aluminum and the replacement was painted steel. The dealer said a few months ago there was a waiting list of thousands of these parts. Do not have the old parts left at tire store.
My vehicle failed inspection because the rear strut mounts need to be replaced. My mechanic reports that this is a very common occurrence in Dodge and thought their might even be a recall issued on this part but my research indicated that is not the case.
- Liverpool, NY, USA
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2004 Dodge Stratus - approx 90,000 miles at first, I noticed a thumping on the rear passenger side of vehicle. After continuing to drive the car while trying to determine cause, the rear strut mounting bracket broke. After looking under the car, it was determined that the mounting bracket broke due to corrosion. It was also seen at this time that the driver side rear bracket was broke as well, leaving the car undrivable and unsafe. After we contacted the dealership, they told us there is a national backorder on this part and no foreseen date of when they will get the parts to fix my car. We have also contacted local salvage yards to find replacements until the new parts arrive, with no success.
My 2004 Dodge Stratus had the passenger side rear strut mount fail. It was oxidized and broke when going over a bump. I brought it in for repair and there is no parts for this. They are on back order.
2004 Dodge Stratus 67,000 miles the rear strut tower broke off of the vehicle due to corrosion causing the tower to become lodged into the tire, damaging the tire, which could have caused an accident. This issue was caught prior to an accident. Chrysler is unable to keep up with the demand for these parts, leading me to believe that this is an on going issue with the vehicle. There is a national back-order on the rear strut mounts and mounting plates and the dealership is unable to provide a time as to when my vehicle can be repaired.
Failure of the rear upper strut mounts on a 2004 Dodge Stratus SXT due to corrosion. Was told by Dodge dealer "over 9000" of these items are back ordered. The car is un-drivable and dangerous as is. One has completely failed the other is almost corroded through. Parts are un-available through manufacturer and third party vendors.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Stratus. While driving at an unknown speed over a bump in the road there was a rattling noise coming from the vehicle. When her husband drove the vehicle, he experienced the same failure. The failure felt as if the rear end was loose or unstable. The dealer stated that they could order the part for the repair, but did not know when it would arrive because it was on back order. The failure mileage was 70,300 and current mileage was 70,700. Updated 09/16/08. Updated 09/18/08.
Events leading up to failure was just normal driving conditions for 79,500 miles. The failure was a rear strut mount breaking and losing suspension in the rear. This is a permanent failure and the opposite side is showing a crack and is ready to break as well. As of now the vehicle is not operable and if it were to have broke at a different time it could have caused loss of vehicle control. To correct the failure service will be needed but there is a multiple month wait for parts according to local dealerships. The old parts will be available once replacement parts can be provided.
2004 Dodge Stratus with rear end problems. Consumer had the resonator replaced, and then was told the rear struts needed to be replaced. When her dad was replacing the struts they broke into pieces because of all of the corrosion. The consumer stated when she purchased the vehicle, there was a minor problem with the horn. The consumer stated she thinks there may be a problem with the transmission. As the vehicle changes gears, it will not change smoothly and ends up jerking back and forth as she tries to increase speed. The consumer stated the only way to stop it, is to take her foot off the accelerator and then accelerate through to the next gear
Heard loud clanking while driving. When home inspected right rear upper strut mount and found it broken. Called dealer, who replaced both sides. Left side was eroded from the top around the spring cup where salt water was probably sitting in winter, causing severe erosion coupled with the jouncing of the strut which caused breakage.
Right rear upper strut mount corroded and failed. The rear suspension had no support as the top of the strut became detached from the vehicle. No accident resulted but this seems to be a very poor design for areas of the country where salt is used to clear snow from roads. Previous years design of the upper mount was a steel mount. In 2004 the mount appears to be aluminum and very susceptible to corrosion. The only available repair was replacement of the mount. I replaced both mounts as the other was beginning to corrode as well.
Dealer said I had to have rear lateral link replaced to align car properly. Dodge Stratus SXT had 31,000 miles on it but dealer said it was not covered under 3yr 36,000 mile warranty. Manufacturer was called and they said it was covered. Dealer would not refund cost to replace part.
The left rear lower arm control snapped causing damaged to the leftside drivetrain components including frame and cross member the whole rear was replaced including the gas tank
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Syracuse, NY, USA