1995 Dodge Stratus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report two long-running themes: coolant and oil leaks around the engine head gasket, and automatic transmission behavior where the car unexpectedly downshifts, slips into neutral or drops to a limp mode. Brake complaints are also common and range from a pedal that sinks or vibrates to reports of poor stopping power; many complaints come in above 60,000 miles, though several describe problems early in ownership.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission downshifts, slips or enters limp mode

   • 41 complaints (13%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 10.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2010

   Complaints describe the 4-speed automatic dropping into a lower gear or neutral on its own, sometimes at highway speed, and at other times refusing to shift out of first gear. Owners report repeated repairs including solenoid packs, speed sensors, throttle position sensors and transmission control modules, and full rebuilds that in several cases did not resolve the behavior. Several describe being told by dealers that no problem was found or that no further repair was available. Reported from low mileage (under 5,000 in one case) up to about 150,000 miles, with many clustered between 60,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 04V021000Recall 98V1830001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive it long enough to include highway speed and confirm it holds each gear; watch for a delayed or hard 2nd-gear engagement and ask for transmission service records. A service bulletin mentions valve body work for overdrive cycling, so ask whether that or any software update was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car has had transmission rebuilt three times. First time it was rebuilt by dealer at approximately 85000 miles because of rough shifting. Second time at 150000 miles at transmission re-builder because of it consistently going in to limp mode. After several return visits, they still could not fix the problem. I drove the car for 10000 miles being careful of conditions that I was in case it slipped in to limp mode. I eventually took it to a different shop to have it rechecked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10132316, filed 2005-08, 148,000 miles

   “I purchased the car and the car would start to bounce down to first gear and now will not come out of first gear.I have tried to have it worked on but the transmition shop could not fix the problem either!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10112783, filed 2005-03, 10 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Head gasket coolant and oil leaks, overheating

   • 67 complaints (21%)
   • median 112,500 mi at 11.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,050 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Complaints describe coolant pouring out, overheating while driving, and oil leaking from the engine area, with mechanics identifying a failed head gasket or the cylinder head oil galley plug. Some owners report the gasket was replaced more than once and that the leak returned; a few say the leaking oil dripped onto hot exhaust parts and produced smoke or a burning smell. Appears from about 30,000 miles upward, with most sample reports in the 88,000 to 140,000 mile range; some owners mention repeat failures within a few years.

   Recall 96V006000

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for oil residue or a sweet smell around the engine, and ask whether a block test or head gasket work has been done. One recall covers the cylinder head oil galley plug, so confirm whether that campaign was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car leaks oil badly, I see its had been a oil recall under/ the engine cylinder head oil gallery plug/ it smokes the hood, leaks water out of tail pipe: 1995 Dodge Stratus recall#96v00600/ the dealer keeps telling me there isn't any recalls on my vehicle. If this problem persist its going to start a fire,,,,,,,,,,,its a safety hazard in my eye and many other auto repair shops,,,,”

   NHTSA complaint #10003021, filed 2003-01, 137,000 miles

   “While driving at approximately 30 MPH, my car started to overheat. When I pulled over, the coolant was pouring out of the engine. I had the car towed to a garage and was told that it failed the block test meaning that it needed a new head gasket. I took the car to a second garage and was told the same thing. This is a known failure that has been happening since the car was produced. The manufacture needs to cover the parts and labor of this repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10216618, filed 2008-01, 88,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks, vibration or weak stopping power

   • 46 complaints (14%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe the brake pedal slowly sinking to the floor at a stop, vibration through the pedal and steering wheel under braking at higher speeds, and in some cases poor stopping during an emergency stop. Complaints also mention master cylinder leakage and sticking calipers, and some report the problem continued after parts were replaced or after a recall repair was performed. Reported from low miles up to roughly 130,000; one owner had pads replaced repeatedly in a single year.

   Recall 96V075000Recall 96V074000

   What to check: Hold steady pressure on the pedal at a stop and see whether it creeps toward the floor, and feel for pulsation during a firm stop. Ask whether the master cylinder and ABS-related recalls were performed and check for fluid weeping at the master cylinder.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife complained of brake pedal travel further than normal. Upon investigation, I discovered that one of the bolt studs that holds the master cylinder to the power brake booster was broken off and missing. The master cylinder was pushed out of the booster to about a 30 degeree angle. The remaining stud was still in place but bent badly to one side. If there had been a panic stop required, I feel that the master cylinder could have separated from the booster, with the effect of having no braking effectiveness. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10010310, filed 2003-03, 52,000 miles

   “Received recall notice (96v075000). Called dealer. Took vehicle in. Supposed to repair brakes. Picked up vehicle, noticed no braking power. Called dealer, they refused to correct problem w/brakes. Called manufacturer. & was told work was done & nothing could be done. Owner not satisfied at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #821570, filed 1998-02
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering lock-up, fluid loss or power steering hose fire

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn or feeling locked, sometimes mid-turn, and one complaint reports broken tie rod ends. Several describe loss of power steering fluid from a hose or line, and two complaints report an engine-compartment fire traced to a power steering hose; one owner was told the vehicle was not included in the related campaign. Reported across a broad mileage range and in vehicles of varying age; several complaints involve highway-speed driving.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and inspect hoses and lines in the engine bay for cracking or seepage, and turn the wheel lock to lock while listening for noise or binding. Ask whether any power steering hose campaign applied to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my car to get the power steering fixed after it stopped working. The repair shop called me and told me the car's engine had caught on fire and that they were not liable. I retrieved the vehicle and have since had to repair all of the electronics, hoses, hood, and paint in the engine compartment area.”

   NHTSA complaint #10176089, filed 2006-12, 113,642 miles

   “First incident involved loss of steering control on a right turn. Steering wheel locked and I had to brake hard. Second incident was again a right hand turn in an intersection, the wheels locked and though I was turning right the car went straight towards oncoming traffic. Braked hard, lucky car behind me swerved. There is steering related safety recall on 95 Stratus, but dealer says my car is not covered and wants me to pay over 600 $ for repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #752874, filed 2001-10
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 30 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 4.2 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2006

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at intersections or at speed, and in some cases intermittent misfire and rough running. Owners report multiple dealer visits with parts such as the EGR valve, catalytic converter and control modules replaced, and in several cases the stalling returned afterward. Reported across a wide mileage span, from relatively low mileage cars to over 130,000 miles; many owners describe it as intermittent.

   What to check: Ask whether the car has a history of stalling or repeated check-engine work, and take a test drive that includes idling in traffic and a cold start. Ask for recent tune-up, sensor and emissions-related service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle dying out and was repaired three times with no result. The vehicle has stalled several time while driving under no certain circumstances. The dealer has replaced the EGR valve, catalytic converter and power distribution unit but the vehicle continued to stall. The vehicle has been at the service shop for seven weeks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10051716, filed 2003-12

   “While driving vehicle & when consumer was at an intersection at a green light waiting for the traffic to pass so he could make a turn, but was impossible for him because the vehicle lost power, leaving consumer with a stalled vehicle in the middle of the road. The consumer had taken the vehicle to dealer couple 0f times and manufacturer contacted. The consumer would like to add this problem does not happen at all times, just sometimes.”

   NHTSA complaint #819868, filed 1997-12

Buying note. On this model year, the transmission behavior and engine oil/coolant leaks are the items owners write about most, and both can be expensive if they recur, so a thorough test drive and a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with these cars are worthwhile. Ask for records showing whether the open recalls (shift interlock, brake master cylinder and ABS, cylinder head oil galley plug, lower ball joint) were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.