1998 Dodge Stratus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about engine oil leaks traced to the head gasket, usually noticed as oil spots on the driveway and sometimes accompanied by coolant loss or overheating. Brake problems are the second recurring theme, with complaints describing a pedal that goes to the floor or lines that leak, and a smaller group describes shift interlock and key-removal problems plus front-end suspension and steering wear.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine oil leak from head gasket

   • 79 complaints (29%)
   • median 63,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2006

   Owners describe oil spots under the car that grow into steady leaks, often needing a quart or more of oil added between checks. Several say a mechanic or dealer identified the head gasket as the source, and some note oil in the coolant, overheating, or coolant that keeps needing topping up. Repairs quoted in the complaints range widely, and owners frequently say they were told this was common for the model but not covered by any recall. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 110,000 miles, with several owners noticing the leak soon after purchase or when cold weather arrived.

   What to check: Check for oil residue around the head gasket area and under the engine, look for oil in the coolant, and ask for service records showing whether the head gasket has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Dodge Stratus 98 has a major oil leak from the head gasket which can blow my engine - according to my friend who is a mechanic. He says that most of these models have this problem but there was recall only for 95-96 models. Is there anything on process to extend the recall??? The car is worth $2,600 and the repair will cost me $2,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10063614, filed 2004-03, 67,000 miles

   “Engine headgasket failure. I have a 1998 Dodge Stratus with a 2.4l and a year ago when I noticed that my engine had a very significant oil leak coming from the head gasket. The car has 75000 miles. I contacted Dodge recall center and they told me that there is no recall for this problem. I have called for repair quotes and it can range from 600 to 800 dollars to repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078638, filed 2004-06, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front-end clunks and worn ball joints, tie rods

   • 20 complaints (7%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2017

   Owners describe thumping or popping noises over bumps and when turning, with ball joints, control arms, tie rods, and wheel bearings named as the worn parts. Several report the work being repeated, and one notes rust on the lower ball joints and control arms. A few complaints link the noise to steering that becomes hard to turn. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 95,000 miles, with some work done at much lower mileage.

   What to check: Have the front ball joints, tie rods, and control arm bushings inspected for play and rust, and listen for clunks during a slow turn and over bumps on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I begain to have a grinding noise when I turned and then, my half-shaft fell out of my transmission, causing me to have to replace my half shaft and lower control arm. That stuff is not cheap.”

   NHTSA complaint #10098488, filed 2004-11, 91,256 miles

   “While turning a corner at 10 MPH consumer felt the steering wheel tightened severely. Consumer made another turn, and the steering wheel tightened again. Vehicle would not proceed any further, and consumer called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to a garage, were the consumer learned that the left tie rod broke.”

   NHTSA complaint #10079594, filed 2004-06, 54,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / fluid leaks

   • 38 complaints (14%)
   • median 78,950 mi at 7.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor, brake fluid pooling under the car, and master cylinder fluid level dropping. Some owners report lines leaking at the ABS pump area or the right rear brake tube chafing, and a few describe repeated pad and caliper replacement. In several accounts the loss of braking happened while driving. Spread from low mileage up past 100,000 miles, with several reports between 45,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 99V244000

   What to check: Inspect the brake lines and fittings for corrosion or rubbing near the exhaust, check fluid level and for wet spots at the ABS pump, and ask when the lines were last inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started the car, placed my foot on the brake and it went to the floor. I exited the vehicle and found a large pool of fluid on the right front of the car. Abs and brake light came on. Master cylinder was near empty. I had the car towed to my local mechanic and he found that all the brake lines (6?) were leaking at the ABS pump. This is the car my wife drives. My wife! I am anal with regard to my vehicles condition and maintenance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10441989, filed 2011-12, 127,000 miles

   “The ABS and the braking system quit working I got on the freeway and I had breaks by the time I got three off ramps later to get off the freeway I had no brakes they didn't work in the pedal went all the way to the floor causing and accident”

   NHTSA complaint #10861912, filed 2016-04, 1,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter moves out of Park / key stuck in ignition

   • 19 complaints (7%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners report being able to shift the car out of Park with the key removed, or being unable to remove the key after parking. Some describe the car rolling after being parked, and others say the dealer worked on the shift interlock. Complaints also mention the transmission dropping into neutral at stops and needing a restart. Reported from about 50,000 miles up to well over 100,000 miles.

   Recall 04V021000Recall 98V183000

   What to check: With the engine off, confirm the key releases only in Park and that the shifter will not move out of Park without the key in the ignition; ask whether either interlock recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle rolled forward while parked and struck a house. There was no key in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The manufacturer denied the claim. Recall o4v021000 was issued for this problem. A recall noticed was received a week later for the park interlock .”

   NHTSA complaint #10089485, filed 2004-09, 88,000 miles

   “I have a 1998 Dodge Stratus es. The transmission will place itself in neutral at random times while at a stop. The only way to get the transmission working again is to restart the car. The car has the power-stick transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10173434, filed 2006-11, 78,000 miles

Buying note. These are high-mileage cars now, so on any example check for head gasket oil leaks and brake line condition first, then confirm the shift interlock recalls were done and have the front suspension inspected.

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.