2004 Dodge Stratus Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Dodge Stratus most often describe rear suspension and steering problems, especially broken rear strut mounts and separated front lower ball joints, typically at higher mileages. A second cluster involves the engine stalling, idling roughly, or surging at stops, often reported at low mileage and frequently not reproduced by the dealer. Electrical and airbag warning-light complaints, fuel system leaks, and steering-column issues also appear in the sample.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls, idles rough or surges at stops

   • 28 complaints (19%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2017

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at red lights, in parking lots, or while coasting in traffic, sometimes with the engine feeling very hot afterward. Others report the idle racing or the car lunging forward while stopped with the brake applied. Complaints often say the dealer could not duplicate the problem or found nothing wrong. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 150,000 miles, most often at stops or low speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any stalling or idle-surge diagnosis was done, and check for stored diagnostic trouble codes; a service bulletin describes a flash for cold-start misfire codes P0300-P0306, which may or may not relate.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car sometimes shuts off while in parking lots or at red lights. When I got out last time I let my car sit for about 30 minutes and underneath the hood was all hot! The dealer cannot find the problem because it only happens spontaneously and they would need to duplicate the problem. I read a website forum full of Stratus' that all have the same problem. They stop without warning, the radio stays on and everything! This could lead to a wreck!”

   NHTSA complaint #10138148, filed 2005-09, 24,450 miles

   “While driving on I-290 ( 3 lane super highway just outside chicago) the asd (automatic shut down) switch activated and turned my car off. I coasted to an exit but the car would not restart.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067639, filed 2004-04, 20,436 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on or airbag not deploying

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2018

   Complaints describe the airbag light coming on with no prior warning, and in some cases airbags not deploying in a collision. Several owners trace the light to the seat belt retractor, clock spring, or airbag module, and report repeated repairs with the light returning. Some also note a passenger-side inflator recall covering other vehicles, while their own vehicle was not included. Reported from about 16,000 to 179,000 miles, sometimes right after starting the vehicle.

   Recall 15V338000

   What to check: Check that the airbag light goes out after the bulb-check on startup, and ask whether any open recall for the passenger-side inflator applies to this vehicle's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the street and I parked at a friend's house. Me and him were talking and without warning the driver side airbag went off. No one was touching the car and I was not touching the steering wheel. I don't know what triggered the airbag to go off. And I'm glad I wasn't on the road when it happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10992066, filed 2017-05, 153,597 miles

   “At 28,000 miles the airbag light came on. The dealer said it was a seat belt retractor. They replaced it. I have had the air bag light come on every few months. They have replaced seat belt components and messed with the connectors. I have had it in 5 times now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10205297, filed 2007-10, 28,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rear strut mount breaks / rear end feels loose

   • 20 complaints (14%)
   • median 79,800 mi at 4.8 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe a rattling or thumping from the rear, then a broken upper rear strut mount that leaves the rear of the car feeling unstable or undrivable. Several owners say corrosion was involved and that the opposite side was cracked or also broken. Dealers reportedly had the part on national back order with no delivery date, and owners mention the replacement part differed in material from the original. Mostly reported between roughly 67,000 and 142,000 miles, often after driving over bumps.

   What to check: Inspect both rear strut towers and mounts for cracks or corrosion, and listen for rear rattles over bumps on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10235606, filed 2008-07, 67,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10239577, filed 2008-08, 142,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint separates / wheel collapse

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 116,508 mi at 14.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2021

   Owners report the front lower ball joint or control arm separating, letting the wheel turn or collapse and leaving the car hard to steer. Several complaints were at low speed during a turn or while reversing, and some owners note the repair related to a recall for other vehicles but not their own VIN. Independent mechanics identified faulty ball joints on the control arm assembly. Reported from very low mileage up to about 233,000 miles, often during low-speed turns.

   What to check: Have a mechanic check the front lower ball joints and control arms for play or torn boots, and ask whether the vehicle's VIN is covered by any ball joint campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ball joint on the lower control arm assembly separated causing the front passenger side wheel to turn to the right and preventing the driver from being able to steer the car. The vehicle was in motion driving in a straight line when it happened. This is similar to NHTSA recall #10e059000 and #09e056000. I think the control arm was the original factory part. I'll attach pictures with the part number.”

   NHTSA complaint #11024252, filed 2017-09, 233,000 miles

   “While making a turn at 5mph, my front right wheel collapsed causing complete separation of the wheel and control arm in turn causing my axle to come out from the transmission at the cv joint. There is a recall for this ball joint issue but not for my VIN specifically.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308351, filed 2020-02, 150,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell, spillage at fill-up or pressure build-up

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2023

   Complaints describe a strong fuel smell in and around the car, fuel pouring out near the tank, and the pump nozzle not clicking off at fill-up so gasoline spills. One owner links the smell and leakage to pressure build-up blowing out the fuel pump seal. Some owners point to existing fuel-system recalls but say their vehicle was not covered. Reported from roughly 9,000 to 190,000 miles, often right after refueling.

   Recall 04V313000Recall 03V443000

   What to check: Look and smell for fuel around the rear of the car and filler area, and confirm whether the fuel pump hose-fitting recalls were completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pressure build-up in the gas tank caused the fuel pump ass'y seal to blow out and gas to pour out on the ground as well as fumes in the vehicle. I had also smelled gas on the 23rd when I first had filled it up on the day of purchase.”

   NHTSA complaint #10104855, filed 2004-12, 9,300 miles

   “The contact stated during filling up the vehicle, the gas tank does not click alerting the contact it is full causing gasoline spillage. The dealership has not been alerted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10153055, filed 2006-03, 190,000 miles

Buying note. On a used 2004 Stratus, have the rear strut mounts and front ball joints inspected closely, and check for any open airbag and fuel-system recalls by VIN. Also ask about a history of stalling or idle surging, since several owners say the dealer could not reproduce it.

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.