2005 Dodge Stratus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe front suspension and steering wear, especially ball joints and tie-rod ends that produce clunking or popping noises and, in the more serious reports, wheel detachment. Engine oil leaks and stalling are also described, along with air bags that did not deploy in reported collisions. Many of the suspension and steering reports come in at higher mileage, while the oil-leak reports appear earlier, often below 80,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front ball joint and control arm failure

   • 11 complaints (18%)
   • median 129,906 mi at 11.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe clunking or popping from the front end while turning or reversing, and in some cases the front wheel folding or breaking away from the vehicle. Shops reportedly identified failed lower ball joints, cracked control arms, or an upper ball joint that had separated from its socket, sometimes with visible rust. Some owners say repairs with aftermarket parts did not hold, and several mention they had not been told about any related campaign. Mostly reported between roughly 75,000 and 160,000 miles, on vehicles years into their service life.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the front lower and upper ball joints, control arms and tie-rod ends for play, cracks or rust before buying, ideally on a lift. Ask for any records of front-end suspension work and alignments.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata there are several things that I have seen as a recall on a Dodge Stratus and tried to report it and whomever I be talking to is in denial about that my car is showing me the signs that it's needs to be fixed because it's a malfunction my ball joint is bad because of the front right steering knuckle has messed it up and my gas gauge is messed up with the alarm and temp control is also messed up”

   NHTSA complaint #11093420, filed 2018-05, 180,500 miles

   “Was driving 25 MPH driving on paramount blvd at whittier blvd, in pico rivera, ca, when the car made a loud clunking noise, then felt as though we were dragging something. Only drove 50 feet before pulling over, as it was impossible to drive. We thought it was initially a flat tire, until we got out. Our mechanic inspected it, and determined that the lower control arm had failed on the passenger side. It was clear from the picture that the ball joint was rusted and snapped free of its housing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10883022, filed 2016-07, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Oil leaks from the front crank seal

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2011

   Owners describe oil leaking heavily from the front of the engine, with some reporting that the front crank seal pushed out repeatedly and that replacing the seal did not last. Several say a mechanic found movement in the crankshaft, and one shop reportedly recommended an engine replacement. Complaints also mention the engine warning light coming on and, in one case, the engine seizing after running low on oil. Reported from about 40,000 to 80,000 miles in the sample, often noticed as oil under the car or at routine oil changes.

   What to check: Check for oil residue around the crankshaft pulley and under the front of the engine, watch the oil level between changes, and ask whether the front crank seal or timing cover has been resealed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “***update on my initial complaint*** mechanics have determined the cause of my non-stop oil leaks/spills is from a moving crankshaft that causes the seal to pop out, and thus, continuous oil spillage. They have attempted to fix this issue multiple times with no luck. It is not fixable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10381375, filed 2011-02, 75,000 miles

   “My 2005 Dodge Stratus has a problem with the crankshaft that keeps moving, which is causing the crank seal to pop out, so it causes oil to start pouring out. I took it to my local Dodge dealer, and they said I need a new engine. I had also took it to local mechanics more then once to try to fix this problem, but the problem doesn't seem fixible. I do believe this is a manufacture problem, and it wasn't cause by us driving this car. My warranty expired in jan/2010.”

   NHTSA complaint #10327533, filed 2010-04, 71,246 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering clunks, play and tie-rod failure

   • 7 complaints (11%)
   • median 121,517 mi at 9.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2018

   Complaints describe a steering wheel that drifts off center after alignments, popping or clunking noises when turning or backing up, and in some cases loss of steering control. Shops reportedly diagnosed worn tie-rod ends or a rack-and-pinion problem, and some owners say the dealer declined to cover the repair. A few reports describe the steering wheel locking while turning. Mostly reported from about 100,000 miles upward, with some earlier reports of steering-wheel locking at low mileage.

   Recall 04V5790002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the right steering knuckle recall (04V579000) was performed, listen for popping while turning the wheel at a standstill, and have the tie-rod ends and rack checked for play.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter was driving through a parking lot and the car suddenly stopped. She got out and looked at the front and discovered the both front wheels were turned out in opposite directions. The tie rod had broke and came apart. This could have been disastrous at highway speeds. I was able to fix it at home, but as a father, I worry about just this thing happening!”

   NHTSA complaint #10700653, filed 2015-03, 101,000 miles

   “In late july, I was parked in my 2005 Dodge Stratus rt 2 door coupe with the car still running. I adjusted my steering wheel which in turn caused the car to turn off. Every time I raised my steering wheel, my car would turn off. It didn't matter if the car was moving or not, the car would turn off (the key would stay on). Big safety issue if I wouldn't of noticed until I began driving. I could have lost my power brakes and steering. I took the car to a Dodge dealership on 8-7-06. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165143, filed 2006-08, 19,002 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying in collisions

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 51,400 mi at 3.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2018

   Several owners describe front-end or side impacts in which the air bags did not deploy, including collisions severe enough to total the vehicle. A few complaints also note that only one bag deployed, and one owner reports a burn injury. Some mention the passenger-side inflator recall and say they had not been notified or had not had the repair done. Reported across a wide mileage range, from vehicles with very low mileage to over 190,000 miles, usually after a collision.

   Recall 15V338000

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether the passenger-side air bag inflator recall (15V338000) has been completed for the vehicle's VIN, and check that the air bag warning lamp behaves normally at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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”

   NHTSA complaint #11047551, filed 2017-11, 195,000 miles

   “My 2005 Dodge Stratus was in an accident on 4/14/06. The car that hit my car was going 55 MPH hit my car from the back. My car was going 45 MPH and from that hit was propel into the car in front of it and the car in front of me hit the car in front of it. My car was assessment was determine total. The question by the police and the insurance company is why the airbags did not come out. My front nor side airbags deployed. I am concern that this car has a manufacturer defect, which could have cause lives. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10156303, filed 2006-04, 50,300 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Stalling and rough running while driving

   • 10 complaints (16%)
   • median 69,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2015

   Owners report the engine shutting off without warning at speed or while idling, sometimes restarting immediately and sometimes sputtering repeatedly over several days. Complaints also describe the check engine lamp coming on, unusual engine noise, and one case of unintended acceleration. Dealers reportedly could not duplicate the problem in several of these reports. Reported from around 16,000 to 130,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for any stored diagnostic trouble codes and service history related to stalling, and have the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors and related wiring checked during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car accelerated on its own. When I let off the brakes it took off very fast and got up to 70 before I had to mash the brakes very hard and pull over and force it into neutral and turn the key to stop the engine. When restarting the engine it continued rev in park and neutral which prevented me from putting it in drive”

   NHTSA complaint #10767472, filed 2015-09, 130,000 miles

   “My 2005 Dodge Stratus stalls while I'm driving. It does it out of no where. I was on a busy hwy and it almost cut off. My car sputtered all the way home and then it started driving like nothing ever happen. A day or two later it happens all over again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10365517, filed 2010-11, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Front suspension and steering components are the most frequently described concern on this model year, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on ball joints, control arms and tie-rod ends is worthwhile. Ask for proof that the air bag inflator and steering knuckle recalls were completed, and check for oil leaks around the front crank seal.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.