Skip to content
Dodge StratusModel year report

2006 Dodge Stratus Problems

Complaints
74filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
52,000miles, 59 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Dodge Stratus (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

The most common complaint theme for this model year is front-end suspension and steering wear — owners describe ball joints and control arms separating, often at highway speed, with several saying their vehicle was not covered by a related recall. A second cluster covers engine oil leaks around the front crankshaft seal, and a third involves airbags that did not deploy in reported collisions. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 30,000 miles to well over 150,000.

  1. Suspension

    Ball joint / lower control arm separation

    • 15 complaints (20%)
    • median 110,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2023

    Complaints describe the front end collapsing or the wheel pulling away from the vehicle, often announced by a clunking or banging noise from the front. Some owners say a ball joint or control arm snapped while driving, and in several cases the tire jammed into the fender or the vehicle had to be towed. Owners who checked recalls found a ball joint campaign that did not cover their vehicle, and repairs ranged from replacing the lower control arm to replacing the axle. Reported from about 28,000 miles into the 160,000s, so mileage varies widely; several describe failure without much warning.

    What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the front lower control arms and ball joints for looseness, torn boots or missing grease, and ask for the repair history on those parts. Owners can also check whether their VIN was included in any ball joint campaign.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When driving home the 2006 Dodge Stratus sxt sedan as mentioned broke on me and my family into a store parking lot where the entire wheel came off the car leaving me and my family stranded luckily we weren't on the hwy driving hwy speeds or im sure me and my family wouldn't probably be living here today. I went online to check we're there any recalls on this vehicle and it came back as ball joint assembly which is the cause of the damage to my vehicle”

    NHTSA complaint #11228607, filed 2019-07, 168,458 miles

    “I was driving down the high way when I heard a bang and the car pulled me hard into the medium at 75 miles an hour. I totaled my car. This is the second time the ball joint has sheared off causing the tire to jam in to the fender. First time I was able to get of the road and it was on the driver side of the vehicle. This time it was on the left side of the vehicle. My 3 young kids where in the back seat and could have been seriously injured. Something needs to be done.”

    NHTSA complaint #10467712, filed 2012-07, 156,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Front airbags not deploying in a crash

    • 12 complaints (16%)
    • median 56,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2016

    Complaints describe frontal collisions at moderate speed where neither front airbag deployed, sometimes with the seat belt also failing to hold. Owners say the damage was concentrated on the front of the vehicle and that they were injured despite wearing belts. Several report that the dealer or manufacturer did not inspect the vehicle because it had already been repaired, and one notes the airbags did deploy in a lower-speed corner impact. Reported across a wide span, from around 25,000 to 137,000 miles, in collisions at various speeds.

    What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has any stored fault codes or an illuminated airbag lamp, and confirm the airbag warning light comes on briefly and then goes out when the ignition is switched on.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on the highway 6:40 a.m. And crashed with tow horses, I was driving at 150 km/hr and the tow air bag do not open, I ask the dealer why the air bags do not open and the answer was because I pushed the brake, the damage in the car was a lot but the air bag do not open.”

    NHTSA complaint #10159984, filed 2006-06, 11,150 miles

    “Ii was in a accident and my seatbelt did not lock nor did the airbags deploy. I rearended someone at 25mph. They were stopped on the freeway. So it was a fairly hard hit. I fractured my sternum,and bruised chest,there was a big lump in middle of breastbone. Currently under a cardiologist for several tests on heart. My out of pocket expenses was $5,281 dollars,hers was minimal. I am just lucky I am not dead and she was not hurt.”

    NHTSA complaint #10246390, filed 2008-10, 63,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Front crankshaft seal / oil leak

    • 10 complaints (14%)
    • median 54,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2008–2018

    Owners report puddles of oil under the vehicle and the oil pressure light coming on, with dealers and mechanics identifying the front crankshaft or main seal as the source. Several say the repair was repeated because the seal leaked again shortly afterward, and some were told the crankshaft or the whole engine needed replacement. One complaint describes oil covering the underside of the vehicle after a seal let go at highway speed. Often reported between roughly 35,000 and 60,000 miles, with a few instances around 105,000 to 120,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Look for oil residue around the front of the engine and on the underside, check the oil level and watch for fresh drips after a test drive, and ask whether the front seal or crankshaft has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2006 Stratus has just 44,000 miles. I noticed a puddle of oil under my car and had to have it towed to a dealership. After having my car for a month, the dealership said the crankshaft had pushed into the engine and the entire engine now needed to be replaced. After looking on the internet, I have learned that there are many people with the same issue, and Dodge does not want to acknowledge the problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10267231, filed 2009-04, 44,000 miles

    “Oil leaked from under my car and I thought it was a faulty oil filter. It was diagnosed as a fault thrust bearing being worn after only 47,900 miles on my Dodge Stratus 2006 with a 2.4l engine. I had it repaired costing just under $1,300 and the oil seal went again in only one week.”

    NHTSA complaint #10398535, filed 2011-05, 47,900 miles
  4. Engine cooling

    Engine stalling and sudden acceleration

    • 10 complaints (14%)
    • median 36,818 mi at 4.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2019

    Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning while driving, sometimes after a brief sputter, leaving the vehicle without power steering or power brakes. Other owners report the engine racing on its own while idling at a light or in a driveway, requiring the driver to shift into park or shut off the ignition; one also describes sudden hesitation and acceleration from a stop. Dealers in these accounts either could not duplicate the symptom or found no stored codes. Reported from only a few thousand miles up to around 120,000 miles, under varied driving conditions including idling and steady highway speed.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: During a test drive, pay attention to idle quality and any surging or hesitation from a stop, and ask whether the throttle body or idle control has been serviced or cleaned.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The vehicle sputtered a little and died. After getting it started and going further up the street in traffic, it died and would not restart. I have not been able to get the vehicle fixed up to this point. I have been speaking with the dealership, and the manufacturer to see if this problem could be resolved.”

    NHTSA complaint #10197697, filed 2007-07, 36,818 miles

    “Since 2006 my '06 Dodge Stratus has spontaneously accelerated approximately seven times, most recently in february 2010. Idling in a driveway or at an intersection, the engine will begin to race as if I had floored the gas pedal. Only by shifting into park and/or turning off the ignition am I able to prevent the car from accelerating into the intersection or a wall. The Dodge dealer who regularly serviced the vehicle said they could not diagnose the problem unless the car was hooked up to their equipment at the time of the next occurrence. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10351111, filed 2010-08, 20,000 miles

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.

NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Stratus. 59 of the complaints include a mileage, and 44% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 52,000 miles. Of all complaints, 19 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 25 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (4), Other or unknown (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Seat belts (2), Seats (1), Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “I was driving doing about 25 MPH. Thank god I wasn't driving any faster when all of sudden. I heard a loud noise. I had lost control of the steering I ran in to a guard rail my car didn't want to go because the right passenger front side was totally touching the ground I got out the car seen my entire front passenger tire was off the car. I then started crying. I just bought this car in july 2019 98,000 original miles. Bad purchase decision!”

NHTSA complaint #11308997, filed 2020-02, 101,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The front oil seal came out of its seat causing massive oil leak. After engine removal and disassembly I found the wrong lower main thrust bearing was installed. This caused excessive stress on the top thrust bearing causing bearing failure causing end play in crankshaft resulting in oil seal failure. Fire danger from oil covering underside of vehicle. The lower main bearings were all the same. No flanged thrust bearing.”

NHTSA complaint #10441985, filed 2011-12, 67,000 miles

Air bags: “Driving a 2006 Dodge Stratus when another car rear ended me going about 60mph. This pushed my vehicle into another vehicle with enough force to smash both the front and rear of my vehicle. No air bag ever deployed. Serious safety issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10372444, filed 2010-12, 60,000 miles

Steering: “I was driving like normal, then when I went up the ramp onto the the shopping center, the right wheel all of a sudden hit the passenger wheel well and the rim was hitting the brake caliper. It was in motion, on a city street.”

NHTSA complaint #11298649, filed 2020-01, 135,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

44% of the 59 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 105,000 miles.

5%0–107%10–2532%25–5024%50–755%75–10020%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (59 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 52,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’0710’10’13’16’19’23
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Dodge Stratus. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Stratus · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Dodge Stratus version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Stratus 4 Door FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic202722$3,050
Stratus 4 Door FWD2.7L 6-cyl · flex-fuel4-speed automatic192521$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2006 Dodge Stratus in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 25 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 25 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Stratus

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20067452,0000—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20056273,0423—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200414466,8873—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20037563,5002—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200215066,5002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200118670,18510—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200021688,0005—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199925190,5003—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199827275,0003—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199734995,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199655496,9087—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199531897,0007—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Dodge Stratus model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Stratus?

The most common complaint theme for this model year is front-end suspension and steering wear — owners describe ball joints and control arms separating, often at highway speed, with several saying their vehicle was not covered by a related recall. The issues reported most often: Ball joint / lower control arm separation; Front airbags not deploying in a crash; Front crankshaft seal / oil leak.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Dodge Stratus have?

NHTSA recorded 74 consumer complaints for the 2006 Dodge Stratus as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Dodge Stratus is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 23 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 14.

Has the 2006 Dodge Stratus been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Dodge Stratus get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Dodge Stratus (Stratus 4 Door, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 20 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Dodge Stratus reported?

Among the 59 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 52,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 105,000 miles; 44% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.