Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Dodge Stratus
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Dodge Stratus has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 349 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #10E059000 REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E056000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS/SEPARATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E088000 FUEL PUMP/ENGINE STALL CONDITION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V021000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION-PARK INTERLOC NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V183000 CHRYSLER/IGNITION KEY SHIFT INTERLOCK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V201000 CHRYSLER/LOWER CONTROL ARM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V095000 CHRYSLER/SECONDARY HOOD LATCH NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 155 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 37 complaints
- Power Train 35 complaints
- Electrical System 31 complaints
- Air Bags 24 complaints
- Steering 20 complaints
Of the 349 complaints on file, 28 report a crash and 34 a fire; across all 349 complaints, owners report 23 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Dodge Stratus has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of owner complaints, particularly related to the engine and brakes, and seven recall campaigns. The frequent issues with critical components like the suspension and power train contribute to this rating. While there are numerous complaints, the precise failure mileage for most issues is unknown, which limits the certainty of the outlook.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Service brakes | Unknown | $300–$800 | common |
| Power train | Unknown | $700–$2,000 | common |
| Front suspension | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotation and balance every 10,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Brake pad replacement as needed
- Air filter replacement every 15,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating or noise
- Brake noise or reduced efficiency
- Transmission shifting issues
- Suspension noise or instability
- Electrical system malfunctions
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Dodge Stratus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.