Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Dodge Stratus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Dodge Stratus has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 75 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #15V338000 Sun Visor May Detach During Air Bag Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E059000 REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E056000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS/SEPARATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E023000 MASTER CYLINDER LEAK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V443000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 15 complaints
- Suspension 15 complaints
- Electrical System 10 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 8 complaints
- Steering 7 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 6 complaints
Of the 75 complaints on file, 7 report a crash; across all 75 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Dodge Stratus has been marked by several recalls related to airbags, suspension, and lighting, indicating safety concerns. Complaints about the suspension, airbags, and electrical system are frequent, which could lead to significant repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 50,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| lower control arm | 60,000–80,000 miles | $300–$600 | common |
| fuel pump | 70,000–90,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| master cylinder | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
| electrical system | 80,000–100,000 miles | $150–$500 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Air filter replacement annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Oil leaks indicating gasket failures
- Unusual noise from suspension
- Airbag warning lights
- Frequent electrical faults
- Braking issues or noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Dodge Stratus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.