Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Dodge Stratus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Dodge Stratus has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 74 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 #07E023000 MASTER CYLINDER LEAK NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 23 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 14 complaints
- Air Bags 13 complaints
- Steering 9 complaints
- Electrical System 8 complaints
- Engine 6 complaints
Of the 74 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 74 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Dodge Stratus has a below-average reliability rating due to frequent suspension and engine complaints, including ball joint recalls and engine cooling issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 50,000–100,000 miles | $400–$900 | very common |
| engine cooling | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$750 | common |
| brake master cylinder | 70,000–110,000 miles | $250–$550 | occasional |
| electrical system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $150–$400 | occasional |
| air bags | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | rare |
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.
- Replace timing belt at 90,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 6,000 miles
- Change engine oil every 5,000 miles
- Inspect brake pads annually
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noise
- Coolant temperature warning light
- Brake fluid level warning
- Electrical system failures
- Airbag warning light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Dodge Stratus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.