CarBrief

The 2005 Dodge Stratus has 65 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1], the fewest of any Stratus model year listed[2]. It still has three recalls, including one for a steering knuckle that could crack[3].

65owner complaints[1]
3recalls[2]
21–24MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

Owners report problems to NHTSA, and the agency does not verify them. One complaint can name more than one part. Here is how the complaints split by component group.

Component group Complaints Median mileage at failure
Engine[5] 19 67,623
Suspension[6] 18 125,711
Steering[7] 13 111,258
Air bags[8] 11 52,500
Brakes[9] 6 123,000
Wheels[10] 5 not listed
Electrical system[11] 5 52,500
Power train[12] 3 not listed

Of the 65 complaints, 14 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 11 an injury. None report a death[1].

Below are the themes in the samples of complaint texts we read. These are small samples, so they show what some owners describe and not how common a problem is.

Engine. In a sample of 10 different engine complaints, 5 describe losing engine oil[5]. Some say a front seal or gasket leaked. One says the engine ran out of oil and seized. Another 2 describe the engine stalling or shutting off while driving[5].

Steering. In a sample of 12 steering complaints, 5 describe a front steering or suspension part breaking or separating a front steering or suspension part breaking or separating, such as a tie rod or ball joint[7]. In some of those accounts the driver lost steering or could not keep driving the car[7].

Suspension. In a sample of 12 suspension complaints, 7 describe a lower ball joint or control arm failing[6]. In some of them a front wheel collapsed or came off[6]. Suspension complaints also have the highest median mileage of the groups above, at 125,711 miles[6].

Air bags. In a sample of 10 air bag complaints, 5 say the air bags did not deploy in a crash[8]. Eight of the 11 air bag complaints mention a crash and 8 mention an injury[8]. These are owner accounts. NHTSA has not confirmed them.

Recalls

NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2005 Stratus[2], newest first.

Fuel economy

EPA lists several versions. All are front-wheel drive. Annual cost is the EPA estimate, based on its current fuel price assumptions and not the price when the car was new.

Version City / Hwy / Combined MPG Fuel EPA annual fuel cost
2.4L 4-cyl, automatic 4-spd[15] 19 / 26 / 21 Regular $3,200
2.4L 4-cyl, manual 5-spd[4] 21 / 29 / 24 Regular $2,800
2.4L 4-cyl, automatic 4-spd, listed as Stratus 4 Door[16] 20 / 27 / 22 Regular $3,050
2.7L 6-cyl, automatic 4-spd[17] 19 / 25 / 21 Gasoline or E85 $3,200
3.0L 6-cyl, automatic 4-spd[18] 18 / 25 / 21 Premium $3,900
3.0L 6-cyl, manual 5-spd[19] 18 / 27 / 21 Premium $3,900
3.0L 6-cyl, automatic (S4)[20] 18 / 25 / 21 Premium $3,900

The 2.4L manual has the best combined rating at 24 MPG and the lowest annual cost[4]. The 3.0L versions rate 21 combined and need premium fuel, which pushes their estimated yearly cost to $3,900[18]. A second 2.7L automatic listing has the same ratings as the one shown[21].

How 2005 compares with other years

1995: 318 complaints, 7 recalls19951996: 554 complaints, 7 recalls19961997: 349 complaints, 4 recalls19971998: 272 complaints, 3 recalls19981999: 251 complaints, 3 recalls19992000: 216 complaints, 5 recalls20002001: 218 complaints, 10 recalls20012002: 163 complaints, 2 recalls20022003: 91 complaints, 2 recalls20032004: 148 complaints, 3 recalls20042005: 65 complaints, 3 recalls6520052006: 74 complaints, 0 recalls2006
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Stratus model year. The 2005 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19953187
19965547
19973494
19982723
19992513
20002165
200121810
20021632
2003912
20041483
2005653
2006740

NHTSA lists complaints and recalls for every Stratus model year from 1995 to 2006[2]. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so only compare Stratus years with other Stratus years.

A low complaint count does not mean a car is trouble free. It means fewer owners filed reports with NHTSA.

Should you buy a used 2005 Stratus?

Compared with other Stratus years, the 2005 has fewer complaints on file[2]. The reports that do exist include serious items. Owners describe engine oil loss, front suspension and steering parts that failed, and air bags that did not deploy[5][6][7][8]. Check that the recalls for the steering knuckle, the sun visor and the rear seat belt bolts were done[13][3][14]. on any car you are considering[13][3]. Our data has no prices or reliability scores, and NHTSA lists both body styles as not rated for crash tests[22][23].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Dodge Stratus?
NHTSA's largest complaint groups are engine (19), suspension (18), steering (13) and air bags (11)[5][6][7][8]. In the samples we read, owners describe oil loss, broken front suspension or steering parts, and air bags that did not deploy.
Does the 2005 Dodge Stratus have any recalls?
Yes, three. They cover a passenger sun visor that can detach (15V338), a steering knuckle that could crack (04V579) and loose rear seat belt bolts (04V532)[13][3][14].
What gas mileage does the 2005 Dodge Stratus get?
EPA combined ratings run from 21 to 24 MPG[15][4]. The 2.4L manual gets 24 combined, and the 3.0L versions get 21 and need premium[4][18].
Is 2005 a good year for the Dodge Stratus?
It has the fewest NHTSA complaints of the 12 Stratus years listed, at 65, with 2006 next at 74[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales and are only one view of a car.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Stratus problems show up?
Median mileage at failure is 67,623 for engine complaints, 111,258 for steering and 125,711 for suspension[5][6][7].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 65 owner complaints on file for the 2005 Dodge Stratus (14 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 11 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Stratus model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. Recall 04V579, filed December 9, 2004: Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm. NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Stratus, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 19 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,623). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 18 complaints name the suspension component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 125,711). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 13 complaints name the steering component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 111,258). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 11 complaints name the air bags component group (8 crashes, 1 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 6 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 123,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 5 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 5 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 3 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 15V338, filed June 2, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 04V532, filed November 2, 2004: Seat Belts › Rear / Other. NHTSA recall database
  15. EPA rating for Stratus, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Stratus 4 Door, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Stratus 4 Door, 2.7L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Stratus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Stratus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for Stratus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S4), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for Stratus 4 Door, 2.7L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  23. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.