Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1997 Dodge Stratus. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FLOOR SHIFT IGNITION-PARK INTERLOC
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
- Consequence
- EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CHRYSLER/IGNITION KEY SHIFT INTERLOCK
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
- Consequence
- IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
CHRYSLER/LOWER CONTROL ARM
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
- Consequence
- SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
CHRYSLER/SECONDARY HOOD LATCH
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
- Consequence
- IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (349)
349 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 349 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 158 | 45.3% |
| Service brakes | 44 | 12.6% |
| Power train | 36 | 10.3% |
| Electrical system | 31 | 8.9% |
| Air bags | 24 | 6.9% |
| Steering | 21 | 6% |
| Suspension | 19 | 5.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 5.2% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system | 11 | 3.2% |
How 1997 compares with other Stratus years
Best and worst Stratus years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 318 | 7 |
| 1996 | 554 | 7 |
| 1997 | 349 | 4 |
| 1998 | 272 | 3 |
| 1999 | 251 | 3 |
| 2000 | 216 | 5 |
| 2001 | 218 | 10 |
| 2002 | 163 | 2 |
| 2003 | 91 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 329 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 34 / 27 | $2,500 | 329 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 28 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 Stratus for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Dodge Stratus FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Stratus have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 04V021000 (power train), 98V183000 (power train), 97V201000 (suspension), 97V095000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Dodge Stratus problems?
Owners filed 349 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (158), Service brakes (44), Power train (36) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 Dodge Stratus get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 23 city, 34 highway and 27 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1997 Stratus compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2003 Dodge Stratus model years at least five years old, the 1992 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1996 the most (554). The 1997 drew 349. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.