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1998 Dodge Stratus reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Dodge Stratus — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
334
on record
Top problem area
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
77 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
30 reported crashes · 24 injuries · 19 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#1,576

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Dodge median

-21

median 355 across 271 Dodge records

Vs 1996-2000

+66

median 268 complaints in 623 records

Top component share

29%

Engine And Engine Cooling: 98 complaints

What owners report fails — 1998 Dodge Stratus

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 77
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 21
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS 14
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 14
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 13

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Dodge Stratus

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Dodge Stratus units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1998 Dodge Stratus reliable?

NHTSA has 334 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Dodge Stratus. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine (77 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Dodge Stratus units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Dodge Stratus?

Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine (77), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (21), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (14), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 1998 Dodge Stratus?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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