2002 Dodge Stratus reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Dodge Stratus — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 193
- on record
- Top problem area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- 26 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 21 injuries · 6 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,657
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Dodge median
-162
median 355 across 271 Dodge records
Vs 2000-2004
-60
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
22%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 42 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Dodge Stratus
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 26
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 15
- AIR BAGS 12
- SUSPENSION:REAR 10
2 recalls on record for the 2002 Dodge Stratus
- NHTSA 16V401000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
- NHTSA 15V338000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 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.
Open TCO calculatorThese 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 2002 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 2002 Dodge Stratus reliable?
NHTSA has 193 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Dodge Stratus and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling:engine (26 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Dodge Stratus units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Dodge Stratus?
Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling:engine (26), engine and engine cooling (16), power train:automatic transmission (15), air bags (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 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.