2004 Dodge Stratus SE from North America - Comments

On occasion, the engine will just shut off. No good reason either. It will turn back on easily, however. Other times, it simply falls below 500 rpm, then it will simply jump back to normal levels.

This car is so much faster than I expected. I test drove an Intrepid 2.7L and was almost going to buy it because I thought it was fast. But then I saw this stratus, and thought to myself about how with the same engine in a lighter vehicle, it would be faster, and it is! This sedan is awesome! I am confident about merging and passing people in a 2-lane road.

It flies around sharp curves and turns with the greatest of ease, it floats on the highway... you hardly know you are going fast, it just floats!

The brakes are awesome! even in rain, I made a sudden stop, and did not lose one bit of control. It stopped on a dime!

The seats are firm, comfortable, and the climate control system is divine.

Gas mileage, however is horrible compared to my previous car, (1997 Camry XLE) But that should have been expected.

Maintenance is cheap, so far, and that is a good thing seeing as I am a college student, and can barley afford gas.

Also, it seems easy to buy this car used. Rental companies trade them in constantly. You are bound to find a good deal on one somewhere.

Yep give me a car that just shuts off for no reason. I'd buy 2, lol.

I got one too and I love it, only one thing... mine shuts off for no reason no warning the radio stays on and everything. You wouldn't know it shut off!

Check the Power cable (+ red one) on the drivers side under the hood. I forgot to tighten nut one time after maintenance and had the same problem. The cable toggles around and causes car to shut off, happens quickly so even radio keeps presets.

For the money this is a decent car. Not the most exciting sedan, but gets the job done. I put almost 30k miles on this car in 1-1/2 years and no major issues since the warranty ran out (sound of wood being knocked on). Although I have that engine shut off issue exactly as described. It typically happens after highway driving when I exit and am stopped a light. Really strange. I don't believe it's that battery connection thing. A disconnecting battery for a second or two should not kill the engine. Wouldn't it be running off the alternator? I will check it though. These cars have that whiny/jetty sound too that many Dodge/Chryslers have. I'll keep it for a couple more years but will not buy another.

I have a 2004 status and mine shuts off when I'm stopped at a red light. I have had it 5 months and its messed up multiple times. now it has nocking under the hood. its only has 32,000 miles on it. I will never own another dodge.

I too have a 2004, and have also had the sudden engine shut off. I really love the car, but the one thing that is upsetting is the squeaky brakes. Does anyone else have this problem? The brakes work perfectly, but they sound horrible.

I think I know what's wrong with you all's cars.

Quickly take it to a 5 STAR I repeat "5 Star" dealership. I believe all midsize cars made by dodge in 2004 are doing this my Neon which I wrote about here story title "N.ot E. ven worth O. ne Nickel" Is what I was going through and I nearly died on the highway. There needs to be a test done on these 2004 dodge cars because NO CAR should just cut off. I don't care how cheap it is. Even pintos keep rollin at red lights. Look take it, if it is still under warranty, and get it fixed it only gets worse and can mess with the transmission. Mark my word Dodge knows what's going on. I wrote JD power about this and a lot of other people I could find. This is serious, no car should just cut off. I was told it was my oxygen pump gone wrong and something about a comupter chip in the engine. Y'all needs to get them things checked for real!

I had an 04 sebring touring with the 2.7 v6 and it would do that all the time. I think it was b/c of the engine sludge build up, and then it would surge to like 4k rpms without me even touching the accelerator, so I don't know.