Used 2005 Dodge Stratus Consumer Reviews
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Good Car for the Money
I bought my 2005 R/T sedan new in early 2006. It was the last of the 05's on the lot so got a significant discount from the sticker. Overall it's been a good car for the money. It's sporty looking, comfortable, versatile and fun to drive. After nearly 10 years of ownership and 116K miles later, the engine runs very strong. I've had to put money primarily into suspension components like the control arms and ball joints which has been a bit irritating.
Dependable
I bought this car new in Jan 2006, since have raised 3 kids in it and it currently has 200,000 miles. It has had a few issues, the front right passenger floor board leaks, dealer said that wasnt under warranty, and they wanted 1500 to fix it. So its always leaked! Then I went over some train tracks and the belt came off, took 10 different shops and about a yr to get the belt and pulley on together so they ran as a unit, cause it was eating about a belt a week. Trans and motor, never had not one issue, though Im a stickler about preventative maintaince.
Boutght used, running well
Needed car for my daughter to drive for school and activities. Found this, with low miles (23,000 when we bought it). It has been a really enjoyable little car. My daughter loves to drive it, and, even with the 2.4 4 cylinder, it has decent pickup and driveability. Seats are comfortable, mileage is decent (average 25 mpg). Was not really expecting much based on reviews, but have been pleased. My daughter has driven in 12,000 miles since purchase, and it has been completely reliable so far.
A Great Purchase
This is my 5th car in 3 years; needless to say, I have terrible luck with cars. However, this puppy was the best decision I've ever made with cars. The engine has good get up and go, the clutch is pleasantly shallow and the performance overall is great for a 4-cyl. The interior is great- the special edition with 2-tone leather is a great touch. The exterior design is the best Dodge/Chrysler had done in a long time, and I dont think any of their newer vehicles even look as good. If they still made these, I would buy one again and again.
Disappointed
We bought this car with 18 miles. It was our first 'New' car. The second day we owned it the engine light came on. We had to have the emissions system replaced. Since then the driver's power window has had to be fixed, I have taken it to the dealer 3 times about the brakes and transmission and they say everything is okay. Now that it's just out of warranty (we hit 40,000 last month) I am told the front wheel bearings both need to be replaced! I know the transmission still slips and is very jerky or slow to shift into gear. The brakes have been loud for months. Trade in is 8,000 and I have the V6 engine! Very disappointed, nothing but problems from the start!
After 5 years worth of abuse, it's still a fun car...
Mine's actually an SXT 2.7 V6, not an R/T V6, but Edmunds didn't have an entry for SXT 2.7 V6... Anyway, I bought this car used in June of '06, and have enjoyed it every day since. It has a very sporty feel, handles well, and is built pretty well overall.
2005 Dodge Stratus SXT FAILED at 80K mil
The timing belt failed at 80K on my 2005 Dodge Stratus SXT 2.4 liter which caused 2 engine valves to be bent and the first time my service manual said anything about the timing belt is to change it at 90K miles. It did not say anything about inspecting or anything else concerning the timing belt before then.So now I'm stuck with a $1650 engine repair when this could have been avoided if Dodge at least suggested inspection of the timing belt at 60K or 70K miles.Not happy!
Great Value Midsize Sedan
Bought my 2005 Dodge Stratus SXT Sedan 2 years ago with 64,000 miles on it. Just passing 85,000 miles now and have not had a single repair yet. Bought the car for about $5,000 less than a same-year Camry or Accord, and have not regretted that decision once. Besides the fact that the Stratus is far and away more attractive than either, it has a much more spacious interior and has very good handling for a mid-2000s midsize sedan. My only complaint to date has been that I tend to drive more city than highway, and have never been able to meet either the EPA (22 mpg) or Edmunds predicted (19 mpg) city ratings. Otherwise, very happy with my Stratus!
Love
**Update** I sold my Stratus Jan 2016, only because I needed an AWD SUV for constant trips over a snowy mountain pass. Still loved my Stratus and miss it from time to time! I also updated Acceleration to reflect "poor". This car had low HP, and accelerated very slowly - my only issue with it. ********************************************************************************************* I love my Dodge Stratus. I have owned my stratus for 3 years now. Not that it really matters, but mine is white. I purchased it with 150k miles and have put 30.5k on it in my time driving it. It drives very smooth, and handles nicely. My interior is all black, only cloth, but still very nice. I am very particular about keeping it clean so mine is spotless. It always feels comfortable. The only issue I have with my stratus is that it accelerates slowly. Other than that, this car has been perfect for me. I do not look forward to the fact that mine has so many miles, I'm worried it'll start to go out soon. This worries me because I don't want to have to get another car, because I love mine!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
It's great for the money
I like the car so far. It is a little slow and loud, but that's what you get for havign a four-cylinder. The gas milege improves over time. I have noticed the tires have to stay totally balanced for a good smooth ride. Special edition package is great, looks a little classy, adds alot of value to the car
Sporty yet Classy
I just bought a used 2005 Dodge Stratus R/T Coupe 3.0L V6 automatic. It had only 25,500 miles on it when I bought it. I bought it used for only $12,000 - it was pretty loaded for that price minus leather seats and electronic seat adjustment. Other than those two additions, the car is an awesome car and it drives great and is fast and sporty - I don't like Mitsubishi Eclipses so this was a good happy medium for me. When I got it insured, the insurance agent looked at it and couldn't believe it was a Stratus - obviously, he had only seen the sedans and not the R/T Coupe!
I am Thinking Twice
I loved this car when I first bought it. Now I am regreting it. It has had issues since I bought it. Front braking system had to be replaced @ 11,000 miles and it has a frame issue that wore the tires out in 15,000 miles. It has a popping noise in the front end and the dealer says that its nothing. Now I am having issues with the cooling system with coolant just disappearing. It just rolled 24,000 miles and it has had the valve cover gasket replaced, new rear springs, and now needs a new heater core. I am sick of dealing with this car and now I try to get rid of it and it is worth $8,000 on trade in. If you buy this car better bet on keeping it, cause it is hard to get rid of.
Excellent for the money
I purchased this vehicle in november of 2004 and I love it. Dodge is building their vehicles much better then they used to. I recently found out that they partnered with Mitsubishi and merged with Mercedez Benz. I have the four cylinder and it gets 25 mpg between both city/highway driving, yay! Horsepower is decent. It wont win a race, but it's enough, and the interior design is sweet.
Stratus R/T Coupe
Got the car used with about 24,000 miles on it. Pretty much like the car except for the fact that the paint is peeling off the front bumper - don't know why - and estimates are approximately $600+ to get it repainted. Also, in really cold, wetter weather, the automatic windows freeze which is inconvenient when pulling into the parking garage at work where I have to scan a card for entrance - new mechanics in door did not help. Otherwise, the car runs great!
In love with my Stratus
I searched all over the Sacramento area to find my 4 door 2.7L V6 Stratus in the midnight blue. I drove it home and instantly fell in love. Wonderfully reliable, a nice aggresive acceleration, and so roomy inside. My husband was reluctant to buy it since he has a mustang but after about 2 weeks was totally smitten!
Mitsubishi!!!!!! (that's what it is)
STILL HAVE IT! The air cond. pump went out at 120,000. This car (2 dr coupe) is actually a Mitsubishi Eclipse in Dodge clothing. Most of the parts are not interchangeable with the crappy 4 door sedan. My only complaints are that it is LOOOOW to the ground which makes it a little tough to get in and out of for people of a certain age. The other complaint is the turning radius is fairly big for a small car. It has a whopping 120 hp 4 cylinder engine, but I get a consistant 32 highway miles per gallon. Want to go fast? Sure, once you're there it handles great, but is a little lazy with an auto transmission getting there. Not terrible though. No other complaints, and I like the way it looks. I bought it from ther original owners (an older couple) for $750 because they thought it was "too hard to get in and out of"....it is, sorta. I had to replace the battery ($100) and front rotors ($63 for the pair) since it had sat for a year. Score!!!!!! 40k later- I still have it. Nothing is new, just routine oil changes, wiper blades ect. Still going strong. 1/15/21 STILL HAVE IT, 140k miles,2 new tires going on it next week. 7/15/21 Still going strong 141k
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- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
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Pleasently Surprised
I bought this about a year ago. I've had no trouble with it. Ride and drive is really good and better than I expected. 4 cylinder is quite athletic when the air is off, a bit boggy when it's on from a stop. A/C is ice cold. Overall quality is much better than my last Chrysler product, a 96 Sebring conv. People comment on how handsome this car looks and I agree. I know some people have had trouble with their coupes but I must have gotten a good one. I like the dash and door panels a lot. My car has the Special Edition package, which is 2 tone leather seats and a couple other goodies thrown in. Inside, with the blk/gray leather seats is nearly luxurious. Gas mileage is good. Love this car!
horrible money pit
This car has caused me nothing but problem's!! The wheel barring for this car are smaller then usual and have to be replaced every year! Struts are gone. Already replaced timing belt long time ago! Exhaust and under carriage rotted and replaced a lot!!! Don't Ever buy! I plan to bring mine to a demo derby next fall!
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- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Not what I expected
We have owned this car since it had 21,000 miles and was a good car till about 30,000 then the injectors started going one at a time. It was under warrenty so took it to local dealer to be fixed they would only change one at a time as they went out so was back four times before it was done. Now car has about 70,000 and is having shifting problems it will downshift for no reason even at highway speeds which can't be good for the engine or trans. Have had it to dealer not under warrenty anymore so costs 99.95 every time for them to test it only to tell me nothings is wrong. What a joke my advice is if you have this car dump it before you reach 70,000
An excellent American car!
I have driven this car since I drove it off the lot in Oct. 2005. A former rental car, it had a couple stains in the back seat and around 27k miles on it. Since then I have driven it around 80k miles with no problems at all whatsoever except regular maintenance. One bit of advice - be careful of curbs and potholes because I have ruined some tires/control arms doing this. It is quite low to the ground. Having been told "don't buy American" I was hesitant to buy it, but I am so pleased with this car! I will drive it until it dies.
Not worth it
I wouldn't recommend this vehicle. I purchased mine in nov 04 and have had problems with the brakes, windshield leaking, car stalling, and the engine. The car is very noisy and the engine makes all kinds of funny sounds that the dealership keeps rubbing off as wind noise. Had to have my windshield resealed and the brakes are very loud. Now the car acts like it wants to stall in idle and it's an automatic transmission. I have recently purchased a Camry to replace it. I'm almost willing to let the bank repossess the car, so what does that tell you? Definately not worth your time and money.
the stratus
i have loved this car ever since I test drove. I would recommend this car to anyone.
stratus R/T sedan
Dodge will not stand behind this car. I enjoy this sedan for its performance and value, but the paint has issues. Dodge wants to warranty a paint job. The car has only been in my possesion for a short time and they want to paint it. I want it replaced. Diamler- Chrysler says no way! They have lost a loyal customer.
SXT sedan review
I bought a Stratus SXT sedan (4 cyl), and I have liked it from the start. The handling is great. I get about 27.5 mpg from the car, so that's pretty good too. I love the styling of the car, both exterior and interior. I get complimented all the tme about the car. And now, the aftermarket scene is starting to pick up.
My cloud car
Totally impressed by my Stratus. I got all the options I wanted, 5k off the sticker and a great deal. It's the classic American nameplate w/some foreign parts that have proven to be VERY reliable. The joint venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi is great. The same components that are used in the award winning Eclipse are used in the Stratus Coupe, and I could not be more pleased! Stylish, I get a LOT of looks. Feature packed, classy looks, sporty looks, and it performs. Along with a great engine that gets WONDERFUL gas mielage. I've gotten over 400 miles on 1 tank! I got all I wanted in my Stratus. For being a Dodge, it really has impressed a LOT of people (even me!!)
Good Value
Overall, it's a really good value. I always wanted something sporty, but also practical. It has plenty space at the back seats and trunk. Handling is amazing. I do not feel the speed at all and it's very confident at high speeds.
Dodge Stratus R/T Coupe
I've been a little disappointed at the gas mileage. Initially it was 20 miles per gal city, 26 highway. Now city miles are about 15 miles per gallon. Turbo with automatic transmission helps me merge onto the freeway with ease. If I lived in the country or in the desert, I would entertain ordering a 5-speed manual transmission.
Awesome
When I purchased my Stratus I was worried about gas mileage, but it turns out that gas mileage was no problem at all. I would recommend this car to anyone. It is very comfortable and the stereo is awesome. I just love the way the outside looks too.
Love At First Sight!
I recently bought my first car, a 2005 Dodge Stratus R/T coupe (No Automatic Option On Website) with the 4 speed auto with the auto-stick option. When I bought it there were only 109,100 miles. The performance is great and you can even spin the tires in the manual mode. One minor flaw I noticed was that if you have long legs like I do, when you make a turn the cruse control setup hits your leg. Other than that it was the best possible car for me and haven't had and issues with it besides a few burned out bulbs. I highly recommend this car to anyone.
Great Car
I have owned Chrysler's in the past and just traded my 2000 Stratus for a 2005. The price was surpisingly good, the looks and performance are great. I have owned Chrysler products in the past and have never been sorry. Dependable and fun to drive. I would not want another brand of car.
A 7
It is a good car for a Dodge but there are several minor things that you would expect with a Dodge. The interior cup holders stink. It does handle and perform fair. But for the money there are a lot of nice things. I would definitely have gone with the Ford Fusion if it was out 2 months ago.
Disappointed
I've had this car for 11 months and it is currently at the dealership because I need a new engine at 20,000 miles. I am very disapointed since this is the first American car I have bought. I owned a 2003 Honda Civic prior to this, and I regret that I ever got rid of it to buy an American car. I wasn't even given a rental by the dealer. I wouldn't recommend this car to anyone. The worst part of it all, I am already upside down on my loan after 1 year. The depreciation of the value is astronomical. I just checked online and my 2003 Civic is worth more today than my '05 Stratus per Kelly Blue Book, go figure.
DO NOT EVER BUY !
I thought buying a car only a year old with low mileage would be a good idea. Not at all. I've had nothing but problems from day 1. The dealership and the car are awful. I've had to bring it in the shop because my check engine light won't stay off. I've had many parts replaced and now I can't pass my inspection. I will never buy anything but a Toyota, Honda or Nissan again. My old Nissan and Toyota, I bought older and with higher mileage and had no problems. I'm stuck now cause I've dumped so much money it.
LOVE IT!
Let me start by saying I love this car. I have a 2005 Dodge Stratus coup RT that I bought used, and it is a fantastic car. It came with just under 13000 miles on it. I am now up to about 60,000 and haven't had to fix anything on this car, outside of breaks and tires. I get compliments on my car all the time. People love the aggressive and sporty look. I have had people who work at the dealers ask multiple times when I am going to trade because they would like to take it off my hands for me. In short the best car that I have owned! I have not had to do fix anything on this car outside of breaks and tires.
Beware buying Dodge
I've been recently looking up the paint that Dodge/Chrysler uses to paint their vehicles and it seems that there is a pretty good shot that you will have paint bubbling and/or fading. My black car got so bad with the Gray spots that I finally took a can of black spray paint and filled in the spots. It looks bad now but not as terrible as it was. When I asked my dealership to fix the problem they said it was my problem, that the vehicle had to be buffed out. What a joke, it seems like this error in paint happens all the time with this company. They are aware of their faulty paint and continually use it; the most recent vehicle I read about with this problem was a 2008. Please beware when buying Dodge
What a pile of junk!
Bought this car with 36k on it from Hertz Car Sales in Pasco. They say they have a money back guarentee for 7 days...I call BS on that. I took it back to them as it was making a noise, they couldn't hear it so they wouldn't honor it. It has had nothing but problems since day 1!! Bad mileage, small breakdowns etc and NOW, my crank is bad and it is going to cost me a new engine. Just turned 100k. I hate this freaking car, and I hate Hertz Car Sales.
A good & reliable car
This is a great car whether you drive in the city or highway. It is a good and sturdy car. It does great on gas mileage. I am disappointed at the comfort of the interior. The seats are uncomfortable for long trips. But if you intend to drive this car daily to work and around the city, it is the right size and the right car for you.
RT is a Hot Rod
The RT Sedan 2.7L Magnum is an excellent choice if you want sharp handling, a lively engine (think fast), and firm ride (avoid the truck lanes). It comes with 17's, fog lights, and the automatic version has a +/- shifter, which works really well. Four wheel disc brakes, and traction control, keep the shiny side up. A mid console display provides temperature, real time gas mileage and average MPG, metric, etc. and the gauges are very easy to read. It's a fun, top of the line subluxury, sedan able to handle the most spirited driving.
Perfect
It took me and my wife a while to find a car we liked but when we found our stratus sxt we fell in love it is so fun to drive plus it is a pretty car I wouldn't give it up for nothing it's a small car that is sharp plus got the power to back it up
2004 Stratus
I've had this car for a year and I love it as much today as I did when I saw it. It's a nice-looking car with excellent performance. I highly recommned this car.
Stratus R/T
I have just purchased my 2004 Stratus R/T, and was astounded with how happy i was. I previously drove a 2002 Neon SXT, and the Stratus is a much better car. The performance is absolutely great, and with the auto-stick these California hills are a breeze. The bold and daring design of the Stratus R/T Coupe demands respect from every one on the road. Every since i picked it up from the dealer i have been reciveing constant complements on my new ride.
Dodge Stratus Coupe
I have the 2.4L SXT version, and I purchased it with 32,000 on the clock in June 06. Not once have I ever had maintenance issues with the car. I've only ever done basic stuff (brake pads, tires, oil changes). The car handles with ease, yet at the same time, feels like a bus in terms of length. You can't see completely over the hood, which attributes to the seat designing. The car can get up and go, but don't expect this to be a high end BMW in camouflage. Its more in a competitors range of Mitsubishi Eclipses, Galants, etc. Solid car, nothing overwhelming.
Review
When I first got the car, it was great. Everything worked fine. Using the flex fuel was great, until the gas gauge stopped working... Then the transmission slipped... Then the alloy wheel got a crack in it... Then the fan for heating/ac must have lost a blade and sounds like an airplane even on 1. Then the heat stopped working at an idle and wont kick on until 2 thousand rpm's. And now, in 24 degree weather, the drivers window decides the go down and not back up. Dealership wants 37 bucks just to put it up without fixing the problem, junkyard wants 35 bucks for the switch and 35 bucks for the motor. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't. But having a trade in value of nearly nothing stinks.
Awesome Dodge Stratus SXT
I got into an accident where the impact was on the driver's side. The Stratus side crushed, but I was not injured at all thanks to the unique saftey design of the doors. It is an amazing car. If you want to turn heads, this is the car for it. It is very reliable, does well on long trips, and the sound system is great. The interior could be a little more sporty, but otherwise, I love this vehicle.
MY CAR
VERY NICE CAR GREAT GAS MILEAGE
Old Reliable
Excellent family transportation, good fuel economy, stylish, carries lots of cargo (camping gear), comfortable for long highway drives (8 hours). I like it! My previous car was another Stratus, which still ran great after 187000 miles!
Love this car
I love it. For the price I paid I think I got a lot of fun car for the money. If anyone is looking for peppy little car, try this one. I have teenage boys that love it too. The biggest gripe I have is it is somewhat difficult to get in and out of, but once I am in it's a blast. I get a lot of second looks
Very Good
This is my 2nd Stratus and I love it as does everyone who has rode in it. It's sporty looking and great on gas. Would I buy another one? Perhaps. But I'm looking for something a bit larger now as in the new Dodge Charger. Although I love my Stratus. Dodge builds great vehicles; I have 5 Dodge vehicles now that includes the Stratus and 4 trucks. You can't go wrong with a Dodge built vehicle; they last forever!
Excellent and sporty
This is an all around excellent car. Fun to drive, handles wonderfully and is great looking! Loving it!
I love my Dodge
I like the way my car rides, and I like the way it looks. It's very dependable. I go out of town with it a lot, and havent had any problems with it.