2002 Dodge Stratus — 3.0L

The 2002 Dodge Stratus sits mid-generation, part of a clear downward complaint trend from the model's peak in 1995–1996 (which saw 401–639 complaints versus 174 in 2002). Compared to the 2001 model year (192 complaints, 14 recalls), the 2002 Stratus shows measurable improvement in both complaints and recalls, which dropped from 14 to 6. The top complaint areas—Engine & Engine Cooling (47), Suspension (22), Power Train (16), and Air Bags (15)—suggest no single dominant failure mode, though engine-related issues outnumber all others. Notably, 2002 recorded 14 crash-related complaints and 5 fire complaints, figures that would need careful scrutiny on any specific vehicle. The recall count (6) remained stable through 2003, indicating no new systemic defects emerged in 2002 that warranted additional manufacturer action. The takeaway: 2002 represents a relative improvement over earlier model years and is not an outlier in the generation's decline, but it still carries 72 technical service bulletins and complaint levels well above the post-2005 nadir—meaning any prospective purchase warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection, particularly of the engine and suspension systems.