2004 Dodge Stratus — 2.7L V6

The 2004 Dodge Stratus sits at a transitional point in its generation's record: complaints had been steadily declining from a peak of 639 in 1996 down to just 91 in 2003, but 2004 shows an anomalous spike to 144 complaints before dropping again to 62 in 2005. Recalls remained stable at 6-7 per year across 2003-2005, while TSBs continued their downward trajectory from 60 to 39, suggesting the manufacturer was addressing issues through service bulletins rather than formal recalls. The target year's top complaint areas—Suspension (28), Engine & Engine Cooling (13), and Air Bags (11)—indicate structural and mechanical concerns rather than systemic safety defects, with 24 crash-related complaints and only 1 fire complaint recorded. The absence of NHTSA investigations in 2004 distinguishes it from the earlier years (which had 1-5 per year) and suggests no ongoing federal action at that time. Given the spike in complaints without a corresponding increase in recalls or investigations, the 2004 model appears to be a slightly less reliable choice within an otherwise improving generation, though the low fire complaint count is reassuring.