Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Stratus 2.0L L4.
The 2006 Dodge Stratus is a midsize passenger car built on the JR platform, powered by a 2.0‑liter inline‑four engine that delivers a modest yet reliable powertrain for everyday use. In the 2006 model year, the vehicle garnered 74 owner complaints—primarily concerning the engine and cooling system—with three official recalls issued to address these issues. Across the Stratus’s 1992‑2007 production run, the 1996 model year saw the peak of complaints (639), while the inaugural 1992 model attracted only a single complaint, placing the 2006 Stratus in the lower middle tier of its reliability history and indicating a generally dependable but not flawless design.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, spark plug, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 05281090AB alt 04105409AE |
| Engine air filter | 05011836AA discontinued |
| Spark plug | 68303920AA discontinued |
| Battery | BB75F101AA alt BAUNV75450 |
| Front wiper blades | 05101870AB discontinued · alt 05101871AB |
| Serpentine belt | 04892711AA discontinued · alt 04892444AA |
| Thermostat | 04792237AE alt P5278144AA |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | ATF+4 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 4.0-5.5 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 100 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 85-115 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 110 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 185 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | ND 8 oil |
| Oil Capacity | 5.00 oz |
| Pressure Test | 15 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 14-18 psi |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 16 ft-lbs / 26 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 80 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications |
| Rotor Max Parallel Variation | 0.0005 in |
| Rotor Runout Limit | 0.004 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.9 in / 0.35 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.911 in / 0.36 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.843 in / 0.285 in |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi.
| Every 6,000 mi | Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) |
| Every 18,000 mi | Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) |
| Every 60,000 mi | PCV Valve (inspect) |
Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith) |
| Why | Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module |
| When needed | After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement |
| Tool required | DRBIII scan tool |
| Also required | The vehicle's four-digit PIN code |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2006 model year represents the final production phase of the Dodge Stratus generation, exhibiting a federal complaint volume of 74—slightly elevated from 2005’s 62 but maintaining the dramatic downward trend from the 1996 peak of 639. Recall exposure diminished significantly to just three campaigns, down from six in 2005 and fourteen in 2001, while technical service bulletins continued their decline to 26 from 39 the prior year and 89 in 1995. With zero federal investigations and minimal fire (3) and crash-related (19) complaints, the 2006 data suggests late-cycle platform maturation, though the top complaint categories—Engine & Engine Cooling (10), Suspension (9), and Air Bags (8)—persist as focal points without specification of root causes in the federal record. Compared to the 2007 model’s mere two complaints and zero recalls, 2006 shows marginally higher incident rates but demonstrates the generation’s pronounced reliability improvement trajectory. This positions the 2006 model year as a comparatively sound acquisition within the Stratus lineage, offering substantially lower risk profiles than earlier production years while maintaining mechanical continuity with the final examples.
All 74 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE… Remedy: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT…
Showing 5 of 26 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9004009 | 2021-04-07 | Power Train | Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles… |
| 9004275 | 2020-07-22 | Electrical System | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC… |
| 9004275 | 2020-07-22 | Electrical System | KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC… |
| 23-015-20 | 2020-04-30 | Equipment | Disinfectant Solution Recommended for COVID-19 |
| 08-049-20 | 2020-04-22 | Electrical System | Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.