1997 Dodge Stratus vs 1997 Ford Taurus
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Dodge Stratus | 1997 Ford Taurus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 349 | 770 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 81 | 251 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 64 |
| Fire reports | 34 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 97,500 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Stratus | Ford Taurus |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 158 | 145 |
| Power Train | 36 | 214 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 | 67 |
| Electrical System | 31 | 62 |
| Steering | 21 | 59 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 58 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 42 |
| Visibility | 4 | 57 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 11 | 48 |
| Overheating | 10 | 20 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 33 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 20 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 18 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 17 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 14 |
1997 Dodge Stratus
1997 Ford Taurus
Compare all Dodge Stratus vs Ford Taurus years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.