Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1995 vs 1996 DODGE STRATUS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 371 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 75.4% more reports in the equal exposure window

1995 313 complaints 1996 549 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1995 share 1996 share Share change
ENGINE 26.5% 52.8% ▲ 26.3 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 14.1% 7.8% ▼ 6.2 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 14.4% 8.4% ▼ 6.0 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9.0% 4.9% ▼ 4.0 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 4.8% 1.1% ▼ 3.7 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 5.4% 3.1% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 3.2% 2.0% ▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2.6% 1.8% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 4.8% 4.4% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.6% 0.9% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
STEERING 4.2% 4.4% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 1.6% 1.8% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 1.3% 1.5% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
WHEELS 1.0% 0.9% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.3% 0.4% ▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 77.3% 58.5% ▼ 18.9 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1995 11

Campaign components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and SUSPENSION

1996 11

Campaign components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, and SUSPENSION

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
13 → 36
◆ Injuries
23 → 26