DodgeStratus19992.0L/dodge/stratus/1999/2-0l/
JA platform

1999 Dodge Stratus — 2.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Stratus 2.0L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0LTransmission Manual 5-spd

The 1999 Dodge Stratus 2.0L is a JA-platform passenger car that pairs a 2.0L engine with a 5-speed manual transmission to deliver an EPA-estimated 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined mpg. Routine maintenance for this configuration requires 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 or 10W-30 API oil with a filter, but the vehicle's operational record is less straightforward; it carries 310 total owner complaints predominantly focused on the engine and engine cooling systems, alongside seven recalls. Consequently, the 1999 model year sits firmly in the middle of the Stratus's 1992-2007 complaint timeline—far better than the 1996 peak of 639 complaints, yet a far cry from the 1992 low of just one, indicating a period of moderate reliability concerns for researchers evaluating the platform.

Model year200019991998199719961995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/33/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 510 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, front wiper blades, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 510 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-70R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB alt 04105409AE
Engine air filter04882141AB discontinued
Fuel filter04764210 discontinued · alt 04897866AA
Spark plug68304272AA alt 68303953AA
BatteryBB75F101AA
Front wiper blades05012357AB discontinued · alt 05018262AA
Serpentine belt04663182AC discontinued · alt 04573737AC
ThermostatMD194988 discontinued · alt P5278144AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionManual 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length185.8 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height53.9 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3060 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 33 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume95 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)85.0 ft-lbs
Clutch Pressure Plate Bolts70.0 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings38 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts100 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head StepsClean surfaces of cylinder head and block.
Engine Flywheel Bolts69 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts8.0-9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts45.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)950 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)350 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.51-.61 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,500-13,500 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerChampion
Spark Plug Gap0.033-0.038 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeSP-10
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance510 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.0-50.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)47.0-50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression170
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque to Knuckle16 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.35 in / 0.9 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miIgnition Timing (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
At 105,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data shows the 1999 model year sits within a broader downward trajectory from the generation’s 1996 complaint peak of 639, though its 310 complaints mark a slight increase from 1998’s 292 and remain above the 241 recorded for 2000. While recalls held steady at seven—matching 1997 and 1998 and well below the eleven seen in 1995 and 1996—investigations rose back to five in 1999 after dropping to two in 1998, and technical service bulletins continued their decline to 67 from the low-eighties of the prior three years. For 1999 specifically, owners reported 56 engine and engine cooling complaints, 39 brake-related complaints, 38 steering complaints, and 29 electrical system complaints, alongside 61 fire complaints and 25 crash complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Given that complaint volume, fire reports, and investigation activity all ticked upward relative to 1998 while manufacturer technical support was diminishing, this year represents a midpoint that carries more federal scrutiny than its immediate predecessor without the lower complaint counts seen after 2000. Consequently, 1999 is not the generation’s worst year by volume, but the elevated fire complaints and investigation count make it a less favorable purchase than a 1998 or post-2000 example.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
67
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
310
Owner complaints
25 involved a crash · 61 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 310 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling56
Service Brakes, Hydraulic39
Steering38
Electrical System29
Power Train24
Suspension23
Air Bags10
Vehicle Speed Control8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E043000EquipmentReported 07/07/2009

IMPORT PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 30,351 FUEL FILTERS SOLD TO AND BRANDED BY THE AFFINIA GROUP AS CARQUEST P/N 86523, NAPA P/N 3523, AND WIX P/N 33523 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE… Remedy: THE AFFINIA GROUP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE FILTERS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WIX FILTER RETURN CENTER AT…

09E056000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 09/10/2009

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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 67 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
90042752020-07-22Electrical SystemKEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31006192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Stratus. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 Stratus 2.0L take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of BELOW 32 F: 5W-30 API, BELOW 100 F: 5W-30 API, ABOVE 0 F: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 Stratus have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.0L get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined mpg.