Dodge›Stratus›2004›2.4L/dodge/stratus/2004/2-4l/

ST platform

2004 Dodge Stratus — 2.4L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Stratus 2.4L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.4LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Dodge Stratus is a passenger car built on the ST platform, powered by a 2.4L engine and paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, achieving EPA fuel economy of 19 city, 26 highway, and 21 combined mpg. Its 5-quart oil capacity requires 5W-30 API viscosity, a standard specification for this powertrain. With 144 total owner complaints and 7 recalls, the 2004 model year sits well below the 1996 peak of 639 complaints in the model's 1992–2007 history, indicating a comparatively lower frequency of reported issues for this year.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/26/21 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 COUPE · 525 COUPE CCA battery, OE oil filter 04105409AE. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 COUPE · 525 COUPE CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP205-65TR15; Coupe: P205-60HR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6; Coupe: 6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	04105409AE alt 05281090AB
Engine air filter	MB906051 discontinued · alt 05011836AA
Fuel filter	MR993092 discontinued
Spark plug	68304168AA alt 68304015AA
Battery	BB75F101AA
Front wiper blades	MR482671 discontinued · alt MR482673
Serpentine belt	04892580AA alt 04892444AA
Thermostat	P5278144AA alt MD194988

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 26 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0-21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt w/ filter
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API · 5W-30

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	M6 Bolts: 9 ft-lbs, M8 Bolts: 21 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	100 Turbo ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	110 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-2-4
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	8500-11,500 ohms
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	86 COUPE
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 COUPE cca
Optional BCI Group Number	75 SEDAN
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	510 SEDAN cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	58.0 + or - 5.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	47.0-50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	170
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	16 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 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

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil.

1	80.0 ft. lbs.	80 ft. lbs
2	Loosen all bolts 360 degrees	360 degrees
3	80.0 ft. lbs.	80 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 18,000 mi	Brake Drum Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Distributor Cap (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect) · Timing 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 required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter 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 needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The 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 complaint volume for the Stratus peaked early in the recorded model run at 639 in 1996, then trended downward for nearly a decade before a late-generation rebound. The 2004 model interrupts that decline with 144 complaints, a notable increase from 91 in 2003 and substantially higher than the 62 recorded in 2005. That year also generated 7 recalls—matching the 1997-1999 level—while investigations dropped to zero, and technical service bulletins continued their long slide to 57. Leading complaint categories were Suspension with 28 filings, Engine & Engine Cooling with 13, Air Bags with 11, and Vehicle Speed Control with 9, while the data also records 24 crash-related and 1 fire-related complaint without specifying root causes. Because 2004 sits at an anomalous local peak in an otherwise fading federal record, it implies this model year saw a measurable resurgence of owner-reported issues compared with the surrounding years. Consequently, 2004 is not the strongest year to buy in this sequence; prospective owners would likely be better served by the lower-complaint 2003 or 2005 models.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

144

Owner complaints

24 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’92 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03’04’05 ’06 ’07

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 144 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension28

Engine & Engine Cooling13

Air Bags11

Vehicle Speed Control9

Electrical System9

Fuel System, Gasoline5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Fuel/Propulsion System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V338000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 02/06/2015

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000… Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 57 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
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…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…

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.

Group 86 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt w/ filter ST-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 04105409AE Engine air filter MB906051 Fuel filter MR993092 Spark plug 68304168AA

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Stratus 2.4L take?

5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 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 2.4L get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.