Driving a 2006 Dodge stratus when another car rear ended me going about 60mph. This pushed my vehicle into another vehicle with enough force to smash both the front and rear of my vehicle. No air bag ever deployed. Serious safety issue. *tr
2006 Dodge Stratus airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
11crashes
8injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Dodge Stratus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report conflicting airbag behavior in the 2006 Stratus. In one minor sideswipe collision, both front airbags deployed with enough force to injure the driver's hands and forearms and the passenger's shoulders—the vehicle owner noted the damage seemed too light to warrant deployment. Conversely, multiple owners report catastrophic failures where airbags did not deploy in serious frontal and rear-impact crashes.
Rear-end collision failures are particularly common. Owners describe collisions at 25–85 mph where airbags stayed silent despite severe front-end damage. One owner rear-ended a stopped vehicle at 25 mph and suffered a fractured sternum, bruised chest, and ongoing cardiac evaluation. Another hit a utility pole head-on at 85 mph with no airbag deployment.
In several incidents, seat belt failures occurred alongside airbag non-deployment—belts either did not lock or flew off occupants, and driver seats moved forward despite being secured. One Dodge dealer told an owner that airbags didn't deploy because the driver had applied the brakes. Dodge refused to inspect another vehicle in-house after its insurance company repaired it. The pattern suggests potential sensor, wiring, or module issues affecting both restraint systems.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags deploy in low-impact collisions
Front airbags deployed during minor side-impact or sideswipe collisions that consumers report did not warrant deployment. In one case, a right-front-fender sideswipe from another vehicle caused both front airbags to fire, injuring the driver and passenger despite low overall vehicle damage.
When: During minor crashes
Symptoms owners cite: Both front airbags deployed unexpectedly; Driver sustained swelling and abrasions to hands and forearms; Passenger complained of shoulder soreness
Airbags fail to deploy in frontal/rear impacts
Front airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and rear-impact collisions at speeds ranging from 25 to 85 mph, including direct head-on strikes and rear-end collisions with significant vehicle damage. Occupants sustained injuries that might have been mitigated by airbag deployment.
When: 25–85 mph collision speeds; one failure at 52,000 miles, one at 137,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during frontal collisions; Airbags did not deploy during rear-impact collisions; Severe front-end damage without airbag activation; Occupant injuries including neck, back, shoulder, chest, and knee injuries; Fractured sternum reported in one incident
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle taken to independent mechanic but not diagnosed or repaired; Dodge dealer on one case offered explanation that airbags did not deploy because driver applied brakes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated airbags did not deploy because brake was applied; Dodge declined to inspect vehicle in one case because insurance had already repaired it
Seat belt failures concurrent with airbag non-deployment
In multiple rear-end collisions, seat belts failed to lock or secure occupants while airbags also did not deploy. Driver seat moved forward unexpectedly despite being locked. These dual failures left occupants unprotected.
When: During rear-impact and frontal collisions
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt did not lock during impact; Seat belt flew off occupant; Driver seat moved forward despite being locked in place; Occupants unrestrained during collisions
Repairs/costs cited: Auto shop did not check airbag function or investigate seat belt and seat movement failures
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Ii was in a accident and my seatbelt did not lock nor did the airbags deploy. I rearended someone at 25mph. They were stopped on the freeway. So it was a fairly hard hit. I fractured my sternum,and bruised chest,there was a big lump in middle of breastbone. Currently under a cardiologist for several tests on heart. My out of pocket expenses was $5,281 dollars,hers was minimal. I am just lucky I…
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Dodge Stratus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Dodge Stratus?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 52,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 56,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 52,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Dodge/Stratus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.