- What you'll get from Dodge Stratus VIN check?
- Dodge Stratus Vehicle History Risk Factors
- Characters 1-3 of a Dodge Stratus VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a Dodge Stratus
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge Stratus VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a Dodge Stratus VIN.
- 10th Character in the Dodge Stratus VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the Dodge Stratus VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known Dodge Stratus Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge Stratus
- How to find a Dodge Stratus's VIN?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge Stratus
What you’ll get from Dodge Stratus VIN check?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, potentially indicating a vehicle from 2006, giving insights into the age and historical value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Size: A VIN can disclose the body class, such as Sedan/Saloon, and specifics like the number of doors, possibly showing a 4-door configuration, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN typically includes details about the engine, such as displacement (e.g., 2.4L or 2400cc), configuration (In-Line), the number of cylinders (4), and specific features like Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) and Multipoint Fuel Injection type.
- Fuel Type: The type of fuel a vehicle primarily uses, such as Gasoline, can possibly be identified through the VIN.
- Safety Features: A VIN may provide insight into standard safety features, like the presence of front airbags for the driver and passenger, side airbags, and the type of seat belt system, potentially indicating Manual in this case.
- Drive Type and Steering Location: It often includes the drive type, for example, Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), and the steering location, such as Left-Hand Drive (LHD), which can help in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
- Manufacturing Details: The vehicle’s place of manufacture, including the plant city (Sterling Heights), state (Michigan), country (United States), and even the name of the manufacturing plant, can possibly be uncovered through a comprehensive VIN decode, offering insights into the vehicle’s origin and production details.
Dodge Stratus Vehicle History Risk Factors
Dodge’s used vehicle market is heavily weighted toward performance cars and large SUVs — segments where hard use, modifications, and elevated accident rates all affect used vehicle condition. A Bumper VIN check is particularly important for several reasons.
HEMI tick and MDS lifter issues on 5.7L and 6.4L engines. Dodge’s HEMI V8 engines across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram lineup have documented issues with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) lifter failure, similar to the GM AFM problem. Repair costs are significant. Service records referencing lifter replacement, MDS delete, or oil consumption complaints are red flags on any HEMI-powered used Dodge.
Transmission failures on 8HP70/8HP75 8-speed automatic. Dodge’s ZF-sourced 8-speed automatics have generated owner complaints related to shuddering, hunting for gears, and torque converter issues — particularly in high-performance Charger and Challenger applications with significant power. This is a well-documented TSB item.
Accident frequency on Charger and Challenger. Dodge’s performance cars rank among the highest in accident rates in the used car market — not a knock on the vehicles, but a statistical reality that makes a Bumper accident history check particularly important. A Charger SRT or Challenger Hellcat with three owners and no reported accidents deserves more scrutiny than a minivan with the same profile.
Title issues on modified Hellcat and Demon models. High-value Hellcat and Demon variants are disproportionately represented in salvage title databases. Their high replacement values make total-loss designations more likely after even moderate damage. Title washing is a documented risk on these models.
A Bumper VIN check shows accident history, title brands, flood damage, and odometer records for this specific vehicle.
How to decode a Dodge Stratus VIN
Characters 1-3 of a Dodge Stratus VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle as well as its type and production location. For the Dodge Stratus, two distinct WMIs were assigned: 1B3 and 4B3, covering model years 1995 through 2006, indicating vehicles produced by FCA US LLC. The 1B3 WMI code encompasses vehicles made from 1995 to 2006, signaling the car’s manufacturing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States. Conversely, the 4B3 WMI code, attributed to models from 2001 to 2005, also identifies Dodge Stratus cars produced in Auburn Hills, but denotes a specific time frame within the broader production span. These WMIs highlight the Stratus’s manufacturing details, underscoring the system’s utility in tracing a vehicle’s origins.
List of WMI Codes for a Dodge Stratus
WMI: 1B3
- Model Years Covered: 1995-2006
- Example VIN: 1B3EJ46C0SN538457
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
WMI: 4B3
- Model Years Covered: 2001-2005
- Example VIN: 4B3AG42H01E107029
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Dodge Stratus VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Dodge’s Vehicle Descriptor Section encodes model variant, engine configuration, body style, and restraint system across the Charger, Challenger, Durango, and Ram (now a separate brand) lineups. On Chargers and Challengers, the VDS is critical for confirming the specific engine variant — the 3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI, 6.4L 392 HEMI, and supercharged 6.2L Hellcat/Demon variants are all available on the same body and require completely different maintenance and insurance cost expectations. Dodge muscle cars are among the most frequently modified used vehicles on the market, and confirming factory engine specification via VDS before a pre-purchase inspection is essential to distinguishing factory performance from modified one-off builds.
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Dodge Stratus VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the Dodge Stratus VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| 6 | 2006 Dodge Stratus |
| 5 | 2005 Dodge Stratus |
| 4 | 2004 Dodge Stratus |
| 3 | 2003 Dodge Stratus |
| 2 | 2002 Dodge Stratus |
| 1 | 2001 Dodge Stratus |
| Y | 2000 Dodge Stratus |
| X | 1999 Dodge Stratus |
| W | 1998 Dodge Stratus |
| V | 1997 Dodge Stratus |
| T | 1996 Dodge Stratus |
| S | 1995 Dodge Stratus |
11th Character in the Dodge Stratus VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known Dodge Stratus Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | Normal | Illinois | United States | Bloomington Assembly | 4B3AG42H01E107029 |
| N | Sterling Heights | Michigan | United States | Sterling Heights Assembly Plant | 1B3EJ46C0SN538457 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Dodge Stratus
The final 6 characters in a Dodge Stratus’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a Dodge Stratus’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your Dodge Stratus is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Dodge Stratus. The VIN is typically visible through the windshield on a small plate.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Dodge Stratus. The VIN might be on a label or sticker where the door latches.
- Check the engine block of your Dodge Stratus. The VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
- Examine your Dodge Stratus’s vehicle insurance card or insurance policy documents. The VIN is usually listed there.
- Review the vehicle title or registration documents of your Dodge Stratus. The VIN will be printed on these important documents.
Don’t have your Dodge Stratus’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a Dodge Stratus
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Destination Market | U.S., Mexico |
| Displacement (CC) | 2400.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 146.45698582735 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.4 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | Stratus |
| Model Year | 2006 |
| Other Engine Info | Engine Info: 16V DOHC, Sales Code : EDZ |
| Other Restraint System Info | Restraint System Air Bags Front Next Generation Sales Code (CGW) and side airbags Sales code (CGS) |
| Plant City | Sterling Heights |
| Plant Company Name | STERLING HEIGHTS ASSEMBLY PLANT |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | JR |
| Series2 | H (High Line) |
| Side Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Steering Location | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) |
| Trim | SXT |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1B3AL46X*6N |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample VIN | 1B3AL46X26N208093 |
Specs tell you what it was built with. A VIN check tells you what's happened since.
Check any Dodge Stratus for accident history, flood damage, salvage title, and odometer fraud.
Run a free VIN check →Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on a Dodge Stratus?
On most Dodge vehicles, the VIN is located on the driver’s side dashboard, visible through the windshield from outside the car. It’s also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb, and on your insurance card, title, and registration documents.
How do I check a Dodge Stratus's history for free?
Enter the Dodge Stratus’s 17-digit VIN into Bumper’s free VIN check at bumper.com. The free check shows factory specs and open NHTSA recalls. For the full history including accident records, title brands, theft status, and ownership history, run a full Bumper report.
What do Dodge Stratus VIN numbers start with?
Dodge Stratus VIN's start with 1B3 and 4B3 for vehicles manufactured by FCA US LLC in United States. The first three characters of any VIN identify the manufacturer. The full WMI table on this page lists all known codes for the Dodge Stratus.
Decode a Dodge VIN
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