# 2001 DODGE STRATUS COUPE — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
> NHTSA complaint `525675` · 2005-03-12 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** DODGE
- **Model:** STRATUS COUPE
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
- **Miles at failure:** 29,000
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
2001 DODGE STRATUS WAS HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE BY A JEEP CHEROKEE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE DOOR SETUP IN THE STRATUS WAS NOT AT ALL EFFECTIVE. NOT ONLY DID THE DOOR PROVIDE ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION TO A PASSENGER HAD THERE BEEN ONE, BUT THE ENTIRE DOOR WAS FORCED INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INTRUDING DOOR STRUCK AND INJURED THE DRIVER IN THE CAR. WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN IN THE DOOR, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECURED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. REGARDLESS, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL TO ANYONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE TO NEW MODELS. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. HOW CAN DAIMLERCHRYSLER SACRIFICE A HUNDRED OR TWO POUNDS OF SOLID STEEL AND HUNDRED OF PRECIOUS LIVES TO GET ANOTHER MILE TO THE GALLON? THAT PASSENGER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME, BUT I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE GOING OUT THAT NIGHT. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THAT HAD I LEFT MY HOUSE, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. PLEASE HELP ME CORRECT THESE AWFUL FLAWS IN TODAY'S COMPACT AND MIDSIZE CARS.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*