After seven holes, including two double bogeys in a row followed by a bogey, the 26-year-old Swede was four over par.
But Stark, who won the major last year, raised her game and finished the first round on even par after a total of six birdies.
A total of seven Swedes are participating in the US Open at the classic Riviera Country Club in California, among them Madelene Sagström, who is playing her tenth US Open and is 27 weeks pregnant. However, Sagström started with a round of 77 (+6).
Things went better for amateur Meja Örtengren, who finished with 73 strokes, two over par, the same as Ingrid Lindblad.
Anna Nordqvist was at +3, Linn Grant at +6 and Johanna Sjursen at +7.
American Jennifer Kupcho leads at -5.
Maja Stark won the first major of her career at last year's US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
