1997 Dodge Avenger Problems

AFTER RECALL 967 CONTROL ARM REPAIRS, WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM. *BF

1997 DODGE AVENGER RAN INTO A TREE AFTER BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE AXEL TO BREAK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BADLY INJURED BUT IS ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. *NM

RECURING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION AND FAST WEAR, ALSO WITH SUSPENSION REPAIR, WAS TWICE QUOTED FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ELECTICAL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVE REPLACED WIRES AND PLUGS 2-3 TIME PER YEAR. REPLACED ENGINE COIL ONCE TO FIX PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUGS ARCHING AND BURNING UP. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED TEMPORARILY. PROBLEM IS BACK 3 MONTHS LATER. CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING.

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 45 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMAS. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN WRITING THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....

I OWN A 1997 DODGE AVENGER I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IT HAS THE 2.0 DOHC 4 CYL ENGINE THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING ON IT AND I ALMOST RAN IT OUT OF OIL. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT HEAD GASKET FROM THE MANUFACTURE ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MY CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND HAS REAL LOW MILEAGE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW MILES IS (71,000). *NM

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP IN MY 1997 DODGE AVENGER..CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REVEALED THEY ALREADY KNEW THE GASKET WAS IN DEFAULT BUT WERE ONLY REPAIRING THEM AS THE COMPLAINTS CAME IN . THEY REFUSED TO DO A RECALL . THEY INSTALLED A SO CALLED "NEW HEAD GASKET" BUT CAR HAS NEVER RUN GOOD SINCE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYMORE TO IT.*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR ARE SO FOGGED OVER (MILKY) THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. IN THE EVENT THAT I DO DRIVE AT NIGHT I MUST USE MY HIGH BEAMS, BUT IT IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. *JB

HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE LENS COULD NOT BE CLEANED OR REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS A SEALED UNIT. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS VERY COSTLY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN DASHBOARD SHORTED OUT. A FEW SECONDS LATER, ENGINE WENT DEAD. DEALER SAID A WIRE MELTED AND REPLACED IT.*AK WIRES TO DOME LIGHT ALSO FAILED. *TT

TRANSMISSION WENT ON MAIN HIGHWAY, RIMS FELL PULLED AWAY FROM TIRESON BOTH FRONT ENDS CAUSING FLAT TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NAD REPLACEMENT OF THEM. ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS. DRIVE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, IT IS NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. BRAKES HAD TO BE FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW BALL BEARINGS ARE WARN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY FREQUENTLY GETS CORRODED. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS.*AK

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE RIMS. I AM ABOUT TO RETIRE MY THIRD WHEEL FROM THIS CAR. THE WHEEL LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT JUST CAN'T HOLD AIR DUE TO THE RIM BENDING RIGHT AT THE BEAD OR OUTER RIM. THE RIM IN QUESTION IS A 17 INCH SILVER RIM ON THE 97 AVENGER. IT BENDS WAY TOO EASILY. THIS CAR BELONGED TO MY DAUGHTER AND WE STARTED ENCOUNTERING THE BENT RIM'S LOSING AIR WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE INITIALLY DROVE THE CAR ONLY TO SCHOOL AND BACK...8 MILES A DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW RIM, ONLY TO HAVE ANOTHER FACTORY RIM GO BAD FOR THE SAME REASON. I SUSPECT I NOW HAVE A THIRD WHEEL GOING BAD ON ME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE TO SUCH POOR QUALITY SOLD ON NEW CARS. (EVEN THOUGH THE YEAR SOLD WAS 1997). *TR

RECURING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION AND FAST WEAR, ALSO WITH SUSPENSION REPAIR, WAS TWICE QUOTED FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ELECTICAL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVE REPLACED WIRES AND PLUGS 2-3 TIME PER YEAR. REPLACED ENGINE COIL ONCE TO FIX PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUGS ARCHING AND BURNING UP. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED TEMPORARILY. PROBLEM IS BACK 3 MONTHS LATER. CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING.

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING.*JB

TRANSMISSION WENT ON MAIN HIGHWAY, RIMS FELL PULLED AWAY FROM TIRESON BOTH FRONT ENDS CAUSING FLAT TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NAD REPLACEMENT OF THEM. ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS. DRIVE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, IT IS NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. BRAKES HAD TO BE FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW BALL BEARINGS ARE WARN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY FREQUENTLY GETS CORRODED. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. ALSO, RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT.*AK

PROBLEM 1: SINCE JULY '98, I HAVE OBSERVED (SMELLED) NOXIOUS FUMES -NOT YOUR TYPICAL SULPHURIC ROTTEN EGG SMELL-WHEN I ACCELERATE,USUALLY ABOVE 40MPH. THE SMELL IS OUTSIDE THE CAR,BUT IN SUMMER AND WARM MONTHS IT'S QUITE OVERPOWERING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT-IT'S "NORMAL"-I UNDERSTAND SOME SULPHURIC SMELL, BUT THIS IS NOT "ACCEPTABLE" OR "NORMAL"! THEY ARE BASICALLY TELLING ME TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY AND HAVE THE FUMES OVERPOWER THEM WHENEVER THEY PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS. PROBLEM 2: MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT LOCKS AND WON'T UNLOCK UNTIL YOU DISENGAGE IT FROM THE LATCH. IT WAS FOUND TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED WITH A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL UNABLE TO GET THE DEALERSHIPS TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. HELPLESS, IF YOU MAY....THE BELT CONTINUES TO LOCK, AND I'M AFRAID IN THE FUTURE IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF I HAVE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU CAN HELP ME. I AM CURRENTLY WRITING TO CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER CENTER WITH MY COMPLAINT.

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING.*JB

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND THEN A PULSATION IS CONSTANTLY FELT FROM THAT POINT ON UNTIL RESUFACING OF THE ROTORS IS PERFORMED. ORIGINAL DEALER WAS ASKED AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, THEY ALL DO THAT. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE, AT SANDY MCKIE CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH DODGE IN FOX LAKE ILLINOIS, THE WARPING RETURNED WITHIN 1500 MILES AND THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO TIGHTEN ALL 10 LUGNUTS HOLDING THE FRONT WHEELS ON. THE RADIO DECIDES NOT TO ACCEPT C.D.S AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE SUNROOF HAD BAD RATTLING AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER BEFORE THEY COULD CURE THE PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS SUNROOF SHADE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE FOG LAMPS LOOSE THEIR SEAL AND FILL WITH MOISTURE. TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR A WEEKEND. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT IN THE DASH. THE AIR BAG IS LIFTING ABOUT ONE INCH ABOVE THE DASH . THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THE REPAIR WILL BE THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB *NM

THE DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE BUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE WELDED ,BY NO FAULT OF MINE. I HAVE TALKED TO AUTO BODY SHOPS THAT HAVE HAD TO FIX NUMEROUS DOORS ON OTHER AVENGERS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO .I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A REAL DANGER WHEN YOUR DOOR ON A VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY I WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER MORE SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ,PLEASE CONTACT ME [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....

WHEELS ARE CAUSING PROBLEM WITH TIRES NOT MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRED WHEELS AND TIRES. BUT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. *AK THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, THE CUSTOMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *YH

1997 DODGE AVENGER HOOD POPPED UP SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE HOOD TO IMPROPERLY LATCH DOWN. *JB

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK IN IMPROVEMENT. THEY FUNCTION FINE, BUT FEEL 'SOFT' AND THEY PULSATE. THE LAST TIME I HAD THEM FIXED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS WITH CHRYSLER PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. THEY STILL DID NOT FEEL THEY WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FEEL. ** AS FAR AS THE AC, WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO USE THE AC AND TURN THE DIAL TO 'COLD', HOT AIR STILL COMES OUT OF THE VENTS AS IF THE HEAT IS STILL ON.*AK