1998 Dodge Avenger Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE 2010, BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE TIRE BEGAN TO LEAN. AFTER HAVING THE DRIVER SIDE REPAIRED, THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SPIN AROUND AND END UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 00V421002 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SNAP AND THE SUSPENSION TO HIT THE TIRE AND THE FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. UPDATED 01/14/11*LJ

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *TT

DT: WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THERE WAS A SURGING EFFECT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE PULSATING. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE ROTORS WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE WARPED ROTORS. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THESE WERE ACTUAL CHRYSLER PARTS OR AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENTS. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE CONTACT'S FATHER CONSULTED A SERVICE CENTER THAT NOTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE BRAKES DID STOP THE CAR BUT THERE WAS A ROCKING MOTION AS IF IT WAS IN A CATCHING AND RELEASING FASHION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT ADDED THAT THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL O0V421002 CONCERNING THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FOR WHICH THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE E A FAILURE, BUT SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS DONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO THERE HAVE BEEN A NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ,WHO DETERMINED THE BALL JOINTS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN A STRUT OR A SWAY BAR. THE CONTACT REFERRED BACK TO THE MECHANIC , WHO SHOWED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FAILED BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE DEALER HAD CORRECTED THE BALL JOINTS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE HIT THE CENTER BLOCK WHILE APPLY HIS BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. AND THE VEHICLE FLIP TWICE INTO THE ENBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE IS TOTAL. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

I RECENTLY HAD MY FRONT-END BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER AT KEN NELSON AUTO PLAZA IN DIXON, IL. THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL I HAD DONE ALREADY IN MAY OF 2001. RECALL #967 FROM NHTSA. THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO PUT NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE "NEW" BALL JOINTS DIDN'T LAST ONE YEAR AND 8 MONTHS. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THIS TIME, FOR WHICH I DID. THE COST WAS $312.60. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE MATERIAL DEFECTS THAT WERE UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK WHICH FAILED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

MY RIM BROKE AND CAUSED MY TIRE TO GO FLAT. I HAVE HAD TO PUT TIRES ON ALMOST EVERY 6,000. MY DOOR LOCK IS NOT WORKING RIGHT AND I ALSO AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FOG LIGHTS.

IN THE YEAR OF 2001-2002 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MY DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER BROKE. I WENT TO A DODGE MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY FIXED IT. IN THE YEAR OF 2003 THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AND LATER ON IN 2004 THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AGAIN. I GOT SOMEONE TO FIX IT. IT IS NOW 2006 AND MY DRIVER SIDE OF MY DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF AGAIN AND THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR MULTIPLE TIMES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE HANDLES KEEP BREAKING OFF. THERE HAS TO BE A DEFECT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASILY BROKEN. *NM

WITHIN ONE YEAR OF EACH OTHER, BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THEN THE PASENGERS DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, AS SEVERAL SEBRING AND AVENGER CARS IN OUR AREA HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, BOTH FRONT TIRES REQUIRED THREE REPLACEMENTS AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421002 (SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARM, LOWER BALL JOINT), THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CONSTANT ENGINE TROUBLE WITH A 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 77,000 MILES AND NEEDS A $1800-$4500 HEAD GASKET REPAIR. *NM

TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO LOCK UP AND THE PASSENGERS TO BE TOSSED AROUND . IT WILL CONTINULLY DO THIS UNTIL I STOP THE CAR THEN ITS FINE FOR A MINUTE THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN . NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT KEEPS HAPPENING . *AK

THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON MY CAR - 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 35,000 MILES. 8AK

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED THE CURVE, AND RAN INTO A BRAKE WALL.*AK

ON THE EVENING OF 12/24/98 MY SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE NEGOTIATING A TURN. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL THAT WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF. NOT SURPRISINGLY, CHRYSLER INFORMED US THAT THE RECALL SITUATION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CHRYSLER ALSO DENIED ANY FAULT IN THIS. IF IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER, THEN WHO? THIS COMPLAINT WAS INITIALLY FILED WITH NHTSA ON 12/26/98. I AM STILL WAITING FOR SOME SORT OF ACTION FROM NHTSA. A PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO PROTECT VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MUST SURELY RESULT IN A RECALL OF VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS. THE VEHICLE IN IN THE CUSTODY OF CHRYSLER. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT REPAIR AND RETURN OF THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE !!!

WHEN FILLING A EMPTY GAS TANK, I CAN GET ABOUT $2.00 OF GAS IN BEFORE GAS SPLASH BACK OCCURS. THIS CAUSES LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO POUR ONTO THE GROUND AND ON MY SHOES AND CLOTHES. I HAVE TRIED 6 DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS AND EACH GAS STATION DOES THE SAME THING. SO ITS NOT THE PUMPS. IT TAKES IN UPWARDS TO 10 MINUTES JUST TO PUMP $7.00 IN GAS INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL SPLASHING GAS ON THE GROUND. IM TOLD THIS HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ROLLOVER PROTECTION VALVES STICKING. WHEN FILLING UP VIA GAS CAN THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT PRESENT ITSELF. ITS JUST WHEN FILLING UP VIA GAS PUMPS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE CAR AND ANY PERSON/SPUTTING GAS INTO THE CAR. BUT ALSO TO THE ENVIRONMENT. *TR

GAS TANK GUAGE FAILED. *YC

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE RACK AN PINION BROKE. THE CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HIT A BUMP. STEERING WANDERED LEFT TO RIGHT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

FRONTAL LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT BACK INTO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER BEING PULLED OUT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT SEAT BLET DOES NOT PULL OUT SMOOTHLY EVERYTIME AND IT ALSO LOCKS UP.*JB

AFTER HITTING AN OPEN MANHOLE, SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OPEN, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. VEHICLE REGISTERED TO AMY THOMAS. REPORT GIVEN BY FIANCE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE A-FRAME SUPPORT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND REPAIR AS A RESULT OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

DODGE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME MANY RECENT SALES FOR REPLACEMENTS OF THIS PART HAVE BEEN LOGGED LOCALLY.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS SHE HAS PURCHASED 3 PAIRS OF TIRES AS A RESULT OF SIDE WALL BLOWOUTS ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST BLOWOUT HAPPENEND IN FEB. 01, ON THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE, THE SECOND BLOWOUT HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY ON JAN. 25TH 2002 ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, AND THE MOST RECENT BLOWOUT HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND HAD LESS THAN 29K MILES ON THEM AND HAD ALREADY BEEN ROTATED TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. (ALL WERE BLOWING OUT ON THE INSIDE WALL OFF THE TIRE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP AND DAMAGE THE RIMS) THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIRE(S) THAT HAVE FAILED AS WELL AS THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO THE RIMS OF THE VEHICLE (GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES SIZE 215-50-17). *SCC

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRE P215/50R17 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, GOODYEAR PRORATED TIRE, DOT # M6PCLNWR199. *SLC

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE I HAD A BLOWOUT. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BROKE. I SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, LOOKED AT THE WHEEL, AND IT WAS FACING TOWARD THE SKY. LUCKY FOR ME THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY MORNING WITH VERY LIMITED TRAFFIC, OR IT COULD HAVE BE FATAL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE BALL JOINT AND AXLE BROKE, THE FRONT TIRES WERE RUINED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS ABOUT $1500. THE SHOP REPLACED THE BALL JOINT AND AXLE, AND WERE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A WHEEL FOR ME. I AM NOT SURE IF THE OLD PART WAS AVAILABLE OR NOT. SOMEONE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE BALL JOINTS, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM ABOUT MY CAR, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A DEALERSHIP HAD CORRECTED THE RECALLED BALL JOINT ON FEBRUARY 20, 2002. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT EASY TO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY HAD FIXED IT CORRECTLY ONLY FIVE YEARS AGO THAT IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN IN SUCH A MANNER. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS REMOVED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE TIPM REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DT: CALLER STATES THAT HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS ARE NOT CLEAR THEY ARE FOGGY AND INTURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE POOR OR DIM. CANT SEE AT NIGHT VERY GOOD.*AK