1999 Dodge Avenger Brakes Problems

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004 AND I HAD THE HEADS DONE ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP IN 2005 AND IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T CHANGE INTO SECOND UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE O2 SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS COMING ON. I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. THE BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT. I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT THIS CAR THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS ARE OUT. THE HALF SHAFT IS MESSED UP AGAIN. I NEED SO HELP WITH SOME OF THIS REPAIRS. CHRYSLER AND DODGE KNEW THESE CARS WEREN'T MADE RIGHT NOW THEY NEED TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255600

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON MY 1999 DODGE AVENGER WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY (LESS THAN 10,000 MILES). I HAVE READ TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: A MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE SENSOR IS KEEPING THE BRAKES ENGAGED SLIGHTLY AND CREATING EXCESS HEAT AND WEAR; THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE (A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER AND LIGHTER CAR THEN THE AVENGER) AND ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE BRAKING NEEDS OF THE AVENGER. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS AND MANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE COMPLAINT SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEBRING AND AVENGER MODELS. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT COVER UPS MITSUBISHI IS ACCUSED OF PERPETRATING REGARDING RECALLS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS ISSUE BE MADE PUBLIC AND THAT BOTH DODGE AND MITSUBISHI WORK TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10082394

Incident

Jul 21, 2004

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASE. UNKNOWN ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM (DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM), TRANSMISSION SENSORS FAILED, ROTORS REPLACED 8 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, BLACK TAR COMING FROM DOORS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, AND THE BIG PROBLEM - THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES KEEP FAILING. PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE NOW FAILING AS WELL. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD! DEALERSHIP SAYS "CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY".*JB

NHTSA ID

10014278

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, EXCEPT FOR WHEN IT STARTS BLINKING(WILL BLINK 100 TIMES OR MORE BEFORE IT STAYS ILLUMINATED) MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED, MOST THINGS WERE REPLACED BEFORE SCHEDULED. DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN OPENING THE UNLOCKED DOOR. THE CAR NOW STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO START AT ALL. THE CAR DOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY EVER, USUALLY ABOUT 300 RPMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008431

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHEN TRAVELING 60MPH OR BETTER CAR IS HARD TO STOP/RECALL ON BRAKES IN 2000. *AK

NHTSA ID

764616

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION SEALS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING CORRECTLY, JUST STUCK IN SECOND GEAR.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND ROTORS WARPED AT 18000 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8010264

THE DISCS ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE AVENGER, THEY WEAR OUT TOO FAST.*AK

NHTSA ID

749408

SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED 2 TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST 15,000 DRIVEN. WHEN TRYING TO ADMINISTER THE BRAKES WHETHER IT BE A LIGHTED INTERSECTION OR SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR NO MATTER HOW FAR EARLY THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WERE CRACKED OPEN SLIGHTLY, YET THE WINDOWS WERE FULLY CLOSED. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SERVICE, THE WEATHERSTRIPPING WAS REPLACED. THIS HELPED VERY LITTLE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHEN THEY FINALLY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SCREW INTHE DOOR THAT WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACING. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOW NOT TO FULLY CLOSE. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE OVER 10 TIMES (NOT INCLUDING REGUALR MAINTENANCE - OIL CHANGES, ETC). I UNDERSTAND THAT BRAKES ARE PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF ANY VEHICLE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I ALSO OWN A GM VEHICLE, BUT MY BRAKE PADS LAST FOR AT LEAST 20,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

747960

Incident

Sep 30, 1999

CONSUMER HAD INSPECTED BRAKES, AND FOUND OUT THAT BRAKE ROTORS HAD SUFFERED PREMATURE WEAR. DEALER HAD REPLACED ROTORS FOUR TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

886624

Incident

Apr 23, 2001

I HAVE HAD BRAKE AND ROTOR PROBLEMS WHEN THE CAR REACHED 14,000 MILES, I THEN REPLACED THE BRAKES, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SEVERE PULSATION WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, I REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS AT 28,000 MILES, (AT MY EXPENSE) NOW THE BACK ROTORS HAVE BEGUN THE SEVERE PULSATION AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE ROTORS AS WELL( AT MY EXPENSE). SINCE THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. I USED THE EMGERGENCY BRAKE ONCE AND COULDN'T DISENGAGE THE BRAKE AND MY CAR WAS STRANDED. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES FREEZING UP WHICH THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRE WELL FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK TIRE. ON MARCH 8, APRIL 5TH THEY RESURFACED THE BACK ROTORS, AND TOLD ME IF I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE SEVERE PULSATION THE BACK ROTORS WILL NEED REPLACED. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS LIKE THIS EVER, I ALWAYS PURCHASE NEW CARS FOR THEIR WARRANTY AND DODGE'S WARRANTY IS NOT UP MY STANDARDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

743688

Incident

Feb 8, 2001

I BOUGHT AN AVENGER AFTER MY INTREPID WAS WRECKED IN 12-2000. WHEN I OWNED THE INTREPID, WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN FEB. 2000, I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, ESP. WHEN BRAKING WHILE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL. I FELT THE ROTORS MIGHT BE WARPING. AFTER PAYING A $25.00 INSPECTION FEE, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HIS MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY VIBRATION IN THE ROTORS. I STATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR DOWN A STEEP HILL. THE MANAGER STATED THAT BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED AFTER 12,000 MILES ANYWAY. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAL COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN STOPPING AT ANYTIME. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. I MENTIONED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS STILL HAPPENING AND THE TIRES, WHICH WERE NEW WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, WERE GOING BALD BECAUSE OF UNEVEN BRAKING. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE MANUFACTURER PUTS ON BRAKE PADS MADE OF VERY HARD MATERIAL WHICH CAUSES THE SQUEAL WHEN HOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WOULD BE TO REPLACE THEIR PADS WITH GENERIC PADS FROM A BRAKE SHOP, AT MY EXPENSE. I RAN INTO A FELLOW WHO SEEMED TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT CARS WHO TOLD ME THAT EXTRA HARD BRAKE PADS CAN CAUSE ROTORS TO WARP BECAUSE THEY GET EXTREMELY HOT WHEN BREAKING. BUT HOW DO YOU PROVE THE MANUFACTURER HAS CAUSED THIS ROTOR DEFECT BY USING FAULTY BRAKE PADS? NOW, I HAVE PURCHASED A DODGE AVENGER IN FEB. 2001 (AS I STATED EARLIER) BECAUSE THE INTREPID WAS WRECKED. THE '99 AVENGER ALSO HAD APPROX. 13,500 MI. WHEN PURCHASED. GUESS WHAT?... THE AVENGER IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW GETTING THE ROTORS GROUND DOWN BECAUSE OF VIBRATIONS. THIS TIME, THE MECHANIC COULD FEEL THE VIBRATIONS BECAUSE WE RODE DOWN A HILL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME ROTOR TROUBLE WITH HIS CHRYSLER SEBRING AT 11,000 MILES. IT SEEMS THE CHRYS. CORP. SHOULD REMEDY THIS ROTOR SITUATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN MANY OF THEIR CARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

742775

APPLIED BRAKES AT 40 MPH, NO BRAKING ACTION. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. THE FRONT END VIBRATES AFTER BEING REPAIRED. *YH

NHTSA ID

880351

Incident

Feb 7, 2001

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND STALL OUT. WOULD STALL OUT EVEN AT STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AFTER 60MPH. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM, BUT NOT RESOLVED FOR STALLING. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, AND ROTORS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

879756

I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED ON MY CAR THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THEY HAVE MADE THE REMARK TO ME THAT THEY HAVE ROTOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS AND I SHOULD TRY NOT TO USE MY BRAKES. ALSO I HAVE WINDOW LEAKING PROBLEMS WHICH THE CAR WAS BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS AND THEN THEY TELL ME IT IS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE WINDOWS LEAK.

NHTSA ID

730625

TRANSMISSION WOULD BE SLUGGISH WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. THERE ARE NO LEAKS. FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, WITH DYE, DONE. NO PROBLEM FOUND. MECHANIC REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAD BRAKE DISC REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

865472

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A COSTANT BURDEN SINCE THE DAY IT WAS DROVE OFF THE LOT. ROSS PARK DODGE CLAIMS SINCE THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE "FOUND" THE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY LOSS OF TIME OR ANY INCONVIENCES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT SINCE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR ARE COSMETIC HE INTENDS TO DO NOTHING. I RECOMEND NO ONE WASTE VALUEABLE TIME OR MONEY WITH A DODGE AVENGER IT IS UNRELIABLE AND TRUELY A NIGHTMARE TO OWN. MY COMMENT IS THANK GOD IT IS LEASED! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

718911

Incident

Aug 26, 1999