1999 Dodge Avenger Owner Complaints

I AM A AUTO MECHANIC AND UNFORTUNATELY OWN A 1999 DODGE AVENGER 2.5L V6 AUTO. THE ENGINE IS JUNK. IT HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT MISFIRE SINCE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY PUT A FAULTY CAMSHAFT SENSOR INSIDE THE DISTRIBUTOR SO WHEN IT DOES FAIL WHICH IT DOES IN EVERY 6 CYCLE AVENGER, THE STEALERSHIP TRIES TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT THE SENSOR CANNOT BE REPLACED AND YOU HAVE TO GET A NEW DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY CHARGE $ 1500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. YOU CAN'T BUY ONE ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CAM SENSOR PROBLEM AND THEY DO THIS INTENTIONALLY TO GET YOU TO SPEND MONEY ON CHRYSLER PARTS. THEY PUT THE CAM SENSOR IN THE DISTRIBUTOR BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FROM THE IGNITION COIL WOULD CAUSE THE SENSOR TO FAIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES MORE AND MORE THE WORSE THE SENSOR GETS. THAT IS JUST THE START OF THE ENGINE PROBLEMS. ONCE THE CAM SENSOR FAILS THE TIMING GETS OFFSET AND OVER TIME CAUSES THE VALVES TO GET BENT BY THE PISTONS, AFTER THAT IT'S BYE BYE HEADS AND NO CAR UNLESS YOU BUY A BETTER CAR. IF THEY WOULD PUT THE CAM SENSOR WHERE IT BELONGS, I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS. CHEVY FROM NOW ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10617813

Incident

Nov 12, 2013

Mileage

173,000 mi

1999 DODGE AVENGER AUTOMATIC: WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR-RPMS REV UP AND DO NOT SHIFT IN NEXT GEAR ALSO ALARM SYSTEM -HORN, LIGHTS ALL GO ON FOR NO REASON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357633

Incident

Sep 25, 2010

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE 1999 DODGE AVENGER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY WORK WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND WAS TOLD IF I WOULD OF BEEN DRIVING I WOULD OF BEEN KILLED, THE FIRE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I FILED REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE INVESTIGATED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF THEIR INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352699

Incident

Aug 27, 2010

Mileage

88,291 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHT COVER BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO GET PROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E025000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE HEADLIGHTS SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10351907

Incident

Aug 26, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

SEVERAL 'NEAR' ACCIDENTS BEFORE WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT OUR 99 DODGE AVENGER REAR LIGHTING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TAIL & BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND (OR) STAY LIT ALL THE TIME AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. HAD TO HAVE THE "ACTIVATOR CONNECTIONS" REPAIRED, BATTERIES CONSTANTLY BEING DRAINED/REPLACED, FRONT FOG LIGHTING BURNED OUT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS/REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CARS "WIRING WAS PULLING MORE VOLTAGE THAN IT SHOULD". HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO AC, ETC... TO PREVENT BATTERIES FROM BEING DRAINED. REPAIRED AGAIN ON 10/15/08 AND NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283154

Incident

Aug 14, 2009

Mileage

86,000 mi

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

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST 5 WHEEL LUGS. EVERYTIME I HAVE MY TIRES TAKEN OFF FOR REPLACEMENT OR ROTATION OR TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS, ETC. A LUG WILL BREAK DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE LUGS WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE REPLACEMENTS AND IT ISN'T CHEAP. I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PART OR HOW IT WAS INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224060

Incident

Mar 31, 2008

HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING IS CRACKED AND LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END, WHERE THERE WAS NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING TOWARD THE LEFT. ALSO, INCLUDED IN DEFECTIVE RIM SETTLEMENT CLASS ACTION MATTER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173212

Incident

Nov 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND THEREFORE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE POLICE OFFICER EXPRESSED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH.

NHTSA ID

10167894

Incident

Aug 28, 2006

Mileage

108,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED FOR THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. *NM UPDATED 6/30/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10159853

Incident

Jun 13, 2006

Mileage

32,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE AVENGER ES WITH 17" SILVER 5-SPOKE ALUMINUM RIMS. I LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT 3 OF THE 4 RIMS ARE BENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, THE CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING OFF ALL THE RIMS IN 2000.*AK CAR BEGAN VIBRATING AND DRIVING STRANGELY FEBRUARY OF 2005. I HAD THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM, PASSENGER HUB ASSEMBLY AND PASSENGER DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. CAR DRIVES BETTER NOW, BUT VIBRATION CONTINUES. BROUGHT CAR TO A WHEEL SHOP THIS WEEK TO REPAIR A 5TH BENT RIM I GOT FOR USE AS A FULL SIZE SPARE. WHEEL SHOP BALANCED THE 4 WHEELS ON THE CAR AND NOTIFIED ME THAT 3 OF THE 4 ORIGINAL WHEELS ARE "OUT OF TRUE" WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE VIBRATION. THEY ATTRIBUTE THIS TO EXTREMELY SOFT ALUMINUM USED IN THE RIMS' CONSTRUCTION. UPON CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 17" WHEELS MADE BY ENKEI? AND FOUND ON THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, DODGE AVENGER AND CHRYSLER SEBRING BETWEEN 1997 AND 2001. SOME WEBSITES REFERRING TO THIS ISSUE WERE: HTTP://WWW.SSHWLAW.COM/PRESS.PHP?CID=0172 AND HTTP://WWW.MITSUBISHISUCKS.COM/CARS/CLASS/RIMS/ECLIPSE/ . *AK

NHTSA ID

10117957

Incident

Apr 12, 2005

THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL 00V421000 DUE TO THEIR DATA BASE, THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NEVER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL BECAUSE SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. *JB RECORDS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO OWNER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10113508

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

Mileage

82,000 mi

NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT EXCEPT TO DISCONNECT SENSORS... JB

NHTSA ID

10115968

Incident

Jan 4, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN FRONT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES. REPORTED. INSURANCE CO. TOTALLED VEHICLE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10103599

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

112,935 mi

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 800 RPM'S TO 4500 RPM'S WITHIN SECONDS. THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE INPUT/OUTPUT SENSOR REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION RECURRED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105505

Incident

Dec 29, 2004

Mileage

62,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR HEAD INJURIES DUE TO THE HEAD HITTING THE SUN VISOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089738

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

Mileage

44,210 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

IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING THE DOORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073644

THE CLEAR COAT PELLED OFF AND MADE MILKY WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER THE ROOF AND TRUNK

NHTSA ID

10068714

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

35,423 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE AND WENT BACKWARDS. THE SEAT ONLY LOCKED ALL THE WAY BACK OR ALL THE WAY FORWARD. *AK THE CONSUMER LEANED BACK TO RETRIEVE HIS DEBIT CARD FROM HIS FRONT POCKET, AND THE DRIVER SIDE FSB RECLINE BROKE AWAY FROM THE GOLD BOLTS AND ALSO THE WELD TO THE FSB TUBE ASSEMBLY. (TIRE-GT-H M-S) *SCC

NHTSA ID

10026381

Incident

Jun 30, 2003

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRONT SEATS IN MY 1999, DODGE, AVENGER, PROBABLY DEALING WITH FAULTY WELDS IN THE FRAME.*AK ON JULY 1, 2003, AFTER HAVING THE SEAT LEANED FORWARD TO ACCESS THE BACK SEAT, I RETURNED THE SEAT TO ITS NORMAL UPRIGHT LOCKED POSITION. HOWEVER, THE SEAT CONTINUED TO RECLINE FARTHER THAN ITS PROPER LOCKED POSITION (I KEEP IT AT ROUGHLY AN 80-DEGREE ANGLE, AND IT IMPROPERLY RECLINED TO ROUGHLY A 65-DEGREE ANGLE). I CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THE FRAME LIKELY BENT, AND THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $450 (FOR PARTS) PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE IT. HE SUGGESTED INSTALLING A USED SEAT AS A REPLACEMENT TO SAVE MONEY, WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND AM HOPING TO INSTALL SOON. WHEN I WROTE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT OR REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF ITS THREE-YEAR WARRANTY (THE CAR IS JUST UNDER FOUR YEARS OLD AND HAS ROUGHLY 54,000 MILES ON IT). NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR RESPONSE. TODAY, I WAS IN MY CAR AND REACHED FOR MY WALLET. A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE SEAT, AND IT RECLINED FULLY. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND HAVE COME UP WITH AT LEAST TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE WHERE A GENTLEMAN REACHED FOR HIS WALLET AND THE SEAT RECLINED (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/DODGE_AVENGER.HTM) AND ONE WHERE A GENTLEMAN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIS SEAT RECLINED (HTTP://MEMBERS.AOL.COM/_HT_A/GRNCAMARO/OWNERSE8.HTM). I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND I WANT CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10032691

Incident

Aug 12, 2003

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES KEEP BREAKING WHILE OPENING THE DOOR. THERE ARE 2 PLASTIC PIECES ON EACH SIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE THAT ( WHEN PULLED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE ) THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE EQUIPEMENT INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL THAT RELEASED THE LATCH AND OPEND THE DOOR. THOSE TWO PLASTIC PIECES KEEP BREAKING,THEREFORE NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR HINGES TO RELEASE AND OPEN THE DOOR. I REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE IN EARLY 2002 ( A DEALER ITEM ONLY AND COST $ 90.00 WITHOUT INSTILLATION ). TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AND I TRIED TO FIX IT (BY PLACING A SCREW BETWEEN THE TWO PLASTIC PIECES AND THEN APPLYING SUPER GLUEING OVER THE SCREW). TODAY THE (NEW) DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE I WAS OUT SHOPPING ( SAME PIECES AS THE FIRST TIME ) I WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND I BROKE AS WELL ( BUT THIS TIME IT HELD WHERE I SUPER GLUED IT ) , THE COMPLETE OUTSIDE BAR (THAT RISES WHILE OPENING THE DOOR) BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR WAS TO SLIDE MY ARM DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW ( SINCE I HAD LEFT THEM CRACKED ). I CURRENTLY CANNOT OPEN EITHER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE UNLESS MY WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025931

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

DRIVER SEAT FRAME FRONT SEATBACK RECLINER AND ENTIRE FRONT SEAT BACK FRAME. ADHESIVE THAT HOLDS PLASTIC DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR PANELS TO METAL BODY DOOR FRAME. ALSO BAD PAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025876

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

63,200 mi

WHILE THE CONSUMER SAT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. *NLM *TT

NHTSA ID

10020011

Incident

May 16, 2003

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE AVENGER SPORT (2.5L AUTO). AT 48,000 MILES THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (INFAMOUS A604 TRANSMISSION). DODGE REFUSED A GOODWILL REPAIR, THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I FEEL THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH BARELY ANY MILEAGE TO REQUIRE A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR A604/41TE TRANSMISSION (LOOK TO BBS.ASOG.NET UNDER TRANSMISSION FORUM). I ALSO KNOW THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE GOING BACK TO IT'S INTRODUCTION IN 1989. WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH, AND WHEN WILL CHRYSLER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? NOT TO MENTION THAT I ALMOST DIED WHEN THE LIMP-HOME-MODE SWITCHED ON AS I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON I-95 (THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED INTO SECOND GEAR FROM FOURTH, THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR, AND THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE). I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR CAUSE ANY FATALITIES, BUT I CANNOT SEE HOW THIS TRANSMISSION OR LIMP-HOME-MODE IS SAFE. HOW CAN THEY SELL A TRANSMISSION THAT DIES UNDER 50,000 MILES? *JB

NHTSA ID

10016972

Incident

Jan 16, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi