1999 Dodge Avenger 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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOSES AIR FREQUENTLY, DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER A SERVICE MANAGER AT A TIRE STORE STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE TIRE RIMS NEEDED TO BE APPLIED WITH BEAD SEALS AND NEW VALVE STEMS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DODGE TO GO TO ANOTHER FACILITY THAT DOES NOT TAKE APPOINTMENTS AND IS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM CONSUMER, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING TIRE LEAKAGE AND RECENTLY ONE OF THE WHEEL COVERS WAS LOST WHILE DRIVING. *SLC

RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WOULD MELT INTO THE VEHICLE DURING HOT WEATHER CONDITION, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

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.

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

DEALER STATES I MUST BY NEW SEAT BELT THAT THEY ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SAFETY ISSUED THAT SHOULD BE COVERED WELL BEYOND 50,000 MILES. MR

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

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.

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