TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR UPGRADE TO 95-96. *JB
1995 Dodge Avenger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Dodge Avenger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 157.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avenger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 196 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
16 reports1995 DODGE AVENGER HAS FAILURES THAT I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT WERE PROBLEMS/FAILURES THAT WERE RECALLED BY CHRYSLER/DODGE/DIAMONDSTAR MOTORS. *NM
TRANSMISSION SLIPS BOTH OUT OF DRIVE AND REVERSE. VEHICLE SOMETIMES TAKES 1-3 SECONDS BEFORE IT LURCHES. DEALER HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.*AK
BALL JOINTS; DRIVESHAFT; LOWER LATERAL ARMS
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE. TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD IT REPAIRED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 05-JUN-2000 WHEN CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
MY BROTHER AND I BOUGHT THE SAME CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. WE BOTH HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OF WHEN WE COME TO A QUICK STOP AND OR SLOWDOWN WE NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. IF WE DECELERATE QUICKLY OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AND ("I DO MEAN SLIGHTLY") THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND IF WE ARE MAKING A LEF…
Read full complaint
MY BROTHER AND I BOUGHT THE SAME CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. WE BOTH HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OF WHEN WE COME TO A QUICK STOP AND OR SLOWDOWN WE NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. IF WE DECELERATE QUICKLY OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AND ("I DO MEAN SLIGHTLY") THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND IF WE ARE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED TURN WE FIND OURSELVES OUT OF GEAR TO PULL THE CAR ACOSS THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD SOME NEAR HEAD ON COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO MAKE A TURN. COINCIDENTALLY MY BROTHER HAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF MILAGE THAT I HAVE ON HIS CAR. ABOUT 83000. THE PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT THIS CAR IS THE TEMPLATE FOR THE CHRYSLER SEBRING AS WELL AS THE MITSUBISHI GALANT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH LEAKY TRANSMISSIONS AND THIS WILL CAUSE THE COMPONENT TO FAIL. MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO LEAK AT AROUND 82000 MILES AND I FIND THAT THAT IS A DEFECT THAT DODGE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. THE OTHER DEFECT OF MY CAR IS A CRACKING CV BOOT THAT CAUSES THE CV JOINT TO FAIL AFTER FLUIDS LEAK FROM THE JOINT CAUSING FRICTION TO TEMPER THE PARTS TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. MY VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF ON I77 IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. DODGE CLAINED AT THE TIME NO PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, I JUST FOUND OUT YOU HAD DISCOVERED THE DEFECT. BRAVO. YOU HELPED ME SAVE $150 PER PERIOD IN AUTO INSURANCE BECAUSE I COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY MY TIRE FELL OFF AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT THAT ALMOST KILLED ME. I LOVE YOU GUYS! CHRYSLER HAS SENT AN APPOLOGY AND I NEED TO KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AS WELL. AGAIN MY BROTHER (JEFF ROSS) AND I ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMWITH DIFFERENT DRIVING HABITS. PLEASE RESPOND. (RUAVOL2@MINDSPRING.COM) 919-272-1400 THANK YOU! ROB BURDINE
WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED UP AND PLACED INTO DRIVE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THEN VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 20 MPH. THIS IS DUE TO THE ROLLERS BEING BURNED OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS BY AN MECHANIC. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE; FRONT BRAKES REPLACED -- STILL NOISE; WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- HAD TO WAIT FOR IT TO RE-ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE GLOVE BOX JUST FELL OUT -- THE HINGE PIN WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND DISINTIGRATED. THE FRONT BUMPER SECTION HAS SEPARATED AND IS FALL…
Read full complaint
BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE; FRONT BRAKES REPLACED -- STILL NOISE; WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- HAD TO WAIT FOR IT TO RE-ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE GLOVE BOX JUST FELL OUT -- THE HINGE PIN WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND DISINTIGRATED. THE FRONT BUMPER SECTION HAS SEPARATED AND IS FALLING OFF -- THIS IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE BRAKES ARE THE REAL SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION -- THEY DO NOT FEEL TRUSTWORTHY AND THE NOISE THEY MAKE WHEN YOU PUT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THE DEALER IS TOTALLY DISINTERESTED!!!!
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OVER A SPEEDING BUMP IN A PARKING LOT WHEN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. BALL JOINT BROKE, BREAKING OFF FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND THE AXEL SHAFT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FRONT AXLE BROKE ON ONE SIDE AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED WHILE BRAKING ON THE OTHER SIDE. ALSO,TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FAILURE. *AK
Official recalls
200V421002 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
99V066003 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Apr 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint
Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (3)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99008 · Ball Joint
Opened Feb 1, 1999 · Closed Apr 13, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Illustration