IllustrationHAVE A LEAK IN ONE OFTHE FRONT STRUTS. *AK
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.
23 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
196 reportsONGOING/ INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING AND UNABLE TO START. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
THIS SEAT DESIGN NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. METAL IS FRAGILE AND AFTER TIME SEAT WILL BACK IN HALF. I THINK THIS AND OTHER AUTOMOBILE SEAT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. BRAKES WERE VERY ROUGH, AND CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED THREE TIMES. VEHICLE HAS TO ONCE AGAIN BE BACK IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS ON THE BRAKES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WARPED HEAD CAUSED OIL TO LEAK AND BURN OFF. NEEDED TO REPLACE HEAD AT A COST OF OVER $1,200.
NO SUMMARY
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…
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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
THE SEALED BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT, FRONT WERE COMPLETELY VOID OF GREASE. THE BALL JOINTS POPPED OUT DURING A LANE CHANGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS TWO LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT SAW THE INCIDENT AND TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO AVOID COLLISION. T…
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THE SEALED BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT, FRONT WERE COMPLETELY VOID OF GREASE. THE BALL JOINTS POPPED OUT DURING A LANE CHANGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS TWO LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT SAW THE INCIDENT AND TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO AVOID COLLISION. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND, BREAKING APART THE FRONT GRILL. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE CAR AND CAUSED THE FENDER TO BEND OUTWARD. I NOTICED A POPPING SOUND TWO DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND IN THE MORNING OF 12/26/1998 I HAD SCHEDULED A MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE POPPING NOISE FOR THE MORNING OF 12/27/1998. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO HOURS AFTER I HAD SCHEDULED THE MECHANIC TO EXAMINE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
ALARM CONTINUALLY GOES OFF, DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK UNLESS THE A/C IS ACTIVATED IN THE FRONT AND REAR INADEQUATE DEFROSTING, SUSPENSION SHAKED DUE TO BAD BUSHINGS. OTHER THINGS HAVE OCCURRED AS WELL - TOO MUCH TO KEEP TRACK OF. *MJS
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.