← New search

1996 Dodge Avenger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 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

Other model years Selected 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: 9 of 157 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE FIRSTSMOG CHECK REQUIREDTHIS YEAR 2000. THE DEALER RESET IT THE FIRST TIME. THEN IT CAME ON AGAIN AROUND TOWN AT 30MPH. THIS IS A STILL A NEW CAR LESS THAN 25,000 WHEN IT FIRST STARTED. I DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD KEEP PAYING TO GET IT REPAIRED I UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE UP TO APPROX 17 DIFF…

Read full complaint

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE FIRSTSMOG CHECK REQUIREDTHIS YEAR 2000. THE DEALER RESET IT THE FIRST TIME. THEN IT CAME ON AGAIN AROUND TOWN AT 30MPH. THIS IS A STILL A NEW CAR LESS THAN 25,000 WHEN IT FIRST STARTED. I DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD KEEP PAYING TO GET IT REPAIRED I UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE UP TO APPROX 17 DIFFERENT THINGS TO SET IT OFF. AT ABOUT $400 EA THAT'S EXPENSIVE. I ALSO FIND IT ODD THAT IT JUST STARTED WITH A SMOG CHECK.

NHTSA ODI #732370

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

PERIODIC BUT REPEATED STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND CLUTCH DISENGAGED. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHEN ENGINE STALLED AND VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS NEAR COLLISIONS. PROBLEM HAS WORSENED WHEREBY THE VEHICLE WILL PERIODICALLY STALL AT ANY TIME WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, EVEN AT HIGH RATE OF …

Read full complaint

PERIODIC BUT REPEATED STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND CLUTCH DISENGAGED. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHEN ENGINE STALLED AND VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS NEAR COLLISIONS. PROBLEM HAS WORSENED WHEREBY THE VEHICLE WILL PERIODICALLY STALL AT ANY TIME WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, EVEN AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND LOW THROTTLE APPLICATION. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE WHEN STALL OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE CONDITION. HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. OTHER CONDITIONS INVOLVE THE REPAIR OF A LEAKING HEAD GASKET THAT WAS PARTIALLY COVERED BY MANUFACTURER AFTER EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. DOOR SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT, DOOR AJAR INDICATOR, AND KEY-IN-IGNITION WARNING TONE MALFUNCTIONED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. CONDITION RETURNED AFTER EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY AND DEALER REFUSED TO COVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #730453

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

KNOCKING UNDER HOOD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864901

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS VIBRATION. ALSO ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716650

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteering

I HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. THEN NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DODGE DEALERSHIP COUNTRYSIDE MOTORS IN LAWRENCEBURG, KY 40342. AFTER REPLACING MY FUEL PUMP, NOW I NEEDED A NEW DOWN STREAM OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. WAS IT THE SENSOR THE WHOLE TIME? WITH O…

Read full complaint

I HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. THEN NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DODGE DEALERSHIP COUNTRYSIDE MOTORS IN LAWRENCEBURG, KY 40342. AFTER REPLACING MY FUEL PUMP, NOW I NEEDED A NEW DOWN STREAM OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. WAS IT THE SENSOR THE WHOLE TIME? WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON MY CAR I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE I NEEDED BOTH!!!

NHTSA ODI #716543

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

PLEASE IF ANYONE IS HAVING THIS TROUBLE WITH THERE CAR EMAIL ME AT GRODON24@LEXCOMINC.NET THANKS NEED EVERYONE THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE

NHTSA ODI #713881

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL DODGE AVENGER DEALERS AND MECHANICS AND FOUND THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MANUFATURING OF THE AVENGER. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. RECENTLY I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BOOTS ON MY CAR. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE ITEMS A SINGLE MOTHER CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY. I …

Read full complaint

I HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL DODGE AVENGER DEALERS AND MECHANICS AND FOUND THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM TO BE A DEFECT IN THE MANUFATURING OF THE AVENGER. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. RECENTLY I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BOOTS ON MY CAR. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE ITEMS A SINGLE MOTHER CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND CONTACT ME UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #710064

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED FOLLOWING PROBLEMS; 1.) BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY; 2.) HEAD GASKET LEAKS; AND 3.) CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837470

Mileage unknown · May 3, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

MECHANIC FOUND PROBLEMS 05\02\99 CRUISE CONTROL BALL JOINTS & HEAD GASKET LEAK -HELP??!?!?- MUCH APPRECIATED - K DUBUQUE - DUBUQU@NEESNET.COM

NHTSA ODI #706180

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureVisibility

I TOOK MY CAR IN AT 35,500 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS LOSING JUST ALITTLE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. I FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND SO WAS THE WATER PUMP. THE OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE COOLANT AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE WATER PUMP. THE DOORS ALWAYS LEAK WATER WHEN I GET IT WASHED. THE DOORS ALSO MAKE A REALLY LO…

Read full complaint

I TOOK MY CAR IN AT 35,500 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS LOSING JUST ALITTLE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. I FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND SO WAS THE WATER PUMP. THE OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE COOLANT AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE WATER PUMP. THE DOORS ALWAYS LEAK WATER WHEN I GET IT WASHED. THE DOORS ALSO MAKE A REALLY LOUD NOISE WHEN I CLOSE THEM AND THE WINDOW IS OPEN. THE DISC BRAKES HAVE WARPED AND THE CAR SHAKES WHEN I PUT THE BRAKES ON.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195/75/14 )

NHTSA ODI #700468

Official recalls

2

00V421002 · 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

1

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