IllustrationWHEN OPENING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WITHOUT ANY FORCE.CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK
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
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
Structure complaints
5 reportsBOTTOM HINGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RUSTED , CAUSING THE DOOR TO DROP DOWN. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL REPAIR/INSPECTION OF THE (99V-066) RECALL, INSPECTION COMPLETED WITH NO INDICATION OF CUT/TORN BOOTS, HOWEVER POTENTIAL IS STILL PRESENT FOR FAILURE. MJS
GLOVE BOX DOOR FAILED.
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 )
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
1RQ00015 · 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