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: 12 of 83 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
83 reports
96,000 miles · Apr 24, 2012
Wheels
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE RIMS. I AM ABOUT TO RETIRE MY THIRD WHEEL FROM THIS CAR. THE WHEEL LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT JUST CAN'T HOLD AIR DUE TO THE RIM BENDING RIGHT AT THE BEAD OR OUTER RIM. THE RIM IN QUESTION IS A 17 INCH SILVER RIM ON THE 97 AVENGER. IT BENDS WAY TOO EASILY. THIS CAR BELONGED TO MY DAUGHT…
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WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE RIMS. I AM ABOUT TO RETIRE MY THIRD WHEEL FROM THIS CAR. THE WHEEL LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT JUST CAN'T HOLD AIR DUE TO THE RIM BENDING RIGHT AT THE BEAD OR OUTER RIM. THE RIM IN QUESTION IS A 17 INCH SILVER RIM ON THE 97 AVENGER. IT BENDS WAY TOO EASILY. THIS CAR BELONGED TO MY DAUGHTER AND WE STARTED ENCOUNTERING THE BENT RIM'S LOSING AIR WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE INITIALLY DROVE THE CAR ONLY TO SCHOOL AND BACK...8 MILES A DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW RIM, ONLY TO HAVE ANOTHER FACTORY RIM GO BAD FOR THE SAME REASON. I SUSPECT I NOW HAVE A THIRD WHEEL GOING BAD ON ME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE TO SUCH POOR QUALITY SOLD ON NEW CARS. (EVEN THOUGH THE YEAR SOLD WAS 1997). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10456275
70,999 miles · Dec 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 1997 DODGE AVENGER I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IT HAS THE 2.0 DOHC 4 CYL ENGINE THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING ON IT AND I ALMOST RAN IT OUT OF OIL. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT HEAD GASKET FROM THE MANUFACTURE ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MY CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND HAS REAL LOW MILEAGE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND…
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I OWN A 1997 DODGE AVENGER I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IT HAS THE 2.0 DOHC 4 CYL ENGINE THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING ON IT AND I ALMOST RAN IT OUT OF OIL. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT HEAD GASKET FROM THE MANUFACTURE ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MY CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND HAS REAL LOW MILEAGE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW MILES IS (71,000). *NM
NHTSA ODI #10177025
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages
1997 DODGE AVENGER HOOD POPPED UP SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE HOOD TO IMPROPERLY LATCH DOWN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10147582
145,050 miles · May 6, 2005
Suspension
AFTER RECALL 967 CONTROL ARM REPAIRS, WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM. *BF
NHTSA ODI #10117608
109,000 miles · Apr 20, 2005
Structure
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT IN THE DASH. THE AIR BAG IS LIFTING ABOUT ONE INCH ABOVE THE DASH . THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THE REPAIR WILL BE THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10113524
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2005
SuspensionCrashInjury
1997 DODGE AVENGER RAN INTO A TREE AFTER BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE AXEL TO BREAK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BADLY INJURED BUT IS ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE …
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1997 DODGE AVENGER RAN INTO A TREE AFTER BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE AXEL TO BREAK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BADLY INJURED BUT IS ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10117854
6,000 miles · Feb 9, 2005
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR ARE SO FOGGED OVER (MILKY) THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. IN THE EVENT THAT I DO DRIVE AT NIGHT I MUST USE MY HIGH BEAMS, BUT IT IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10110190
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2005
Suspension
CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. RECEIVED RECALL 967 AND DEALER DID NOT USE ANY PARTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *BF THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT DAMAGED. PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINT REPLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE OTHER BALL JOINT REPLACED, HOWEVER T…
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CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. RECEIVED RECALL 967 AND DEALER DID NOT USE ANY PARTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *BF THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT DAMAGED. PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINT REPLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE OTHER BALL JOINT REPLACED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10109753
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW UP IN MY 1997 DODGE AVENGER..CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REVEALED THEY ALREADY KNEW THE GASKET WAS IN DEFAULT BUT WERE ONLY REPAIRING THEM AS THE COMPLAINTS CAME IN . THEY REFUSED TO DO A RECALL . THEY INSTALLED A SO CALLED "NEW HEAD GASKET" BUT CAR HAS NEVER RUN GOOD SINCE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYMORE …
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HEAD GASKET BLEW UP IN MY 1997 DODGE AVENGER..CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REVEALED THEY ALREADY KNEW THE GASKET WAS IN DEFAULT BUT WERE ONLY REPAIRING THEM AS THE COMPLAINTS CAME IN . THEY REFUSED TO DO A RECALL . THEY INSTALLED A SO CALLED "NEW HEAD GASKET" BUT CAR HAS NEVER RUN GOOD SINCE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYMORE TO IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10105950
30,000 miles · Nov 10, 2004
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE LENS COULD NOT BE CLEANED OR REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS A SEALED UNIT. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS VERY COSTLY.*AK
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.
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