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1997 Dodge Avenger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Dodge Avenger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 157.

About this comparison →
83Owner complaints

Model-year median: 157

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
196
1995157
199683
199758
199862
199922
2000
Compare all Avenger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
19Service Brakes, Hydraulic
18Air Bags
13Engine And Engine Cooling
10Exterior Lighting
6
All reported categories
Wheels
6Electrical System
5Power Train
4Seat Belts
4Steering
4Structure
3Tires
3Visibility
3Equipment
2Unknown Or Other
2Latches/locks/linkages
1

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

Air Bags complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
139,805 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 45 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMAS. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN WRITING THAT THE AIR …

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CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 45 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMAS. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN WRITING THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090088

93,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY …

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I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....

NHTSA ODI #10070851

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A CONCRETE WALL AT 60 MPH IMPACT, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA ODI #8018211

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766858

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Air BagsCrash

FRONTAL COLLISION ON A WET ROAD CONDITION AT 40 MPH, IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891186

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. ALSO, RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884320

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT TO SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740026

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WAS GOING 30MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS DEER, AND HIT A TREE STUMP, AND WENT SAILING. THEN, HIT SOME TREES HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878224

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BROADSIDED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SERIOUS NECK/BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED AIRBAGS WORKED PROPERLY BY NOT DEPLOYING , THE IMPACT WAS 30 DEGREES AWAY FROM HEAD ON, AND DID NOT CREATE 17G OF…

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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BROADSIDED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SERIOUS NECK/BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED AIRBAGS WORKED PROPERLY BY NOT DEPLOYING , THE IMPACT WAS 30 DEGREES AWAY FROM HEAD ON, AND DID NOT CREATE 17G OF FORCE IN ORDER FOR AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870812

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN IN FRONT ,HITTING IT, AND PUSHING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD INTO A CAR LOT, HITTING 3 VEHICLES UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY , CAUSING HEAD AND FACE INJURIES. ALSO, FRONT END WAS PUSH INTO WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867564

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.

97V081002 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

Aug 8, 1997

THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.