IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. ALSO, RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT.*AK
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 →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: 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
Seat Belts complaints
4 reportsPROBLEM 1: SINCE JULY '98, I HAVE OBSERVED (SMELLED) NOXIOUS FUMES -NOT YOUR TYPICAL SULPHURIC ROTTEN EGG SMELL-WHEN I ACCELERATE,USUALLY ABOVE 40MPH. THE SMELL IS OUTSIDE THE CAR,BUT IN SUMMER AND WARM MONTHS IT'S QUITE OVERPOWERING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPT…
Read full complaint
PROBLEM 1: SINCE JULY '98, I HAVE OBSERVED (SMELLED) NOXIOUS FUMES -NOT YOUR TYPICAL SULPHURIC ROTTEN EGG SMELL-WHEN I ACCELERATE,USUALLY ABOVE 40MPH. THE SMELL IS OUTSIDE THE CAR,BUT IN SUMMER AND WARM MONTHS IT'S QUITE OVERPOWERING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT-IT'S "NORMAL"-I UNDERSTAND SOME SULPHURIC SMELL, BUT THIS IS NOT "ACCEPTABLE" OR "NORMAL"! THEY ARE BASICALLY TELLING ME TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY AND HAVE THE FUMES OVERPOWER THEM WHENEVER THEY PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS. PROBLEM 2: MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT LOCKS AND WON'T UNLOCK UNTIL YOU DISENGAGE IT FROM THE LATCH. IT WAS FOUND TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED WITH A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL UNABLE TO GET THE DEALERSHIPS TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. HELPLESS, IF YOU MAY....THE BELT CONTINUES TO LOCK, AND I'M AFRAID IN THE FUTURE IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF I HAVE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU CAN HELP ME. I AM CURRENTLY WRITING TO CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER CENTER WITH MY COMPLAINT.
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT STAYS LOCKED WHILE JUST SITTING STILL. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE THE BELT RELEASES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
SEAT BELTS ARE TOO TIGHT. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *AK
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.