IllustrationWHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A FAILED OVERDRIVE HUB. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *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
What owners actually said
83 reports17 " ALUM. WHEELS BEND VERY EASILY OVER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND THEN A PULSATION IS CONSTANTLY FELT FROM THAT POINT ON UNTIL RESUFACING OF THE ROTORS IS PERFORMED. ORIGINAL DEALER WAS ASKED AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, THEY ALL DO THAT. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE, AT SANDY MCKIE CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH DODGE IN FOX…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND THEN A PULSATION IS CONSTANTLY FELT FROM THAT POINT ON UNTIL RESUFACING OF THE ROTORS IS PERFORMED. ORIGINAL DEALER WAS ASKED AND SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, THEY ALL DO THAT. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE, AT SANDY MCKIE CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH DODGE IN FOX LAKE ILLINOIS, THE WARPING RETURNED WITHIN 1500 MILES AND THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO TIGHTEN ALL 10 LUGNUTS HOLDING THE FRONT WHEELS ON. THE RADIO DECIDES NOT TO ACCEPT C.D.S AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE SUNROOF HAD BAD RATTLING AND IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER BEFORE THEY COULD CURE THE PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS SUNROOF SHADE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE FOG LAMPS LOOSE THEIR SEAL AND FILL WITH MOISTURE. TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR. *AK
THE FRONT WHEEL FELL AJAR DUE TO THE BALL JOINT PULLING APART CAUSING THE MISHAP. YH
INITIAL PROBLEM CAR HESITATED , LIGHTS , A/C , RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND GO ON AND OFF. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE ,SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS AND TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME. CAR STALLED AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY SAID BATTERY WAS BAD.INSTALLED NEW BATTERY. DROVE CAR APPROX. 1…
Read full complaint
INITIAL PROBLEM CAR HESITATED , LIGHTS , A/C , RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND GO ON AND OFF. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE ,SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS AND TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME. CAR STALLED AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY SAID BATTERY WAS BAD.INSTALLED NEW BATTERY. DROVE CAR APPROX. 1/4 MILE FROM SERVICE DEPT. , BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. RETURNED TO DEALER. CHECKED CAR AGAIN AND SAID FUSE BOX WAS BAD. INSTALLED NEW FUSE BOX, CAR WAS FINE FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. NEWLY INSTALLED FUSE BOX SHORTS OUT AND CATCHES FIRE AND ALSO BURNS WIRING HARNESS. THIS TIME THIRD FUSE BOX INSTALLED, WIRING HARNESS AND MANY RELAYS REPLACED.
WHEN BRAKES MAKE LOUD THUMPING NOISE ,BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR, TAKING A APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
DRIVING THROUGH A LOW PUDDLE OF WATTER, THE CAR SUCKED WATER INTO THE AIR INTAKE AND IMMEDIATELY HYDROSTATICALLY LOCKED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. I FEEL THIS WAS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING ON THESE VEHICLES AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW MANY OTHER DODGE AVENGERS SUFFE…
Read full complaint
DRIVING THROUGH A LOW PUDDLE OF WATTER, THE CAR SUCKED WATER INTO THE AIR INTAKE AND IMMEDIATELY HYDROSTATICALLY LOCKED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. I FEEL THIS WAS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING ON THESE VEHICLES AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW MANY OTHER DODGE AVENGERS SUFFERED THIS DEMISE BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN.
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS A REOCCURRING LEAKING PROBLEM. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE IS NO LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR A WEEKEND. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FRONT BRAKES WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULSATION
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.