1998 Dodge Avenger

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, BOTH FRONT TIRES REQUIRED THREE REPLACEMENTS AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421002 (SUSPENSION, FRONT CONTROL ARM, LOWER BALL JOINT), THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THIS HAS BEEN MY SECOND AVENGER AND I WISH THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN RID OF MY 96. THIS 98 HAS A LONGER SERVICE HISTORY THAN MOST OF THE CARS IN OUR SMALL TOWN, PUT TOGETHER. BRAKES--THE CAR HAS NOW HAD 2 BRAKE JOBS IN 9000 MILES. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BLED OUT THE LINES.. CAN'T WAIT UNTIL 4500 MILES COMES AGAIN SO I CAN HAVE NEW BRAKES PUT ON IT AGAIN. FUEL ECON--THE CAR IS LUCKY TO GET 18-21 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR GOOD GAS MILEAGE--IS THAT TRUE?? MY 96 AVENGER GOT 25-34 ON THE HIGHWAY!?!?!?! DOOR--THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS ADJUSTED IT TWICE AND NOW TELLS ME IT IS FINE. IT SURE IS FUNNY HOW IT STILL SHUTS OUTSIDE OF THE WEATHERSTRIP OCCASIONALLY, CAUSING ANNOYING WIND NOISE. WHEELS----THE THIRD DAY I HAD THE CAR, I HAD A LOW SPEED POTHOLE COLLISION AND BENT A RIM. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED ALL MY RIMS HAVE SMALL DINGS IN THEM AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE FINISH IS PEELING OFF THE RIMS. *AK