1999 Dodge Avenger

I AM A AUTO MECHANIC AND UNFORTUNATELY OWN A 1999 DODGE AVENGER 2.5L V6 AUTO. THE ENGINE IS JUNK. IT HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT MISFIRE SINCE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY PUT A FAULTY CAMSHAFT SENSOR INSIDE THE DISTRIBUTOR SO WHEN IT DOES FAIL WHICH IT DOES IN EVERY 6 CYCLE AVENGER, THE STEALERSHIP TRIES TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT THE SENSOR CANNOT BE REPLACED AND YOU HAVE TO GET A NEW DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY CHARGE $ 1500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. YOU CAN'T BUY ONE ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CAM SENSOR PROBLEM AND THEY DO THIS INTENTIONALLY TO GET YOU TO SPEND MONEY ON CHRYSLER PARTS. THEY PUT THE CAM SENSOR IN THE DISTRIBUTOR BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FROM THE IGNITION COIL WOULD CAUSE THE SENSOR TO FAIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES MORE AND MORE THE WORSE THE SENSOR GETS. THAT IS JUST THE START OF THE ENGINE PROBLEMS. ONCE THE CAM SENSOR FAILS THE TIMING GETS OFFSET AND OVER TIME CAUSES THE VALVES TO GET BENT BY THE PISTONS, AFTER THAT IT'S BYE BYE HEADS AND NO CAR UNLESS YOU BUY A BETTER CAR. IF THEY WOULD PUT THE CAM SENSOR WHERE IT BELONGS, I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS. CHEVY FROM NOW ON. *TR

THE 1999 DODGE AVENGER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY WORK WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND WAS TOLD IF I WOULD OF BEEN DRIVING I WOULD OF BEEN KILLED, THE FIRE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I FILED REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE INVESTIGATED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF THEIR INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHT COVER BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO GET PROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E025000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE HEADLIGHTS SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

SEVERAL 'NEAR' ACCIDENTS BEFORE WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT OUR 99 DODGE AVENGER REAR LIGHTING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TAIL & BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND (OR) STAY LIT ALL THE TIME AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. HAD TO HAVE THE "ACTIVATOR CONNECTIONS" REPAIRED, BATTERIES CONSTANTLY BEING DRAINED/REPLACED, FRONT FOG LIGHTING BURNED OUT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS/REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CARS "WIRING WAS PULLING MORE VOLTAGE THAN IT SHOULD". HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO AC, ETC... TO PREVENT BATTERIES FROM BEING DRAINED. REPAIRED AGAIN ON 10/15/08 AND NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTING. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004 AND I HAD THE HEADS DONE ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP IN 2005 AND IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T CHANGE INTO SECOND UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE O2 SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS COMING ON. I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. THE BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT. I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT THIS CAR THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS ARE OUT. THE HALF SHAFT IS MESSED UP AGAIN. I NEED SO HELP WITH SOME OF THIS REPAIRS. CHRYSLER AND DODGE KNEW THESE CARS WEREN'T MADE RIGHT NOW THEY NEED TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST 5 WHEEL LUGS. EVERYTIME I HAVE MY TIRES TAKEN OFF FOR REPLACEMENT OR ROTATION OR TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS, ETC. A LUG WILL BREAK DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE LUGS WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE REPLACEMENTS AND IT ISN'T CHEAP. I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PART OR HOW IT WAS INSTALLED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND THEREFORE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE POLICE OFFICER EXPRESSED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED FOR THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. *NM UPDATED 6/30/2006 - *NM