DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BREAKS OFF, MOST USED.... *TR
1995 Dodge Avenger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 15 of 196 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 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
8 reportsDOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING THE DOOR(DOOR HANDLE WAS PULLED NORMALLY ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND BROKE). (ALMOST ALWAYS GARAGED) THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS NO COLD WEATHER THE NIGHT BEFORE. PLASTIC SHOULD NOT BE SO BRITTLE, SMALL CHILDREN COULD BE LOCKED IN, THANK YOU. * TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED…
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DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING THE DOOR(DOOR HANDLE WAS PULLED NORMALLY ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND BROKE). (ALMOST ALWAYS GARAGED) THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS NO COLD WEATHER THE NIGHT BEFORE. PLASTIC SHOULD NOT BE SO BRITTLE, SMALL CHILDREN COULD BE LOCKED IN, THANK YOU. * TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****761468
POWER DOOR LOCKS DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. INSIDE LIGHTS FLASH, AND CHIMES RING WHILE LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER IS UNABLE TO INSPECTIT IF IT DOESN'T DUPLICATE ITSELF. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER 'S SIDE DOORS WERE BREAKING AWAY FROM VEHICLE. DEALER STATED DOORS WERE TOO HEAVY FOR VEHICLE, IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. DEALER WILL HAVE TO WELD PIECES TO SUPPORT DOOR BECAUSE STEEL FRAME WAS SO WEAK.*AK
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE FALLING OFF , CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE; FRONT BRAKES REPLACED -- STILL NOISE; WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- HAD TO WAIT FOR IT TO RE-ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE GLOVE BOX JUST FELL OUT -- THE HINGE PIN WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND DISINTIGRATED. THE FRONT BUMPER SECTION HAS SEPARATED AND IS FALL…
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BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE; FRONT BRAKES REPLACED -- STILL NOISE; WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL -- HAD TO WAIT FOR IT TO RE-ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE GLOVE BOX JUST FELL OUT -- THE HINGE PIN WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND DISINTIGRATED. THE FRONT BUMPER SECTION HAS SEPARATED AND IS FALLING OFF -- THIS IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE BRAKES ARE THE REAL SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION -- THEY DO NOT FEEL TRUSTWORTHY AND THE NOISE THEY MAKE WHEN YOU PUT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THE DEALER IS TOTALLY DISINTERESTED!!!!
TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE BROKE.
REAR OF VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TOO HIGH, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY.
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.
99V066003 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Apr 5, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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
3DP03002 · Steering Column Separation
Opened May 7, 2003 · Closed Jul 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:column
MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.
RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint
Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (3)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE99008 · Ball Joint
Opened Feb 1, 1999 · Closed Apr 13, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Suspension
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Illustration