IllustrationWHEN PUT INTO DRIVE, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE FOR ABOUT 40 SECONDS, THEN IT GOES INTO GEAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN SUMMER. *AK
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.
23 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
What owners actually said
196 reportsDEFROSTER SYSTEM FAILS TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAN W/FOLLOWING SETTING BY OWNERS MANUAL. AREA DEALERS SUGGESTED USING A/C IN WINTER. *AK
TRYING TO AVOID A TRUCK, HIT THE BRAKE AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. *AK
STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. (1ST VEHICLE ON 601559)*SD
TIRES ARE WORN TO THE CORD, REPLACED ONCE ONLY 28,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS IMPACTEDT 12:00 POSITION,SPEED 20MPH, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
BAD ODOR PENETRATED INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, UPON BRAKING,PEDAL BECOMES SPONGEY, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING RADIO/WINDSHIELD WIPERS/TAIL LIGHT FUSES TO BLOW OUT; GINE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON, FAILURE TO START. *AK
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, APPLIED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE, SMELL OF BRAKES BURNING. *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.
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.