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: 9 of 157 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 →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
157 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2002
Exterior Lighting
THE CLEAR PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON OUR VEHICLE ARE DETERIORATING TO THE POINT THAT NIGHT VISIBILITY IS SEVERELY LIMITED. THE DETERIORATION IS ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS, AS EVIDENCED BY A ROUGH TEXTURE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ON THE PAINTED SURFACE OR WINDSHIELD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OR GARAGED IN AB…
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THE CLEAR PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ON OUR VEHICLE ARE DETERIORATING TO THE POINT THAT NIGHT VISIBILITY IS SEVERELY LIMITED. THE DETERIORATION IS ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS, AS EVIDENCED BY A ROUGH TEXTURE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ON THE PAINTED SURFACE OR WINDSHIELD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN OR GARAGED IN ABRASIVE OR CORROSIVE CONDITIONS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758476
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STEERING LOCKED UP AND RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT BALL JOINTS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002102
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2001
Suspension
I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR MY CARS LOWER BALL JOINTS BECAUSE OF EXCESSVIE WEAR. MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS UPPER BALL JOINTS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS REPORTED IN CASE UPPER BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL. IT WAS ALSO ODD THAT A RECALL ON LOWER BALL JOINTS COMES …
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I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR MY CARS LOWER BALL JOINTS BECAUSE OF EXCESSVIE WEAR. MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS UPPER BALL JOINTS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS REPORTED IN CASE UPPER BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL. IT WAS ALSO ODD THAT A RECALL ON LOWER BALL JOINTS COMES OUT AND MY UPPER BALL JOINTS GO OUT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756128
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Suspension
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER/ WET CONDITIONS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DETERMINED A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #898217
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT, HOWEVER WHEN SHE ARRIVED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, A WEEK LATER THE PARTS CAME AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND HOURS LATER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ANOTHER DAY WAS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WORK.*YH
NHTSA ODI #562495
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Suspension
DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. WHILE DRIVING SPARKS CAME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #9003128
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2001
SuspensionInjury
IN SUM, I WAS DRIVING THE ABOVE VEHICLE AND ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN JERK AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD COLLAPSED ONTO THE GROUND. THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD CRACKED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND CAUSING MAJOR BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE FRONT FENDER. ALSO C…
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IN SUM, I WAS DRIVING THE ABOVE VEHICLE AND ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN JERK AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD COLLAPSED ONTO THE GROUND. THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD CRACKED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND CAUSING MAJOR BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE FRONT FENDER. ALSO CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES AND THE DRIVE AXLE. THIS SUDDEN CRASH ALSO HAS CAUSED SORENESS TO MY BACK AND NECK. ON JUNE 12, 2001 I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MIDWAY DODGE, 4747 S PULASKI, CHICAGO IL 60632, 773-376-8060 FOR RECALL #00V421002, WHICH WAS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE HAD PASSED THE TEST DESIGNED FOR THIS RECALL AND NOTHING WAS DONE. ON 25JUN01 MY BALL JOINTS FROM MY VEHICLE FAILED CAUSEING THE ABOVE DAMAGE AND INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #748225
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2001
Electrical SystemCrash
THIS IS A CONCERN. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATE WHY THE HORN DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT SINCE IT IS TIED TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG IT WOULD COST BIG DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO BACK INTO ME. IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WE…
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THIS IS A CONCERN. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATE WHY THE HORN DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT SINCE IT IS TIED TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG IT WOULD COST BIG DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO BACK INTO ME. IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER. THE LACK OF A WORKING HORN IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS IS MY 2ND COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA.*AK
NHTSA ODI #747582
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL LEAKS FROM A DEFECTIVE SEAL LOCATED NEAR THE OIL PAN, REPAIR SHOP CONCLUDED FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #9003005
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Suspension
CONSUMER HAD RECALL 00V421002 LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT, DONE ON 12 JUNE 2001. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE BALL JOINT. ON 25 JUNE 2001 WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BROKEN BALL JOINT.*AK
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.
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
1
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
1996 Dodge Avenger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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