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1996 Dodge Avenger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge Avenger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 157.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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 · Apr 7, 2000
Steering

PANIC ALARM MALFUNCTION. DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. COULD NOT TURN OFF. WENT OFF AFTER 3 MINUTES. DEPLOYED AGAIN WHEN OPENING DRIVERS DOOR. ON FOR ANOTHER 3 MINUTES. AGAIN WHILE DRIVING; AGAIN WHEN TURNING LEFT. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE AFTER ONCE AT DEALERSHIP. WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. SHIMMED BUTTON UNDER HOOD.…

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PANIC ALARM MALFUNCTION. DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. COULD NOT TURN OFF. WENT OFF AFTER 3 MINUTES. DEPLOYED AGAIN WHEN OPENING DRIVERS DOOR. ON FOR ANOTHER 3 MINUTES. AGAIN WHILE DRIVING; AGAIN WHEN TURNING LEFT. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE AFTER ONCE AT DEALERSHIP. WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. SHIMMED BUTTON UNDER HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #711105

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 60 MPH. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED 60 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT. BUT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859613

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2000
Suspension

VEHICLE CHECKED IN OCTOBER FOR RECALL ON DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT BOOTS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. THREE MONTHS LATER HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. THIS OCCURRED AT 46,100 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM DUE TO "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." CUSTOMER RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL …

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VEHICLE CHECKED IN OCTOBER FOR RECALL ON DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT BOOTS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. THREE MONTHS LATER HAD TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. THIS OCCURRED AT 46,100 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM DUE TO "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." CUSTOMER RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF BALL JOINT FAILURE THAT HAVE OCCURED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. WAS ALSO TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS FAILURE WAS MINOR AND IT WAS OKAY TO OPERATED VEHICLE FOR A WEEK UNTIL I GOT VEHICLE REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #719306

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000
Suspension

UNDER CARRIAGE NOISE IS CAUSED BY LEFT AND RIGHT ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ODI #551057

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2000
Suspension

THERE WAS A RECALL ON BALL JOINT BOOTS. I HAD THIS CHECKED 10/12/99. ACCORDING TO DEALER EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I NOW HAVE A DEFECTIV EBALL JOINT IN MY RIGHTT FRONT. DEALER STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE BOOT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEM IS/WAS OKAY. THEY CLAIM THE BALL JOINT FAILURE IS DUE TO NORMAL…

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THERE WAS A RECALL ON BALL JOINT BOOTS. I HAD THIS CHECKED 10/12/99. ACCORDING TO DEALER EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I NOW HAVE A DEFECTIV EBALL JOINT IN MY RIGHTT FRONT. DEALER STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR THE BOOT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEM IS/WAS OKAY. THEY CLAIM THE BALL JOINT FAILURE IS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AT 46,000 MILES? *AK

NHTSA ODI #718818

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Steering

ANTI-THEFT DEVICE GOES OFF. CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH ACCESS TO VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855489

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2000
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THEREWAS A LOUD UNDER CARRIAGE NOISE COMING FROM THE BALL JOINTS. THE NOISE WAS MILD AT FIRST, BUT THEN THE NOISE REALLY BECAME LOUD. CONSUMER WAS SHOWN A PRINTOUT BY DEALERSHIP WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN RECALL 99V066003 DAIMLER/CHRYSLER/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855049

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS VIBRATION. ALSO ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716650

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteering

I HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. THEN NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DODGE DEALERSHIP COUNTRYSIDE MOTORS IN LAWRENCEBURG, KY 40342. AFTER REPLACING MY FUEL PUMP, NOW I NEEDED A NEW DOWN STREAM OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. WAS IT THE SENSOR THE WHOLE TIME? WITH O…

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I HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT ONLY 53,000 MILES. THEN NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DODGE DEALERSHIP COUNTRYSIDE MOTORS IN LAWRENCEBURG, KY 40342. AFTER REPLACING MY FUEL PUMP, NOW I NEEDED A NEW DOWN STREAM OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. WAS IT THE SENSOR THE WHOLE TIME? WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON MY CAR I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE I NEEDED BOTH!!!

NHTSA ODI #716543

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

PLEASE IF ANYONE IS HAVING THIS TROUBLE WITH THERE CAR EMAIL ME AT GRODON24@LEXCOMINC.NET THANKS NEED EVERYONE THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE

NHTSA ODI #713881

Official recalls

2

00V421002 · 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

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