IllustrationFRONT BRAKES WARPED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULSATION
1997 Dodge Avenger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 12 of 83 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports12 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
18 reportsFRONT BRAKES CAUSING PULSATION, VIBRATION, AND EXCESSIVE NOISE. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A LOUD/SQUEAKING NOISE THAT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKE DISC PADS SOUND AS IF METAL TO METAL RUBBING. SOMETIMES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF BRAKES. TSB ESTABLISHED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES ALOT, AND THE STEERING KEEPS VIBRATING. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED. PROBLEM IS ONGOING, AND DEALERS CANNOT FIX PRBOBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DEATILS. *AK
BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKES WARPED.
LEFT INTERSTATE AND ENTERING ROADWAY WHEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. REAR ENDED A 18-WHEELER. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND SON WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAS SO MUCH DAMAGE DUE TO THE CRA…
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LEFT INTERSTATE AND ENTERING ROADWAY WHEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. REAR ENDED A 18-WHEELER. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND SON WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAS SO MUCH DAMAGE DUE TO THE CRASH, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHETHER CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES PRIOR TO CRASH. *AK
WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT END AND EXCESSIVE SQUEALING OF THE BRAKES. *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.
97V081002 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
Aug 8, 1997
THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.