1997 Dodge Avenger

1997 DODGE AVENGER RAN INTO A TREE AFTER BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE AXEL TO BREAK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BADLY INJURED BUT IS ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. *NM

CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. RECEIVED RECALL 967 AND DEALER DID NOT USE ANY PARTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *BF THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT DAMAGED. PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINT REPLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE OTHER BALL JOINT REPLACED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. *JB

(1) 1997 DODGE AVENGER WAS DRIVEN (2) LEFT SIDE LOWER BALLJOINT FAILED (PULLED OUT OF LATERAL CONTROL ARM), WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT, CONTACTEDFENDER, PULLER AXLE OUT OF TRANSMISSION. THIS ALL HAPPENED AT PARKING LOT SPEED.*AK (3) CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOUSE THEN DODGE DEALER AFTER I LEARNED OF PREVIOUS RECALL ISSUES. DODGE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1,200 FOR REPAIRS (THAT INCLUDED PERHAPS FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS PENDING APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER REP. CHRYSLER REP WAS A NO SHOW AND COULD NOT COMMIT TO A DAY THAT HE COULD INSPECT THE CAR. I REPAIRED THE CAR MYSELF (NEW LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, A REBUILT AXLE, AND TRANSMISSION OIL. I NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THE ABOVE EVENTS. THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR PARTS (NAPA PARTS). THEY OFFERED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS AND AXLE. I ALREADY PAID FOR THEM AT NAPA. I STILL NEED TO TAKE IT FOR AN ALIGNMENT.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE FRONT TIRES WERE SQUEALING AND BOUNCING SEVERELY. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT ROLLED INTO A DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

RECURING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION AND FAST WEAR, ALSO WITH SUSPENSION REPAIR, WAS TWICE QUOTED FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ELECTICAL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVE REPLACED WIRES AND PLUGS 2-3 TIME PER YEAR. REPLACED ENGINE COIL ONCE TO FIX PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUGS ARCHING AND BURNING UP. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED TEMPORARILY. PROBLEM IS BACK 3 MONTHS LATER. CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD A RATTLE THAT SEEMED TO EXTEND THROUGH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, DEALER STATED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DECLINED THESE REPAIRS, THE DEALER LATER FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT, THEY FOUND A CRACK ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE AND ANOTHER ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE, CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER INSPECTION IN WHICH ANOTHER PERSON STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR MOTOR MOUNT, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM JOINTS, CONSUMER HAD RECALL REPAIRS PREVIOUSLY, 00V421002, THE INDEPENDENT GARAGE MADE REPAIRS TO THE JOINTS AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC