IllustrationPRIOR TO RECALL 00V421002, CONSUMER HAD SOME REPAIR WORK DONE TO THE RECALL PART, HOWEVER WHEN RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART IN QUESTION, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR WORK AND REQUESTS THAT RECALL BE COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *YH
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
Suspension complaints
19 reportsRECALL 00 V 421 002/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT: VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER , YONKER AVE DODGE INC., YONKER, NY; PHONE# 914/964-0700, FOR MANUFACTURER'S REPAIRS. LATER ON, DEALER RELEASED VEHICLE BACK TO CONSUMER WITHOUT INFORMING DEALER THAT RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL BY …
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RECALL 00 V 421 002/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT: VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER , YONKER AVE DODGE INC., YONKER, NY; PHONE# 914/964-0700, FOR MANUFACTURER'S REPAIRS. LATER ON, DEALER RELEASED VEHICLE BACK TO CONSUMER WITHOUT INFORMING DEALER THAT RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL BY MANUFACTURER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER . *AK
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION CONSUMER STATES WHEN TURNING WHEEL AND DRIVING, VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THAT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND RIGHT OUTER AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME NOISE ON MARCH 28, 2001 THAT HE EXPERIENCED BACK IN DECEMBER 2000, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHI…
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PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION CONSUMER STATES WHEN TURNING WHEEL AND DRIVING, VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THAT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND RIGHT OUTER AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME NOISE ON MARCH 28, 2001 THAT HE EXPERIENCED BACK IN DECEMBER 2000, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND ASSUMED PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL, DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHARGE CONSUMER, HOWEVER THE PART NUMBER FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHARGE CONSUMER STATING IT WAS A GOODWILL GESTURE EVEN THOUGH CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS IN DECEMBER 2000, THIS TIME THE RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE INITIAL REPAIR DONE IN DECEMBER 2000. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HIT A STONE WALL, WAS THROWN INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON TOP OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS FACE AND BACK, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND HAS PAIN IN HER BACK, CHEST, LE…
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WHILE DRIVING THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HIT A STONE WALL, WAS THROWN INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON TOP OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS FACE AND BACK, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND HAS PAIN IN HER BACK, CHEST, LEGS AND SUFFERS FROM HEADACHES. NLM
VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAKING A RATTLING/CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT END ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. TIRES WERE CROOKED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE JAXED UP, AND NOTICED DEFECT IN BALL JOINTS. *AK
THE FRONT WHEEL FELL AJAR DUE TO THE BALL JOINT PULLING APART CAUSING THE MISHAP. YH
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR STRUTS. STRUTS WOULD GIVE OFF A LOUD SQUEAKY SOUND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD START BOUNCING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH TRAILING ARM ON THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS MAKING NOISE. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE TURNED TO LEFT SIDE. WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED IT S PULLED TO THE RIGHT. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER HAD REPAIRED VEHICLE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM SEVEN TIMES. *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.