1997 Dodge Avenger

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

THE DOOR HINGE ON DRIVERS SIDE BUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE WELDED ,BY NO FAULT OF MINE. I HAVE TALKED TO AUTO BODY SHOPS THAT HAVE HAD TO FIX NUMEROUS DOORS ON OTHER AVENGERS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO .I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A REAL DANGER WHEN YOUR DOOR ON A VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY I WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER MORE SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ,PLEASE CONTACT ME [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

A LEAKING HEAD GASKET WAS CONFIRMED BY OUR LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH TIME THEY VOLUNTEERED INFORMATION THAT "INFERIOR" HEADGASKET MATERIAL HAD BEEN USED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. I ASKED IF IT HAD BEEN RECALLED AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT HAD NOT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER RELIEF AVAILABLE, AS THE WARRANTY HAD LONG EXPIRED. I OBTAINED A QUOTE FOR REPAIRS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS. BECAUSE OF A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN PRICE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, I WAS INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT SHOP THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE, IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, TO CAUSE THE HEADGASKET TO FAIL. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT GASKET, WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM DODGE, WAS TOTALLY REDESIGNED. ON MY RETURN HOME, I CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONSUMER HOT LINE. THEIR REPRESENTATIVE QUICKLY OFFERED TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE HEAD GASKET MATERIALS, BUT WOULD NOT REIMBURSE LABOR COSTS, AS THE REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED AT ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS. IT WAS OF NO CONCERN TO THEIR HOT LINE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONE OF THEIR OWN DEALERSHIPS HAD ADVISED THAT NO RECOURSE WAS AVAILABLE TO US.*JB

THE HOUSINGS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED. MOISTURE HAS FORMED INSIDE OF THE UNITS AND LIMITS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LIGHTS, CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION AT NIGHT. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM,THE UNITS CANNOT BE OPPENED FOR CLEANING, IS TO BUY NEW UNITS FOR $300 EACH. THIS IS UNREASONABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING. *AK

THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I HAVE LOW MILES ON MY CAR & THEIR SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY MY HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED FOR OIL CHANGES ON A REGULAR BASIS. I READ PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS & THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD TO REPLACE THEIR HEAD GASKET IS RIDUCULOUS. THIS SHOULD DEFINANTELY BE A RE CALL. I CONTACTED CYRSLER BUT IT SEEMS THEY CANNOT BE BOTHERED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE DODGE NEONS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CRYSLER DOES NOT LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.*AK