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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

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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: 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

What owners actually said

83 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2001
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK IN IMPROVEMENT. THEY FUNCTION FINE, BUT FEEL 'SOFT' AND THEY PULSATE. THE LAST TIME I HAD THEM FIXED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS WITH CHRYSLER PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. THEY STILL DID NOT FEEL THEY…

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK IN IMPROVEMENT. THEY FUNCTION FINE, BUT FEEL 'SOFT' AND THEY PULSATE. THE LAST TIME I HAD THEM FIXED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PADS WITH CHRYSLER PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. THEY STILL DID NOT FEEL THEY WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FEEL. ** AS FAR AS THE AC, WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO USE THE AC AND TURN THE DIAL TO 'COLD', HOT AIR STILL COMES OUT OF THE VENTS AS IF THE HEAT IS STILL ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748027

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Air BagsCrash

FRONTAL COLLISION ON A WET ROAD CONDITION AT 40 MPH, IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891186

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2001
Suspension

PRIOR 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

NHTSA ODI #561690

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2001
Suspension

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #889489

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001
Suspension

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

NHTSA ODI #561217

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING, ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN DASHBOARD SHORTED OUT. A FEW SECONDS LATER, ENGINE WENT DEAD. DEALER SAID A WIRE MELTED AND REPLACED IT.*AK WIRES TO DOME LIGHT ALSO FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #885774

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2001
SuspensionInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #560785

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. ALSO, RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884320

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
Steering

WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OR A RECALL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740532

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TRANSMISSION WENT ON MAIN HIGHWAY, RIMS FELL PULLED AWAY FROM TIRESON BOTH FRONT ENDS CAUSING FLAT TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NAD REPLACEMENT OF THEM. ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS. DRIVE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, IT IS NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. BRAKES HAD TO BE FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW BALL BEARING…

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TRANSMISSION WENT ON MAIN HIGHWAY, RIMS FELL PULLED AWAY FROM TIRESON BOTH FRONT ENDS CAUSING FLAT TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NAD REPLACEMENT OF THEM. ALMOST CRASHED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS. DRIVE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, IT IS NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. BRAKES HAD TO BE FIXED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW BALL BEARINGS ARE WARN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY FREQUENTLY GETS CORRODED. ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PAST 3 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740348

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.