IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT TO SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
83 reportsVEHICLE 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
WAS GOING 30MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS DEER, AND HIT A TREE STUMP, AND WENT SAILING. THEN, HIT SOME TREES HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE DECLARED TOTALED. DRIVER SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE. *AK
WHEELS ARE CAUSING PROBLEM WITH TIRES NOT MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRED WHEELS AND TIRES. BUT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. *AK THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, THE CUSTOMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE S…
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WHEELS ARE CAUSING PROBLEM WITH TIRES NOT MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRED WHEELS AND TIRES. BUT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. *AK THERE HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND PROBLEM OF MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE, THE CUSTOMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *YH
BRAKES VIBRATE, SQUEAL, AND GRIND W/METAL TO METAL SOUND. NO APPARENT CAUSE.
DEALERSHIP ADMITTED DEFECTIVE GASKET ON 2.0L ENGINES, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR.
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS KEPT WARPING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIRS & EACH TIME PROBLEM OF WARPING REAPPEARED. WHENEVER BRAKES PULSATE IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE. MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO LET DEALER WORK ON THE BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEM. *AK BRAKE PADS ARE LOW. THE VEHICLE HISITATES WHEN BRAKING DUE TO FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAI…
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FRONT BRAKE ROTORS KEPT WARPING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR REPAIRS & EACH TIME PROBLEM OF WARPING REAPPEARED. WHENEVER BRAKES PULSATE IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE. MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO LET DEALER WORK ON THE BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEM. *AK BRAKE PADS ARE LOW. THE VEHICLE HISITATES WHEN BRAKING DUE TO FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE. FRONT ROTORS PULSATE STILL AFTER BEING REPLACED. FRONT HUBS WERE BAD AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO ROTORS AND PADS. BRAKES PULSATE WHEN USED. FRONT ROTORS NEED RESURFACING. *YH
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BROADSIDED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SERIOUS NECK/BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED AIRBAGS WORKED PROPERLY BY NOT DEPLOYING , THE IMPACT WAS 30 DEGREES AWAY FROM HEAD ON, AND DID NOT CREATE 17G OF…
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BROADSIDED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SERIOUS NECK/BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED AIRBAGS WORKED PROPERLY BY NOT DEPLOYING , THE IMPACT WAS 30 DEGREES AWAY FROM HEAD ON, AND DID NOT CREATE 17G OF FORCE IN ORDER FOR AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *AK
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES WITHIN 50,000 MILES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN IN FRONT ,HITTING IT, AND PUSHING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD INTO A CAR LOT, HITTING 3 VEHICLES UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY , CAUSING HEAD AND FACE INJURIES. ALSO, FRONT END WAS PUSH INTO WINDSHIELD. *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.