Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

58 reports

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2000

Wheels

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION TIRES WOULD BECOME FLAT. CONSUMER HAD TIRES SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED NOTHING WRONG WITH TIRES, BUT ALL FOUR RIMS WHERE BENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #875224

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH CHANGING BRAKE PADS EVERY 9,000-10,000 MILES OF WEAR, AND MAKING A RING SOUND. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #866542

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2000

Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVER IN CAR IN FRONT JAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STOP, AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864535

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2000

Seat BeltsCrash

AFTER HITTING AN OPEN MANHOLE, SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OPEN, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. VEHICLE REGISTERED TO AMY THOMAS. REPORT GIVEN BY FIANCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861189

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2000

Power Train

HAVE PROBLEMS WITH NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT OF ENGINE WHEN PUTTING CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD IT WAS THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND TOLD IT WAS THE CLUTCH PAKS ON OR IN THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #721568

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999

Steering

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848934

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999

Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45MPH CONSUMER HIT A POLE HEAD-ON, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,WEATHER WAS CLEAR.DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847646

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1999

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING, STEERING WHEEL WILL SHIMMY. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843871

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1999

Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THIS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DIRECT SIDE AND THE AIR BAG RESTRAINTS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841741

Mileage unknown · May 25, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

THIS HAS BEEN MY SECOND AVENGER AND I WISH THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN RID OF MY 96. THIS 98 HAS A LONGER SERVICE HISTORY THAN MOST OF THE CARS IN OUR SMALL TOWN, PUT TOGETHER. BRAKES--THE CAR HAS NOW HAD 2 BRAKE JOBS IN 9000 MILES. EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BLED OUT THE LINES.. CAN'T WAIT UNTIL 4500 MILES COMES AGAIN SO I CAN HAVE NEW BRAKES PUT ON IT AGAIN. FUEL ECON--THE CAR IS LUCKY TO GET 18-21 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THESE CARS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR GOOD GAS MILEAGE--IS THAT TRUE?? MY 96 AVENGER GOT 25-34 ON THE HIGHWAY!?!?!?! DOOR--THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR. THE DEALER HAS ADJUSTED IT TWICE AND NOW TELLS ME IT IS FINE. IT SURE IS FUNNY HOW IT STILL SHUTS OUTSIDE OF THE WEATHERSTRIP OCCASIONALLY, CAUSING ANNOYING WIND NOISE. WHEELS----THE THIRD DAY I HAD THE CAR, I HAD A LOW SPEED POTHOLE COLLISION AND BENT A RIM. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED ALL MY RIMS HAVE SMALL DINGS IN THEM AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE FINISH IS PEELING OFF THE RIMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #706858

Official recalls

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.

98V045002 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 3, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.