IllustrationIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING THE DOORS. *AK
1999 Dodge Avenger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Dodge Avenger are lower than 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
00–25K
525–50K
650–75K
575–100K
3100–150K
1150K+
20 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Structure complaints
7 reportsTHE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES KEEP BREAKING WHILE OPENING THE DOOR. THERE ARE 2 PLASTIC PIECES ON EACH SIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE THAT ( WHEN PULLED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE ) THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE EQUIPEMENT INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL THAT RELEASED THE LATCH AND OPEND THE DOOR. THOSE TWO PLASTIC PIECES KEEP BREAKING,THEREFO…
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THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES KEEP BREAKING WHILE OPENING THE DOOR. THERE ARE 2 PLASTIC PIECES ON EACH SIDE OF THE DOOR HANDLE THAT ( WHEN PULLED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE ) THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE EQUIPEMENT INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL THAT RELEASED THE LATCH AND OPEND THE DOOR. THOSE TWO PLASTIC PIECES KEEP BREAKING,THEREFORE NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR HINGES TO RELEASE AND OPEN THE DOOR. I REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE IN EARLY 2002 ( A DEALER ITEM ONLY AND COST $ 90.00 WITHOUT INSTILLATION ). TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AND I TRIED TO FIX IT (BY PLACING A SCREW BETWEEN THE TWO PLASTIC PIECES AND THEN APPLYING SUPER GLUEING OVER THE SCREW). TODAY THE (NEW) DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE I WAS OUT SHOPPING ( SAME PIECES AS THE FIRST TIME ) I WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND I BROKE AS WELL ( BUT THIS TIME IT HELD WHERE I SUPER GLUED IT ) , THE COMPLETE OUTSIDE BAR (THAT RISES WHILE OPENING THE DOOR) BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR WAS TO SLIDE MY ARM DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW ( SINCE I HAD LEFT THEM CRACKED ). I CURRENTLY CANNOT OPEN EITHER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE UNLESS MY WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN. *AK
DRIVER SEAT FRAME FRONT SEATBACK RECLINER AND ENTIRE FRONT SEAT BACK FRAME. ADHESIVE THAT HOLDS PLASTIC DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR PANELS TO METAL BODY DOOR FRAME. ALSO BAD PAINT. *AK
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASE. UNKNOWN ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM (DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM), TRANSMISSION SENSORS FAILED, ROTORS REPLACED 8 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, BLACK TAR COMING FROM DOORS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, AND THE BIG PROBLEM - THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES KEEP FAILING. PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED…
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MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASE. UNKNOWN ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM (DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT PROBLEM), TRANSMISSION SENSORS FAILED, ROTORS REPLACED 8 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, BLACK TAR COMING FROM DOORS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, AND THE BIG PROBLEM - THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES KEEP FAILING. PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE NOW FAILING AS WELL. HUGE SAFETY HAZARD! DEALERSHIP SAYS "CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY".*JB
HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, EXCEPT FOR WHEN IT STARTS BLINKING(WILL BLINK 100 TIMES OR MORE BEFORE IT STAYS ILLUMINATED) MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED, MOST THINGS WERE REPLACED BEFORE SCHEDULED. DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN OPENING THE UNLOCKED DOOR. THE CAR NOW STALLS …
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HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND TIRES NUMEROUS TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, EXCEPT FOR WHEN IT STARTS BLINKING(WILL BLINK 100 TIMES OR MORE BEFORE IT STAYS ILLUMINATED) MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED, MOST THINGS WERE REPLACED BEFORE SCHEDULED. DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN OPENING THE UNLOCKED DOOR. THE CAR NOW STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WANT TO START AT ALL. THE CAR DOES NOT IDLE CORRECTLY EVER, USUALLY ABOUT 300 RPMS. *JB
UBBER SEALING AROUND THE DOOR IS MELTING DURING HOT WEATHER, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
THICK BLACK SUBSTANCE LEAKS FROM BOTTOM OF BOTH DOORS. DEALER FAILED TO FIX AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS.*AK
Official recalls
100V421002 · 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.
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.