1999 Dodge AVENGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 56 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 32.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 17.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 5 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 5; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 5; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 15; 2002: 6; 2003: 10; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008431 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082394 · 2004-07-21 (July 21, 2004)
THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON MY 1999 DODGE AVENGER WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY (LESS THAN 10,000 MILES). I HAVE READ TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: A MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE SENSOR IS KEEPING THE BRAKES ENGAGED SLIGHTLY AND CREATING EXCESS HEAT AND WEAR; THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE (A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER AND LIGHTER CAR THEN THE AVENGER) AND ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE BRAKING NEEDS OF THE AVENGER. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS AND MANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE COMPLAINT SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEBRING AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014278 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016972 · 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE AVENGER SPORT (2.5L AUTO). AT 48,000 MILES THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (INFAMOUS A604 TRANSMISSION). DODGE REFUSED A GOODWILL REPAIR, THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I FEEL THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH BARELY ANY MILEAGE TO REQUIRE A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR A604/41TE TRANSMISSION (LOOK TO BBS.ASOG.NET UNDER TRANSMISSION FORUM). I ALSO KNOW THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE GOING BACK TO IT'S…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722716 · 2000-05-15 (May 15, 2000)
MULTIPLE REPAIRS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE. HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE 6 TIMES AND CONTINUES TO BE A MYSTERY.. REPLACED PARTS, AND STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. STALLS, STUTTERS, AND JERKS VICIOUSLY WHEN IN DRIVE. WILL STALL AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. CONSTANT PROBLEMS AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE... FEEL VERY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY BUYING THIS VEHICLE AND GETTING NO SATISFACTION FROM DODGE AT ALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283154 · 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
SEVERAL 'NEAR' ACCIDENTS BEFORE WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT OUR 99 DODGE AVENGER REAR LIGHTING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TAIL & BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND (OR) STAY LIT ALL THE TIME AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. HAD TO HAVE THE "ACTIVATOR CONNECTIONS" REPAIRED, BATTERIES CONSTANTLY BEING DRAINED/REPLACED, FRONT FOG LIGHTING BURNED OUT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS/REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CARS "WIRING WAS PULLING MORE VOLTAGE THAN IT SHOULD". HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO AC, ETC... TO PREVENT BATTERIES FROM BEING DRAINED. REPAIRED…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352699 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
THE 1999 DODGE AVENGER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY WORK WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND WAS TOLD IF I WOULD OF BEEN DRIVING I WOULD OF BEEN KILLED, THE FIRE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I FILED REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE INVESTIGATED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF THEIR INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 88,291 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159853 · 2006-06-14 (June 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED FOR THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. *NM UPDATED 6/30/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173212 · 2006-11-11 (November 11, 2006)
HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING IS CRACKED AND LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END, WHERE THERE WAS NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING TOWARD THE LEFT. ALSO, INCLUDED IN DEFECTIVE RIM SETTLEMENT CLASS ACTION MATTER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173212 at NHTSA ↗