1997 Dodge AVENGER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
94,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 53 complaints (18.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 18.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 4; Wheels: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 41 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 | 9 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 16; 2002: 11; 2003: 1; 2004: 7; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10034432 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO THE PUMP MOTOR, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. *AK IF THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE LIGHT GOES OFF. WHEN HE STARTS THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS KICKS IN, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE PUMP MOTOR WAS CORRODED WHICH CAUSED ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. PROBLEM IS UNPREDICTABLE ON DRY OR WET PAVEMENT. FAILURE OCCURRED IN ICE OR SNOWY CONDITIONS. CONSUMER NOTED THE ABS FEATURE DIDN'T HAPPEN, THE BRAKES LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVEN MONTHS LATER WHEN DODGE DECIDED TO REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053850 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL CONCERNING LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS BECAUSE IT WAS A SALVAGE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070851 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE AVENGER SOME OF MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NOT FIXED I AM ABOUT TO GO BROKE. I HAVE MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES, BRAKES, AND ROTORS. THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF MY CAR IN SPOTS. MY TIRES WEAR FAST, MY AIRBAG IS LOOSE THE COVER ON IT. MY BRAKES ARE AWFUL I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM A LOT. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THERE IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS....
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070983 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
RECURING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION AND FAST WEAR, ALSO WITH SUSPENSION REPAIR, WAS TWICE QUOTED FOR A FULL REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION. HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ELECTICAL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVE REPLACED WIRES AND PLUGS 2-3 TIME PER YEAR. REPLACED ENGINE COIL ONCE TO FIX PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUGS ARCHING AND BURNING UP. PROBLEM WAS SOLVED TEMPORARILY. PROBLEM IS BACK 3 MONTHS LATER. CHUGGING AND SPUTTERING.
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072284 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE FRONT TIRES WERE SQUEALING AND BOUNCING SEVERELY. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT ROLLED INTO A DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074613 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
(1) 1997 DODGE AVENGER WAS DRIVEN (2) LEFT SIDE LOWER BALLJOINT FAILED (PULLED OUT OF LATERAL CONTROL ARM), WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT, CONTACTEDFENDER, PULLER AXLE OUT OF TRANSMISSION. THIS ALL HAPPENED AT PARKING LOT SPEED.*AK (3) CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOUSE THEN DODGE DEALER AFTER I LEARNED OF PREVIOUS RECALL ISSUES. DODGE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1,200 FOR REPAIRS (THAT INCLUDED PERHAPS FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS PENDING APPROVAL FROM CHRYSLER REP. CHRYSLER REP WAS A NO SHOW AND COULD NOT COMMIT TO A DAY THAT HE COULD INSPEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090088 · 2004-08-31 (August 31, 2004)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 45 MPH, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMAS. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER IN WRITING THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 139,805 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099783 · 2004-11-10 (November 10, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY DISCOLORATION THAT REDUCED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE LENS COULD NOT BE CLEANED OR REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS A SEALED UNIT. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS VERY COSTLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099783 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V421002 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V081002 · Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
Reported: 1997-08-08 (August 8, 1997)
THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗