1999 Dodge AVENGER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10009268 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE DRIVER SEATS BACK WELDING HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME, WITH THE BOLT STILL TIGHTENED. WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING BACKWARDS. *JB *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009268 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 10015469 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
NAR 04/07/2003 THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AS FOLLOWS THE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT STRUTS, DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND AS A RESULT A NEW SET OF TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. TO DATE TWO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED SAFETY RECALL# 827 AND #967 AND THE MOTOR COMPANY DECLARED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. AFTER HAVING SPENT OVER $700.00 IN REPAIRS THE CONSUMER IS DISGRACED AND WANTS THE PROBLEM REVIEWED ALSO HAVE ASSISTANCE IN PAYING FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A DEFECT. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015469 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 10020011 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
WHILE THE CONSUMER SAT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. *NLM *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025876 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 63,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025931 · 2003-07-12 (July 12, 2003)
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 TR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025931 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 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 ↗