2009 Dodge AVENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING A 2009 DODGE AVENGER FROM NATIONAL CAR RENTAL (~11,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) AT 70 MPH ON A FLORIDA TOLL WAY, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR CONTACT WITH ANYTHING (ANIMAL, ROAD DEBRIS, ETC.), THE ROAD WAS FLAT AND STRAIGHT, AND THERE WERE NO CIRCUMSTANCES OR EVENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I WAS TALKING ON A CELL PHONE USING A BLUETOOTH HEADSET AT THE TIME AND HAD JUST MOVED MY BLACKBERRY, CROSSING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FORCE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG DEPLOYING …

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286959 at NHTSA ↗

CHROME PIECE AROUND AND ON SHIFTER REFLECT THE SUN INTO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FACE MAKING IT DIFFICULT/VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER HAS NOTHING TO PUT OVER OR EVEN REPLACE THESE PIECES. ON BRIGHT DAYS FOR A TWO HOUR TIME PERIOD THIS HAPPENS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340428 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLED BEGAN TO VIBRATE SPECIFICALLY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5546.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,546 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356960 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED A 2009 DODGE AVENGER IN APRIL OR MAY OF LAST YEAR AND IMMEDIATELY HAD TROUBLE WITH THUMPING WHEN USING BRAKES. TOOK TO DELEARSHIP AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND WITH BRAKES. MONTHS LATER BRAKE PEDAL STARTED FEELING SPONGY WOULD GO TO FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH BRAKES.. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10357759 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE FRONT END SHAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SO BAD THAT YOU HAVE TO HOLD IT TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS TO CONTROL THE CAR. NEW BRAKES 3 TIMES, ROTORS AND WHEELS HAVE BEEN PUT ON CAR IN THE PAST YEAR. NOTHING HAS FIXED IT. DODGE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. DODGE CASE#20420793 AND DEALER HAS REPLACED AND TURNED ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES NOTHING WORKS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10412235 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2009 DODGE AVENGER THAT IS OPERATING UNSAFELY. IT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, AND DOESN'T SLOW UNTIL I PRESS ON THE BRAKES! IT ALSO TO LURCHES FORWARD WHEN AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTING, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE EVEN HARDER WITH NEAR MISSES IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS. I INITIALLY WORKED WITH LA MESA DODGE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, POOR CUST SVC AND NO RESOLUTION, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HINE DODGE IN MISSION VALLEY, CA. THE SERVICE MGR AND SVC ADVISORS HAVE D…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,212 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413217 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND GETTING BACK TO SPEED AND HEARD A BANG. DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT INJURED AND INJURED NO-ONE ELSE. MY WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS SEVERLY CRACKED. NOW I'M BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD PLACE, MY INSURANCE SAYS THAT IT MAY NOT BE COVERED SINCE I DIDN'T COLLIDE WITH ANYONE, AND I'M OVER MY 36000 MILES BY 260 MILES. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE A DODGE AVENGER DO NOT IGNORE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, I COULD'VE KILLED NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT DAY AND BY SOME HI…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425232 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL AND BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE HARNESS AND THE FUEL PUMP. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,900.

Owner-reported narrative. 76,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442362 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-10-09 (October 9, 2008)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 712 MY 2009 SEBRING, DODGE CALIBER, AVENGER, JOURNEY, JEEP PATRIOT, AND COMPASS VEHICLES. A NEW ADHESIVE USED IN THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAN CAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO BREAK.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PCM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2009-02-04 (February 4, 2009)

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 91 MY 2009 SEBRING AND DODGE AVENGER EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L ENGINE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A COMPATIBILITY ISSUE BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SOFTWARE AND FUEL PUMP MODULE CAN RESULT IN THE FUEL GAUGE OVERSTATING THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK LEVEL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS STILL FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.