Dodge Avenger Complaints

3,172 consumer complaints on file.

#10050749December 18, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I LOVE MY CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT HAD 40 THOUSAND MILES ON IT, IN SEPT 2002. IN THE MONTH OF AUG. 2003 I CAME BACK HOME FROM IRAQ AFTER 7 MONTHS AND FOUND THAT MOST OF THE CLEARCOAT ON MY BLACK AVENGER ON THE TOP PANELS (HOOD, TOP, TRUNK) OF MY CAR WAS GONE. WHEN I LEFT THERE WAS ONLY A FEW SURFACE SCRATCHES ON THE CAR, THAT USUALLY BUFFED OUT. NOW MY CAR LOOKS LIKE ?!@#$% AND THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP ME OR THE MANUFACTURE. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE BLACK PAINT JOBS IN 2000, BUT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE I'VE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM. I LOVE DODGE BUT THIS IS THE LAST ONE ME OR ANYBODY IN MY FAMILY WILL EVER PURCHASE IF I DON'T GET SOME KIND OF HELP WITH THIS DEFECT. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND IT LOOKS LIKE ITS 25 YEARS OLD. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS BEFORE I DEPLOYED. IF THIS IS NOT A DEFECT THEN THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME A CAR THAT HAD BEEN IN A WRECK OR SOMETHING AND LIED TO ME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034432December 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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 REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR $300. DOLLARS LESS DUE TO THE APPROACHING WINTER. CONSUMER FEELS THE DEFECT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S FAULT AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045480November 5, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
IF MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A RECALL, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE "DIAGNOSED" TO SEE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE INSPECTED IT AND KNOW THAT THE "BALL JOINT" RECALL FOR MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043389October 22, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE CAR (1996 DODGE AVENGER ES) WAS IN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL OFF THE CAR AND NEEDED REPLACED AT A COST OF $260. I ASKED IF THIS WAS THE SAME BALL JOINT THAT WAS COVERED IN AN EARLIER RECALL. AFTER A LONG PAUSE, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS, AND THAT THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT (FIX AT NO COST TO ME). A SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A WEEK LATER. THE CAR WENT IN, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD A CLANKING NOISE WHEN EVER I HIT A BUMP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I INSPECTED THE CAR MYSELF AND FOUND A LARGE CRACK IN THE FRAME AROUND THE FRONT-MOST UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BOLT ON THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT TOWER. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE WRITER REMARKED BOY, THAT IS THE LARGEST CRACK I'VE EVER SEEN. YOU SHOULDNT DRIVE THAT CAR BECAUSE THE WHEEL COULD FALL OFF. I SUPPOSE THE BALL JOINTS BEING BAD AND HAMMERING THE SUSPENSION CAUSED THAT [FRAME] TO CRACK. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE WRITER HAD NO ANSWER WHEN ASKED HOW THEY MISSED THE CRACK DURING THE WORK ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM THE DAY BEFORE. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE DEALERSHIP GENERAL MANAGER, AND TO THE DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER; NO ONE AT DODGE WOULD FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS CAUSED THE STRESS CRACK OR THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARM; DESPITE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR SEBRINGS AND AVENGERS WITH VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE CRACK IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. IT HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN, HOWEVER I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLED BY DODGE AND THE DEALER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043153October 18, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1998 DODGE AVENGER ES. WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER,S DOOR THE ENTIRE HANDLE SNAPPED OFF AND WAS IN MY HAND. CHEAP PLASTIC MECHANISM. HAVE TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. VERY INCONVENIENT. HAVE CALL INTO A COUPLE MECHANICS AND DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIR ESTIMATES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041580October 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS GETTING ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN I NOTICED MY RPM WERE AROUND 5000 AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I REALIZED THE TRANSMISSION HAD LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE JUNK A604/41TE TRANSMISSION THAT CHRYSLER MADE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040628September 25, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES LOCKED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040490September 24, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL#00V421002 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. A PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038068September 3, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
HEADLIGHT LIGHT PLASTIC COVER CHANGES COLOR AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT LESSENS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LIGHT. COVER HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE CLEANED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037792August 27, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE DRIVING AND AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026381August 15, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE AND WENT BACKWARDS. THE SEAT ONLY LOCKED ALL THE WAY BACK OR ALL THE WAY FORWARD. *AK THE CONSUMER LEANED BACK TO RETRIEVE HIS DEBIT CARD FROM HIS FRONT POCKET, AND THE DRIVER SIDE FSB RECLINE BROKE AWAY FROM THE GOLD BOLTS AND ALSO THE WELD TO THE FSB TUBE ASSEMBLY. (TIRE-GT-H M-S) *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10032691August 12, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRONT SEATS IN MY 1999, DODGE, AVENGER, PROBABLY DEALING WITH FAULTY WELDS IN THE FRAME.*AK ON JULY 1, 2003, AFTER HAVING THE SEAT LEANED FORWARD TO ACCESS THE BACK SEAT, I RETURNED THE SEAT TO ITS NORMAL UPRIGHT LOCKED POSITION. HOWEVER, THE SEAT CONTINUED TO RECLINE FARTHER THAN ITS PROPER LOCKED POSITION (I KEEP IT AT ROUGHLY AN 80-DEGREE ANGLE, AND IT IMPROPERLY RECLINED TO ROUGHLY A 65-DEGREE ANGLE). I CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THE FRAME LIKELY BENT, AND THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $450 (FOR PARTS) PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE IT. HE SUGGESTED INSTALLING A USED SEAT AS A REPLACEMENT TO SAVE MONEY, WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED AND AM HOPING TO INSTALL SOON. WHEN I WROTE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT OR REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF ITS THREE-YEAR WARRANTY (THE CAR IS JUST UNDER FOUR YEARS OLD AND HAS ROUGHLY 54,000 MILES ON IT). NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR RESPONSE. TODAY, I WAS IN MY CAR AND REACHED FOR MY WALLET. A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE SEAT, AND IT RECLINED FULLY. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND HAVE COME UP WITH AT LEAST TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE WHERE A GENTLEMAN REACHED FOR HIS WALLET AND THE SEAT RECLINED (HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/DODGE_AVENGER.HTM) AND ONE WHERE A GENTLEMAN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIS SEAT RECLINED (HTTP://MEMBERS.AOL.COM/_HT_A/GRNCAMARO/OWNERSE8.HTM). I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND I WANT CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030116July 24, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE "INNER" LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE COMPONENT. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 75000 MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE OUTER CONTROL ARM, BUT NOT THE INNER ONE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026052July 14, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON MY CAR - 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 35,000 MILES. 8AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025931July 12, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025876July 11, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024963June 25, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING GAS PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL IT OUT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021374June 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 11/01. I WAS INFORMED BY A DODGE TECH THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO GO "OUT" AROUND 50,000 MILES. I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM NUMEROUS DODGE OWNERS AND MECHANICS. AT 52,874 THE TRANSMISSION QUIT SHIFTING AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT THAT I PURCHASED WITH THE CAR. THE CONTRACT WAS WITH AN OUTSIDE COMPANY. THE CONTRACT COMPANY WHEN CALLED ABOUT REPAIRS ALSO STATED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DODGE/CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 2 WEEKS AWAITING PARTS AND REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022098June 3, 2003
SUSPENSION
NHTSA#99-V-066-003 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. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDE RRECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019801May 27, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT
STRUTS, LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS AND HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AS A RESULT OF RECALL 00V421002 REPAIRS. MR *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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