Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Dodge Avenger problems

Owners filed 167 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Avenger with NHTSA between Sep 1995 and Mar 2016. The most-cited component is suspension (55).

Complaints
167
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension55
  2. Engine and engine cooling25
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic24
  4. Power train19
  5. Electrical system12
  6. Air bags10
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Steering8
  9. Seat belts8
  10. Exterior lighting7
  11. Visibility6
  12. Service brakes, air5
  13. Structure4
  14. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19953
199614
199715
199814
199928
200023
200123
200220
200310
20047
20055
20061
20073
20080
20090
20100
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20161

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

55 reports4 crashes2 related recalls
“I WAS DRIVING AND THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL LOWERBALL JOINT BROKE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CALLED DODGE DEALER.THEY SAID THEY FIX IT ONCE. THEY WON'T DO IT AGAIN. WELL IF THE PROBLEM STILL HAVING THEY NEED TO FIX IT RIGHT. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. NOW I WAS ON THE HWY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2016SuspensionODI 10839333

Engine and engine cooling

25 reports1 crash
“MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Power train, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10212385

Service brakes, hydraulic

24 reports2 crashes
“SINCE CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE HE HAS HAD TO HAVE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED NO LESS THAN TWENTY (20) TIMES DUE TO WARPING. WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP AND DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK CONSUMER HAD BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicODI 889640

Power train

19 reports4 crashes
“I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 DODGE AVENGER. I RECEIVED THIS CAR FROM MY FATHER. ON FEBRUARY 26 2004 AS I WAS LEAVING WORK, SOMETHING BROKE. UPON HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, I HAD TO HAVE THE CV SHAFT, AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY, REPLACED. THIS COST ME OUT OF POCKET, $629.45. THEN ON 10/1/04 I HAD TO HAVE THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED. WHICH COST ANOTHER $ 325.16. I NOW REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I ASKED MY FATHER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, IF HE WAS EVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND HE SAID NO. I AM UPSET NOW TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND I HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I AM ASKING IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO BE REIMBERSED FOR SOME OR ALL OF THE EXPENSE THAT I INCURRED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2005Suspension, Power trainODI 10111978

Electrical system

12 reports2 crashes2 fires
“ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED SIX TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORT IN WIRES. ALSO, THERMOSTAT HAS GONE OUT SIX TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2002Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 8014412

Air bags

10 reports9 crashes
“VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON AT ABOUT 35 MPH (EST.). NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S HEAD STRUCK AND SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. DRIVER'S FACE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOUTH AND SHOULDER. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AMAZING NO ONE WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. ALSO, I WOULD NOTICE THAT IF I WAS TRAVELING OVER ABOUT 40 MPH, THE CAR WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CAR WOULD SOMETIMES STALL WHEN STOPPED. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK INTO PARK BEFORE IT WOULD START. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SEEMED TO NOT BE FULLY SEALED AS IT ALWAYS HAD CONDENSATION INSIDE. NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SEEMED TO BE STICKING OUT AND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. I WONDER IF THIS CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. I KNOW I WAS NOT TOLD IT HAD BEEN. I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED THEY DO NOT MAKE AVENGERS ANYMORE. IS THERE A REASON FOR THIS. ARE THEY DANGEROUS. COULD SOMETHING HAVE CAUSED THIS CRASH OTHER THAN THE DRIVING OF THE DRIVER. I WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MY VIN NUMBER AS SOON AS I CAN GET IT. CAR IS IN STORAGE NOW.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2001Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 743215
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.