1997 Dodge Avenger

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Defect. CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.

Risk. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.

Defect. CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.

Risk. 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.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE RIMS. I AM ABOUT TO RETIRE MY THIRD WHEEL FROM THIS CAR. THE WHEEL LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT JUST CAN'T HOLD AIR DUE TO THE RIM BENDING RIGHT AT THE BEAD OR OUTER RIM. THE RIM IN QUESTION IS A 17 INCH SILVER RIM ON THE 97 AVENGER. IT BENDS WAY TOO EASILY. THIS CAR BELONGED TO MY DAUGHTER AND WE STARTED ENCOUNTERING THE BENT RIM'S LOSING AIR WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE INITIALLY DROVE THE CAR ONLY TO SCHOOL AND BACK...8 MILES A DAY. I BOUGHT A NEW RIM, ONLY TO HAVE ANOTHER FACTORY RIM GO BAD FOR THE SAME REASON. I SUSPECT I NOW HAVE A THIRD WHEEL GOING BAD ON ME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE TO SUCH POOR QUALITY SOLD ON NEW CARS. (EVEN THOUGH THE YEAR SOLD WAS 1997). *TR

I OWN A 1997 DODGE AVENGER I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IT HAS THE 2.0 DOHC 4 CYL ENGINE THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING ON IT AND I ALMOST RAN IT OUT OF OIL. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT HEAD GASKET FROM THE MANUFACTURE ON THIS TYPE OF ENGINE MY CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND HAS REAL LOW MILEAGE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW MILES IS (71,000). *NM

1997 DODGE AVENGER HOOD POPPED UP SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THE HOOD TO IMPROPERLY LATCH DOWN. *JB

AFTER RECALL 967 CONTROL ARM REPAIRS, WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE FRONT LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM. *BF

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT IN THE DASH. THE AIR BAG IS LIFTING ABOUT ONE INCH ABOVE THE DASH . THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THE REPAIR WILL BE THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *JB *NM

1997 DODGE AVENGER RAN INTO A TREE AFTER BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE AXEL TO BREAK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE BALL JOINT RECALL WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BADLY INJURED BUT IS ON MUSCLE RELAXANTS FOR WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR ARE SO FOGGED OVER (MILKY) THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. IN THE EVENT THAT I DO DRIVE AT NIGHT I MUST USE MY HIGH BEAMS, BUT IT IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. *JB

CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. RECEIVED RECALL 967 AND DEALER DID NOT USE ANY PARTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *BF THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT DAMAGED. PRIOR TO THE RECALL NOTICE THE CONSUMER HAD THE BALL JOINT REPLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE OTHER BALL JOINT REPLACED, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. *JB

HEAD GASKET BLEW UP IN MY 1997 DODGE AVENGER..CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REVEALED THEY ALREADY KNEW THE GASKET WAS IN DEFAULT BUT WERE ONLY REPAIRING THEM AS THE COMPLAINTS CAME IN . THEY REFUSED TO DO A RECALL . THEY INSTALLED A SO CALLED "NEW HEAD GASKET" BUT CAR HAS NEVER RUN GOOD SINCE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYMORE TO IT.*AK

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

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

(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 INSPECT THE CAR. I REPAIRED THE CAR MYSELF (NEW LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, A REBUILT AXLE, AND TRANSMISSION OIL. I NOTIFIED CHRYSLER OF THE ABOVE EVENTS. THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR PARTS (NAPA PARTS). THEY OFFERED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS AND AXLE. I ALREADY PAID FOR THEM AT NAPA. I STILL NEED TO TAKE IT FOR AN ALIGNMENT.

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

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....

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.

DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL CONCERNING LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS BECAUSE IT WAS A SALVAGE VEHICLE. *AK

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

WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IT HAD 53,925 MILES. I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD SOME TYPE OF HAZE (OR MOISTURE) INSIDE OF THEM. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE LIGHTS ARE A SEALED UNIT AND THAT IF I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES THEY WOULD BE $325 EACH. THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IS NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE AN EYE SORE, BUT THAT THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE MOISTURE ON MY HEADLIGHTS NEVER GOES AWAY. THEREFORE, AFFECTING THE BRILLIANCE OF THE LIGHT EMITTING FROM THE BULB. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH-BEAMS ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ONLY MY VEHICLE. I SEE MOISTURE INSIDE OF ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE AVENGERS I PASS ON THE ROAD. THE COVERAGE OVER THE HEADLIGHT LENSES JUST GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES BY. THE LIGHT EMITTING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMES DIMMER AND DIMMER. WITH REGULAR BEAMS AT NIGHT, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVERYTHING A DRIVER IS SUPPOSED TO. THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. PAYING $750 TO FIX A MANUFACTURERS' SAFETY DEFECT IS NOT REASONABLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. MR

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A CONCRETE WALL AT 60 MPH IMPACT, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK