1999 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.

I AM A AUTO MECHANIC AND UNFORTUNATELY OWN A 1999 DODGE AVENGER 2.5L V6 AUTO. THE ENGINE IS JUNK. IT HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT MISFIRE SINCE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. CHRYSLER KNOWS THEY PUT A FAULTY CAMSHAFT SENSOR INSIDE THE DISTRIBUTOR SO WHEN IT DOES FAIL WHICH IT DOES IN EVERY 6 CYCLE AVENGER, THE STEALERSHIP TRIES TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT THE SENSOR CANNOT BE REPLACED AND YOU HAVE TO GET A NEW DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY CHARGE $ 1500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. YOU CAN'T BUY ONE ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CAM SENSOR PROBLEM AND THEY DO THIS INTENTIONALLY TO GET YOU TO SPEND MONEY ON CHRYSLER PARTS. THEY PUT THE CAM SENSOR IN THE DISTRIBUTOR BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FROM THE IGNITION COIL WOULD CAUSE THE SENSOR TO FAIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES MORE AND MORE THE WORSE THE SENSOR GETS. THAT IS JUST THE START OF THE ENGINE PROBLEMS. ONCE THE CAM SENSOR FAILS THE TIMING GETS OFFSET AND OVER TIME CAUSES THE VALVES TO GET BENT BY THE PISTONS, AFTER THAT IT'S BYE BYE HEADS AND NO CAR UNLESS YOU BUY A BETTER CAR. IF THEY WOULD PUT THE CAM SENSOR WHERE IT BELONGS, I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS. CHEVY FROM NOW ON. *TR

1999 DODGE AVENGER AUTOMATIC: WONT SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR-RPMS REV UP AND DO NOT SHIFT IN NEXT GEAR ALSO ALARM SYSTEM -HORN, LIGHTS ALL GO ON FOR NO REASON. *TR

THE 1999 DODGE AVENGER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY WORK WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND WAS TOLD IF I WOULD OF BEEN DRIVING I WOULD OF BEEN KILLED, THE FIRE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I FILED REPORT WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE INVESTIGATED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF THEIR INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHT COVER BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO GET PROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09E025000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE HEADLIGHTS SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

SEVERAL 'NEAR' ACCIDENTS BEFORE WE WERE MADE AWARE THAT OUR 99 DODGE AVENGER REAR LIGHTING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TAIL & BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND (OR) STAY LIT ALL THE TIME AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. HAD TO HAVE THE "ACTIVATOR CONNECTIONS" REPAIRED, BATTERIES CONSTANTLY BEING DRAINED/REPLACED, FRONT FOG LIGHTING BURNED OUT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS/REPLACED. WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CARS "WIRING WAS PULLING MORE VOLTAGE THAN IT SHOULD". HAD TO REMOVE FUSES TO AC, ETC... TO PREVENT BATTERIES FROM BEING DRAINED. REPAIRED AGAIN ON 10/15/08 AND NOW EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTING. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE AVENGER. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004 AND I HAD THE HEADS DONE ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP IN 2005 AND IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T CHANGE INTO SECOND UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE O2 SENSORS KEEP GOING OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS COMING ON. I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS CAR NOR CAN I AFFORD A NEW CAR. THE BRAKES KEEP WEARING OUT. I AM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT THIS CAR THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS ARE OUT. THE HALF SHAFT IS MESSED UP AGAIN. I NEED SO HELP WITH SOME OF THIS REPAIRS. CHRYSLER AND DODGE KNEW THESE CARS WEREN'T MADE RIGHT NOW THEY NEED TO HELP THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST 5 WHEEL LUGS. EVERYTIME I HAVE MY TIRES TAKEN OFF FOR REPLACEMENT OR ROTATION OR TO REPLACE MY BRAKE PADS, ETC. A LUG WILL BREAK DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WAY THE LUGS WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THESE REPLACEMENTS AND IT ISN'T CHEAP. I THINK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PART OR HOW IT WAS INSTALLED. *TR

HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION CASING IS CRACKED AND LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL. THIS WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END, WHERE THERE WAS NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING TOWARD THE LEFT. ALSO, INCLUDED IN DEFECTIVE RIM SETTLEMENT CLASS ACTION MATTER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED AND THEREFORE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE POLICE OFFICER EXPRESSED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND EXPLAINED FOR THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. *NM UPDATED 6/30/2006 - *NM

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE AVENGER ES WITH 17" SILVER 5-SPOKE ALUMINUM RIMS. I LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT 3 OF THE 4 RIMS ARE BENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. IN ADDITION, THE CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING OFF ALL THE RIMS IN 2000.*AK CAR BEGAN VIBRATING AND DRIVING STRANGELY FEBRUARY OF 2005. I HAD THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM, PASSENGER HUB ASSEMBLY AND PASSENGER DRIVESHAFT REPLACED. CAR DRIVES BETTER NOW, BUT VIBRATION CONTINUES. BROUGHT CAR TO A WHEEL SHOP THIS WEEK TO REPAIR A 5TH BENT RIM I GOT FOR USE AS A FULL SIZE SPARE. WHEEL SHOP BALANCED THE 4 WHEELS ON THE CAR AND NOTIFIED ME THAT 3 OF THE 4 ORIGINAL WHEELS ARE "OUT OF TRUE" WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE VIBRATION. THEY ATTRIBUTE THIS TO EXTREMELY SOFT ALUMINUM USED IN THE RIMS' CONSTRUCTION. UPON CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 17" WHEELS MADE BY ENKEI? AND FOUND ON THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, DODGE AVENGER AND CHRYSLER SEBRING BETWEEN 1997 AND 2001. SOME WEBSITES REFERRING TO THIS ISSUE WERE: HTTP://WWW.SSHWLAW.COM/PRESS.PHP?CID=0172 AND HTTP://WWW.MITSUBISHISUCKS.COM/CARS/CLASS/RIMS/ECLIPSE/ . *AK

THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL 00V421000 DUE TO THEIR DATA BASE, THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NEVER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL BECAUSE SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. *JB RECORDS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO OWNER. *SC *JB

NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT EXCEPT TO DISCONNECT SENSORS... JB

WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED IN FRONT AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES. REPORTED. INSURANCE CO. TOTALLED VEHICLE. *AK *NM

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 800 RPM'S TO 4500 RPM'S WITHIN SECONDS. THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE INPUT/OUTPUT SENSOR REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION RECURRED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR HEAD INJURIES DUE TO THE HEAD HITTING THE SUN VISOR. *AK

THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON MY 1999 DODGE AVENGER WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY (LESS THAN 10,000 MILES). I HAVE READ TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS: A MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE SENSOR IS KEEPING THE BRAKES ENGAGED SLIGHTLY AND CREATING EXCESS HEAT AND WEAR; THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE (A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER AND LIGHTER CAR THEN THE AVENGER) AND ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE BRAKING NEEDS OF THE AVENGER. IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS AND MANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE COMPLAINT SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SEBRING AND AVENGER MODELS. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT COVER UPS MITSUBISHI IS ACCUSED OF PERPETRATING REGARDING RECALLS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS ISSUE BE MADE PUBLIC AND THAT BOTH DODGE AND MITSUBISHI WORK TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *LA

IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING THE DOORS. *AK

THE CLEAR COAT PELLED OFF AND MADE MILKY WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER THE ROOF AND TRUNK

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