1995 Dodge Avenger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe front suspension problems, especially ball joints that wear or come apart, along with brake noise and vibration and a range of electrical gremlins at higher mileage. Many complaints center on the front lower ball joint recall campaigns and on whether the repair was actually performed. Reported mileages in the sample range widely, from near-new vehicles to well past 150,000 miles, so condition and service history matter more than age alone.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint wear or separation

   • 37 complaints (19%)
   • median 121,000 mi at 11.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2008

   Complaints describe the front lower ball joints popping, breaking or dropping out of their sockets, sometimes with the front of the car dropping to the ground and steering control lost. Several owners say the vehicle had been taken to a dealer for the ball joint recall but that the work was not done, or was done on only one side, or that the joints failed again after repair. Others report the part was on back order or that reimbursement was denied after they had the work done themselves. Reported across a wide mileage range, from fairly low mileage up to the 140,000-160,000 mile range, often noticed first as a popping or clunking sound.

   Recall 00V421002Recall 99V066003

   What to check: Ask for documentation that the lower ball joint recall work was completed on both sides, and have a shop inspect the boots and check for play or a popping noise before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ball joints on recall in 1999, had checked, did not fix , said was fine. On 4 28 01, ball joints fell out axle broke and tire fell off while driving...contacted chrslyer on recall part, was told mine was fine..just a ware item that needed to be replaced, now there is another recall on said part...chrslyer refused to fix mine in may of 01...now the same part I just had fixed is on recall..I spent a lot of time and money getting my car fixed and body damage has not been completed..my complaint is...chrysler is at fault and should be held …”

   NHTSA complaint #745974, filed 2001-05

   “Dt: the caller received a recall letter concerning lower ball joint failure. She took the vehicle to dealer last wednesday, and the dealer had it for a week and nothing was done to the vehicle. She called the dealer every day. They told her they were waiting for a manager to approve the work. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10137054, filed 2005-09, 159,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake noise, vibration and locking

   • 19 complaints (10%)
   • median 104,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Owners describe squealing and knocking noises when braking, grinding, and rotors that needed turning or replacement with the problem returning shortly after. Some complaints mention the brake pedal going soft and sinking toward the floor, pulling to one side, or brakes that lock up briefly and release, sometimes with a longer than expected stopping distance. Shops and dealers are described as unable to reproduce or find the cause in several cases. Spread across the sample with no single mileage cluster; several reports come in under 130,000 miles, and some owners say the noise was present soon after purchase.

   What to check: Have the brakes inspected for rotor condition, pad wear and any pulling or pedal softness, and ask whether rotors or calipers have been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brakes inadvertantly lock up for just a couple seconds then release. This has happened 3 times. I have taken it to a local shop and they could't find anything wrond”

   NHTSA complaint #10068731, filed 2004-01, 104,000 miles

   “Brakes continue to make noise; front brakes replaced -- still noise; while stopped at a red light, the transmission acted as though it was in neutral -- had to wait for it to re-engage in gear. The glove box just fell out -- the hinge pin was made of plastic and disintigrated. The front bumper section has separated and is falling off -- this is a plastic piece that encompasses the entire front of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #703814, filed 1999-02
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine stalling and intermittent no-start

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or stalling while driving, difficulty restarting after shutoff, and dash or headlights flashing when the problem occurs, with the air conditioning and cruise control dropping out at the same time. One owner was told the engine computer needed replacement after a diagnostic showed nothing. Others link hard starting and stalling to water being drawn into the air intake on rainy days. Mostly described on higher-mileage vehicles, with reports from around 100,000 up to 170,000 miles, and several owners tie it to wet weather.

   What to check: Ask whether the engine computer or ignition components have been replaced, and check for a consistent start and idle on a test drive, ideally on a wet day.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine light comes on, car stalls and dies now wont start, when driving on rainy day car sucks water into the air filter and into the engine, dash lights flash.”

   NHTSA complaint #10168537, filed 2006-09, 170,000 miles

   “Car repeateadly stalls, won't stay running on start up. Engine skips or cuts out while driving. When it acts up at night headlights, dash lights flash bright, idiot lights flash on. When doing this A/C cuts out and so does cruise control. Car bucks so bad that it feels like car was hit. If it does it on takeoff from a light it looks like I'm driving a stick and car is automatic.”

   NHTSA complaint #758055, filed 2002-02
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag non-deployment in a crash

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe front air bags that did not deploy in frontal collisions, including one at highway speed, and one case where the bags deployed without a collision and obscured the driver's view. Owners also mention seat belts that failed to hold or retracted too far. Reported across various mileages and mostly tied to crash events rather than a common pre-failure symptom.

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light behaves normally on startup (comes on then goes out) and that the seat belts latch and retract properly; a dealer scan can confirm the system has no stored faults.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was driving vehicle and she stopped at a yield sign . Consumer's child was strapped in the middle of the vehicle in the back seat. When consumer went around the corner, car seat fell on the side of the seat because the seat belt broke.”

   NHTSA complaint #856859, filed 2000-02

   “Oversensitive air bag deployment, failure on the driver's and passenger's side air bags, consumer was not involved in a collision and the air bags deployed, causing driver to lose sight of road and veer off, mount sidewalk, hit tree.”

   NHTSA complaint #804167, filed 1996-10

Buying note. Before buying, get the front suspension and brakes inspected and confirm the lower ball joint recall work was actually done on both sides, since those are the most common themes in owner complaints. Expect minor electrical and interior wear items on a car this old, and budget for repairs accordingly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.