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Dodge AvengerModel year report

1997 Dodge Avenger Problems

Complaints
83filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
94,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 18 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Dodge Avenger (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about front-end suspension parts and brake vibration, usually on cars with well over 90,000 miles. A smaller but very consistent group describes airbags that did not deploy in frontal or offset impacts, and several owners report head gasket leaks on the 2.0 engine. The complaints read as wear-and-repair stories accumulated over many years rather than one sudden failure mode.

  1. Suspension

    Lower ball joint / control arm failure

    • 17 complaints (20%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1998–2005

    Owners describe clunking or rattling from the front end, then a ball joint pulling out of the lower control arm, sometimes with the wheel folding into the fender and the axle pulling out of the transmission. Many say the work was done under a recall but the noise or the failure came back, and some report the dealer inspected rather than replaced the part or said the part number was not covered. Complaints also describe creaking and alignment problems after recall service. Often reported above 80,000 miles, though some failures are described at parking-lot speeds and after earlier recall repairs.

    Recall 00V421002

    What to check: Ask for documentation of the lower ball joint and control arm recall work, including whether parts were replaced or only inspected, and have the front end checked for play and torn boots before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “(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. (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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10074613, filed 2004-06, 85,000 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10072284, filed 2004-05, 100,000 miles
  2. Brakes

    Front brake pulsation and rotor warping

    • 19 complaints (23%)
    • median 93,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 1997–2004

    Owners describe a pulsing or vibrating brake pedal and shaking steering wheel when braking, sometimes with grinding or squealing, and say pads and rotors were replaced or resurfaced repeatedly without a lasting fix. Several complaints say the dealer called the behavior normal for the design or declined further warranty work. A few describe the pedal going toward the floor and longer stopping distances. Reported from low mileage up to about 145,000 miles, with several owners describing repeat rotor work within short intervals.

    What to check: Drive and brake firmly from highway speed to feel for pulsation, and ask for brake service records showing whether rotors were replaced or only turned.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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....”

    NHTSA complaint #10070851, filed 2004-01, 93,000 miles

    “I have had problems with the brakes since I purchased the car two years ago. I have had them repaired several times with no luck in improvement. They function fine, but feel 'soft' and they pulsate. The last time I had them fixed, the dealer replaced the pads with chrysler pads and turned the rotors. They still did not feel they way they were supposed to feel. ** as far as the AC, when I push the button to use the AC and turn the dial to 'cold', hot air still comes out of the vents as if the heat is still on.”

    NHTSA complaint #748027, filed 2001-07
  3. Air bags

    Airbags not deploying in a crash

    • 12 complaints (14%)
    • median 124,402 mi at 7.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1998–2005

    Owners describe frontal and offset collisions at roughly 30 to 60 mph in which neither front airbag deployed, with injuries reported in several cases. Some say the manufacturer replied in writing that deployment was not expected given the impact angle or force, and others report the airbag cover sitting loose or lifting from the dash. Reported across a wide mileage range, with several complaints filed after collisions at moderate speeds.

    What to check: Check that the airbag warning lamp behaves normally on startup and have the system scanned for stored fault codes; also look at the dash for a loose or lifted airbag cover.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10090088, filed 2004-08, 139,805 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10113524, filed 2005-04, 109,000 miles
  4. Engine cooling

    Head gasket leaks (2.0 engine)

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report coolant or oil leaks traced to the head gasket, in some cases nearly running the engine out of oil, and say the dealer confirmed a gasket problem but treated it as outside warranty. A few say a replacement gasket did not restore smooth running, and some owners link the leak to a known gasket material issue. Reported from roughly 70,000 to 110,000 miles, including on cars described as regularly maintained.

    What to check: Check coolant and oil condition for mixing or a sweet smell, look for seepage at the head-to-block joint, and ask whether the head gasket has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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).”

    NHTSA complaint #10177025, filed 2006-12, 70,999 miles

    “This should be a recall. I have low miles on my car & their should be no reason why my head gasket needs to be replaced. I have my car serviced for oil changes on a regular basis. I read people's complaints & the amount of people that had to replace their head gasket is riduculous. This should definantely be a re call. I contacted cyrsler but it seems they cannot be bothered. I also found that the Dodge neons have the same problem. I don't understand why crysler does not look into this further. Their are numerous complaints.”

    NHTSA complaint #756619, filed 2002-01
  5. Exterior lighting

    Cloudy or moisture-filled headlight lenses

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe moisture or a milky haze inside the sealed headlight units that dulls the beam, with dealers quoting a full assembly replacement per side as the only fix. Some say the car is hard to drive at night without using high beams. Noted at mileages from about 6,000 up to 54,000, often soon after purchase or in wet weather.

    What to check: Inspect both headlight lenses in daylight and at night for haze or droplets, and confirm whether the assemblies have already been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10110190, filed 2005-02, 6,000 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #768238, filed 2002-10

Buying note. Treat front suspension and brake condition as the priority on this model year: ask for recall and service paperwork on the lower ball joints and check for brake pulsation on a test drive. Also check headlight clarity and look for head gasket seepage before purchase.

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.

NHTSA recorded 83 consumer complaints for the 1997 Dodge Avenger. 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 17% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 94,500 miles. Of all complaints, 15 involved a crash, 19 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 8 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (3), Tires (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Equipment (2), Other or unknown (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10070983, filed 2004-01, 140,000 miles

Brakes: “Abs brake system failed due to the pump motor, causing loss of braking power. 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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10034432, filed 2003-12, 82,000 miles

Air bags: “Consumer was traveling at approximately 35 MPH and broadsided vehicle. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, causing serious neck/back, and shoulder injuries. Also, vehicle was totaled. Manufacturer claimed airbags worked properly by not deploying , the impact was 30 degrees away from head on, and did not create 17g of force in order for airbags to deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #870812, filed 2000-09

Engine cooling: “Problem 1: since july '98, I have observed (smelled) noxious fumes -not your typical sulphuric rotten egg smell-when I accelerate,usually above 40mph. The smell is outside the car,but in summer and warm months it's quite overpowering with the windows down. I have taken it in at least 3 times for this problem, the service dept. Says they can't do anything about it-it's normal -I understand some sulphuric smell, but this is not acceptable or normal ! …”

NHTSA complaint #701670, filed 1998-12

Mileage when problems were reported

17% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 82,000 and 109,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–258%25–508%50–7533%75–10042%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 94,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

19971999200116200320052012
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Dodge Avenger. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Avenger · coupe not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 Dodge Avenger version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Avenger FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual192923$2,900
Avenger FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182721$3,200
Avenger FWD2.5L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182520$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1997 Dodge Avenger → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 8 on record; the latest 8 are shown.

Other model years of the Dodge Avenger

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201420550,000142345 · TypicalFalling
201354871,000542396 · MoreFalling
201255470,000342390 · MoreFalling
201120978,0003—2350 · TypicalFalling
201016375,0003—2243 · TypicalFalling
20096779,5002—220 · FewerFalling
200883270,0006—22100 · MoreFalling
20002254,4371—20—Stable
19996264,1001—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19985883,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19978394,5002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1996157128,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995196109,4782—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Dodge Avenger model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Avenger?

Owners of this model year most often write about front-end suspension parts and brake vibration, usually on cars with well over 90,000 miles. The issues reported most often: Lower ball joint / control arm failure; Front brake pulsation and rotor warping; Airbags not deploying in a crash.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Dodge Avenger have?

NHTSA recorded 83 consumer complaints for the 1997 Dodge Avenger as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Dodge Avenger is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 19 complaints (23% of the total), followed by brakes with 18.

Has the 1997 Dodge Avenger been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Dodge Avenger get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Dodge Avenger (Avenger, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Dodge Avenger reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 94,500 miles and the middle half falls between 82,000 and 109,000 miles; 17% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.