1998 Dodge Avenger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe lower ball joints and control arms that wore out or failed, and many of these complaints mention the recall for those parts. Bent wheels and tire failures, airbags that did not deploy in collisions, brake pulsing or lock-up, and door handles that broke are the next most common themes. Mileage is usually high where it is given, with ball joint complaints mostly between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles, while brake complaints often describe service at about 9,000 to 10,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Lower ball joints and control arms fail or wear out

   • 15 complaints (26%)
   • median 84,500 mi at 6.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners describe lower ball joints and control arms that wore out, made clunking noises, or broke, sometimes while driving at 35 to 55 miles per hour. Several complaints describe a wheel that came off or nearly fell off, a vehicle that spun, and joints that failed again soon after a recall repair. According to complaints, the dealer sometimes denied that the failure was related to the recall or refused service, and some owners say they paid for repairs themselves. Where mileage is given, these complaints mostly fall between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 00V421002

   What to check: Ask whether the recall 00V421002 inspection or repair has been completed and whether the lower ball joints show play or wear. During a test drive, listen for clunking over bumps and when turning, and check the front wheels for play.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I recently had my front-end ball joints replaced on my 1998 Dodge Avenger at ken nelson auto plaza in dixon, il. This problem was a recall I had done already in may of 2001. Recall #967 from NHTSA. They were suppose to put newly designed lateral arm ball joints on my vehicle at that time. The new ball joints didn't last one year and 8 months. I was told I had to pay for the repair this time, for which I did. The cost was $312.60. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10004996, filed 2003-01, 60,000 miles

   “I was driving on the highway when all of a sudden it felt like I had a blowout. I began to slow down and pull over and front driver side tire broke. I skidded to a stop on the side of the road. I got out of the car, looked at the wheel, and it was facing toward the sky. Lucky for me this happened on a sunday morning with very limited traffic, or it could have be fatal. I had the car towed to a shop, and they said the ball joint and axle broke, the front tires were ruined, and the driver's side wheel needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10190092, filed 2007-05, 120,100 miles
2. 2
   Wheels

   Wheels bend or tires fail, including blowouts

   • 13 complaints (22%)
   • median 114,800 mi at 9.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2011

   Owners describe alloy wheels bending or cracking after potholes or ordinary driving, sometimes on several wheels, and tires that lost air or failed with tread separation or sidewall blowouts. Some complaints describe a tire going flat without warning or pulling away from the rim. In some cases a technician found nothing wrong with the tires, while the rims were bent. Mileage is given in only some of these complaints, ranging from under about 29,000 miles on a tire to about 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any wheels or tires have been replaced for bends, leaks or tread separation, and check the rims for bends or cracks and the tires for uneven wear or sidewall damage. A pre-purchase inspection can check tire age and wheel condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My rim broke and caused my tire to go flat. I have had to put tires on almost every 6,000. My door lock is not working right and I also am having problems with the fog lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10003090, filed 2003-01

   “While driving on wet pavement 50-55 MPH, felt car pulling to the left, pulled over, tire was completely flat and pulled away from the rim, no previous warning or indication of incident. Dealer contacted and will investigate. Provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #833180, filed 1999-01
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy during collisions

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 2.3 yrs old
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2003

   Owners describe collisions in which the airbags did not deploy, including side impacts, head-on hits with a pole, and rear-end collisions. Some complaints also describe the vehicle failing to slow down before impact, and owners say they had not been told of a recall. According to complaints, the dealer reported nothing wrong with the vehicle in some cases, and some injuries were reported. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and the collisions described were mostly at about 25 to 45 miles per hour.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been checked and whether the airbag warning lamp works normally at startup. Ask the dealer to confirm whether any open recall notices affect the restraint or speed control systems.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Thank you very much for your site. Thanks to your information we now know that our car was subject to a recall that evidently caused an accident. We have never been notified of a recall and are very much concerned about the air bags not actuating. The vehicle struck a telephone pole head on after failing to reduce speed while negotiating a turn. Fortunately, my son and his friend were wearing seatbelts. What a merry christmas this has turned out to be.”

   NHTSA complaint #701603, filed 1998-12

   “On the evening of 12/24/98 my son lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn. The vehicle failed to slow down. We discovered that this car was subject to a recall that we were not informed of. Not surprisingly, chrysler informed us that the recall situation had nothing to do with causing an accident. After striking a telephone pole head on neither air bag deployed. Chrysler also denied any fault in this. If it is not the fault of the manufacturer, then who? This complaint was initially filed with NHTSA on 12/26/98. …”

   NHTSA complaint #703843, filed 1999-02
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brakes pulse, make noise, wear quickly or lock up

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2005

   Owners describe brake pedal pulsing from warped rotors that returned after repair, very loud brake noise when braking, and brake pads or rotors that needed frequent service. Some complaints describe the brakes locking up after an antilock system malfunction, and a vehicle that would not stop when the brakes were applied. According to complaints, the dealer replaced rotors and bled the lines in some cases, and in others the dealer said nothing was wrong with the brakes. Where mileage is given, the brake complaints mention service about every 9,000 to 10,000 miles, and a report of pulsing at about 30,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for brake service records, including rotor and pad replacements and any brake system warnings, and check whether the ABS warning lamp works normally at startup. On a test drive, press the brakes firmly and check for pulsing, noise or pulling to one side.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has been my second Avenger and I wish that I would have never gotten rid of my 96. This 98 has a longer service history than most of the cars in our small town, put together. Brakes--the car has now had 2 brake jobs in 9000 miles. Each time the dealer has replaced the rotors and bled out the lines.. Can't wait until 4500 miles comes again so I can have new brakes put on it again. Fuel econ--the car is lucky to get 18-21 mpg on the highway. The dealer told me today that these cars are not known for good gas mileage--is that true?? …”

   NHTSA complaint #706858, filed 1999-05

   “Dt: when applying brake pressure there was a surging effect as if the brakes were pulsating. The contact determined the rotors warped. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer for confirmation of the warped rotors. The rotors were replaced, but the contact was unaware if these were actual chrysler parts or after market replacements. After the repairs the problem returned. The contact's father consulted a service center that noted that this was a common problem. This has not corrected the problem. No further repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140200, filed 2005-10, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door handles break off or door locks fail

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 55,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2006

   Owners describe door handles that broke or snapped off, sometimes on both the driver and passenger doors, and a passenger handle that would not open the door from the outside. Some owners describe being locked out of the vehicle, a handle that broke again after an earlier repair, and plastic parts they say are weak. According to complaints, the owners had the repairs done at a mechanic or dealer, and a separate complaint describes a door lock that does not work properly. Where mileage is given, the door handle failures were reported between about 49,000 and 62,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the door handles and latches have been repaired or replaced, and test each door handle from the inside and outside, including the passenger door.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Dodge Avenger es. When I went to open the driver,s door the entire handle snapped off and was in my hand. Cheap plastic mechanism. Have to open door from the inside. Very inconvenient. Have call into a couple mechanics and Dodge dealer for repair estimates.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043153, filed 2003-10, 62,000 miles

   “In the year of 2001-2002 was the first time that my door handle on the driver side of my 1998 Dodge Avenger broke. I went to a Dodge mechanic shop and they fixed it. In the year of 2003 the passenger door handle broke off and later on in 2004 the driver side of the door handle broke again. I got someone to fix it. It is now 2006 and my driver side of my door handle has broken off again and the passenger door handle will not open the door from the outside. This has caused me to be locked out of my car multiple times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10172325, filed 2006-11

Buying note. For someone considering a 1998 Dodge Avenger, ask whether the front lower ball joints and control arms were replaced under the recall and whether the wheels and tires have been inspected. Check the airbag warning lamp at startup and ask for brake service records, since brake pulsing and frequent service are noted in the complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.