Your vehicle report
1996 Dodge Avenger
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 157
- Received Sep 1995 to Mar 2016
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Ball joints wear out and fail28 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract11 complaints · 7.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Front brake rotors warp and wear early11 complaints · 7.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #00V421002Vehicle 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.
- Recall #99V066003Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 19 crashes, 3 fires, 14 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 16 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Head gasket leaks coolant into engine
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Engine suddenly shuts off while driving
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1999 | 28 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 157 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 28 | 18% | – | NHTSA recall #00V421002, #99V066003 |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 11 | 7.0% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 11 | 7.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 9 | 5.7% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 7 | 4.5% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 6 | 3.8% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 6 | 3.8% | – | |
| Horn fails with airbag warning light | 5 | 3.2% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 5 | 3.2% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 2.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 4 | 2.5% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 4 | 2.5% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 4 | 2.5% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 4 | 2.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 3 | 1.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #00V421002December 18, 2000393,796 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #99V066003April 5, 1999165,857 vehicles affected
suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
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.
This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Dodge Avenger.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN