1996 Dodge Avenger Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 1996 Dodge Avenger, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 129,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ball joint” (42% of reports).
- 59suspension complaints
- 129,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ball joint: mentioned in 25 of 59 complaints (42%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 11 of 59 complaints (19%)
- Front wheel: mentioned in 5 of 59 complaints (8%)
- Please provide: mentioned in 5 of 59 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 8 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 59 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Dodge Avenger suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Avenger | 7 | 3% | 23,590 |
| 2013 Avenger | 5 | 1% | 33,111 |
| 2012 Avenger | 10 | 2% | 25,987 |
| 2011 Avenger | 16 | 8% | 33,000 |
| 2010 Avenger | 1 | 1% | 46,221 |
| 2009 Avenger | 1 | 1% | 70,100 |
| 2008 Avenger | 18 | 2% | 59,500 |
| 2000 Avenger | 4 | 18% | 69,000 |
| 1999 Avenger | 13 | 21% | 83,500 |
| 1998 Avenger | 17 | 29% | 84,500 |
| 1997 Avenger | 19 | 23% | 120,000 |
| 1996 Avenger | 59 | 38% | 129,000 |
| 1995 Avenger | 59 | 30% | 125,739 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving and the right front control lowerball joint broke. This is the third time this has happened. I called dodge dealer.they said they fix it once. They won't do it again. Well if the problem still having they need to fix it right. I could of been killed. Something needs to be done about…
The lower control arm on the left side is going and i've gone to deluca chrysler in haverhill ma twice and both times told me that it was already serviced and when i asked him what side was serviced he couldn't answer me and i asked him if they could check my since it should still be covered under…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 dodge avenger. In 2005, while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact lost control and the vehicle pulled to the right. She depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle crashed into a dirt hill. She had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Dodge Avengers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 59 owner complaints about suspension for the 1996 Dodge Avenger (38% of the 157 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Dodge Avenger suspension?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 129,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 1996 Dodge Avenger?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joint”, in 25 of 59 complaints, followed by “control arm” (11).
See all 1996 Dodge Avenger problems or suspension problems across all Avenger years.