1997 Dodge Avenger Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Avenger years
- Fewer complaints than other years 9th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Avenger. That ranks 9th out of 15 Avenger model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (19 complaints, 23%), typically at around 120,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 19 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 83owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Dodge Avenger problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 19 | 23% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 | 22% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 16% | 116,403 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 12% | 105,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 7% | 18,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 7% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 5% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 4% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 4% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Dodge Avenger recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: The headrest guide bracket was improperly welded to the seat back frame on the passenger side seat back assemblies only.
Risk: The headrest support bracket can break, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat back assembly with a new assembly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
We have continued to have problems with these rims. I am about to retire my third wheel from this car. The wheel looks good, but it just can't hold air due to the rim bending right at the bead or outer rim. The rim in question is a 17 inch silver rim on the 97 avenger. It bends way too easily. This…
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…
1997 dodge avenger hood popped up shattering windshield. *ts there was damage from a previous accident that caused the hood to improperly latch down. *jb
After recall 967 control arm repairs, were done the problem recurred while driving 65 mph. The front left side control arm broke. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. *ak replaced lower control arm. *bf
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. *jb *nm
Other Dodge Avenger years
← 1996 Avenger · 1998 Avenger →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Avenger | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 Avenger | 205 | 1 |
| 2013 Avenger | 548 | 5 |
| 2012 Avenger | 554 | 3 |
| 2011 Avenger | 209 | 3 |
| 2010 Avenger | 163 | 3 |
| 2009 Avenger | 67 | 2 |
| 2008 Avenger | 831 | 6 |
| 2007 Avenger | 2 | 4 |
| 2000 Avenger | 22 | 1 |
| 1999 Avenger | 62 | 1 |
| 1998 Avenger | 58 | 2 |
| 1997 | 83 | 2 |
| 1996 Avenger | 157 | 2 |
| 1995 Avenger | 196 | 2 |
See all Dodge Avenger problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Dodge Avenger?
Owners most often report suspension, service brakes, hydraulic, air bags problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Dodge Avenger?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Dodge Avenger a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Avenger model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.