1998 Dodge Avenger Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Avenger years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 12th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Dodge Avenger. That ranks 12th out of 15 Avenger model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (17 complaints, 29%), typically at around 84,500 miles. Complaints mention 14 crashes, 1 fire, 12 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 58owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 14complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 | 17 | 29% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 12% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 7% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 7% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 7% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 5% | 117,766 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 205,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 2% | 185,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 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.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The dash panel pad can shift interferring with the throttle cable control.
Risk: The throttle cable control would not return to idle increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove a portion of the dash panel pad so it cannot interfere with the throttle cable control.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge avenger. While the vehicle was stationary, it would not turn off when the ignition key was removed. The failure occurred after having the ignition switch replaced. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing the tipm replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer…
When filling a empty gas tank, i can get about $2.00 of gas in before gas splash back occurs. This causes large amounts of gas to pour onto the ground and on my shoes and clothes. I have tried 6 different gas stations and each gas station does the same thing. So its not the pumps. It takes in…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge avenger. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard a loud clunking noise emitting outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the a-frame support was completely rusted. The technician also stated that the…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge avenger. The contact stated that since 2010, both lower ball joints failed. The contact was driving 35 mph when the driver side ball joint failed and the tire began to lean. After having the driver side repaired, the passenger side failed when the contact was…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 dodge avenger. While the contact was driving 55 mph the vehicle hit a bump causing the lower control arm to snap and the suspension to hit the tire and the fender. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor was it repaired. The failure mileage…
Other Dodge Avenger years
← 1997 Avenger · 1999 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 | 58 | 2 |
| 1997 Avenger | 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 1998 Dodge Avenger?
Owners most often report suspension, air bags, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 17 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Dodge Avenger?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.