1998 DODGE AVENGER Complaints

DT: 1998 DODGE ADVENTURE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A STATE INSPECTION WHICH APPROVED THE VEHICLE. TWENTY DAYS LATER ON 7-26-05 THE BALL JOINT FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND THEN CONSUMER5 LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT A ROAD SIGN AND RAN THROUGH ANOTHER . THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HOME. CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER STATE CERTIFIED INSPECTION MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO WAY IT SHOULD HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DIAMLER/CHRYSLER MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID WOULD SEND SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, THIS WAS ON 8-1-05. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *AK

DT: CALLER STATES THAT HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS ARE NOT CLEAR THEY ARE FOGGY AND INTURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE POOR OR DIM. CANT SEE AT NIGHT VERY GOOD.*AK

TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHEN EVER IT FEELS LIKE IT CAUSING THE FRONT TIRES TO LOCK UP AND THE PASSENGERS TO BE TOSSED AROUND . IT WILL CONTINULLY DO THIS UNTIL I STOP THE CAR THEN ITS FINE FOR A MINUTE THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN . NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT KEEPS HAPPENING . *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE RACK AN PINION BROKE. THE CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WITHIN ONE YEAR OF EACH OTHER, BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THEN THE PASENGERS DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, AS SEVERAL SEBRING AND AVENGER CARS IN OUR AREA HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE.*AK

RECALL TO INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE LATERAL LINK TWICE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM

I EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THE CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER. THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED ON 4/18/04 - I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DEALER DENIED FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RECALLED BALL JOINT ISSUE AND DEALER PERFORMED RECALL INSPECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE AT THAT TIME ALSO. THE LEFT SIDE THEN FAILED ON 4/25, ONLY 5 DAYS AFTER THE DEALER "INSPECTED" THE BALL JOINT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL - UNBELIEVABLE! THIS TIME THE LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF WHICH HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A SEVERE IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT! MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND WENT AROUND A VERY SHARP EXIT RAMP BEND. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND AGAIN THE DEALER IS DENYING THE RECALL FAILURE. I SECURED THE OLD PARTS FROM THE LEFT SIDE - AND CLEARLY THERE IS CORROSION IN THE BALL JOINT THAT CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BALL STUD. I TALKED TO THE SHOP-TECH DOING THE REPAIR WORK AND HE COMMENTED ON HOW YOU COULD SEE THE CORRODED METAL IN THE BALL SOCKET AND THEN WHERE THE BREAK OCCURED YOU COULD SEE THE SHINNY METAL. I AM TRYING TO DEAL WITH DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATE ON REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF THE ACTUAL REPAIRS AND FOR COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO THE TIRES AND WHEELS. BEYOND THAT HOWEVER, I AM GREATLY CONCERNED REGARDING THE "INSPECTION" NOT CATCHING THE IMMINENT LEFT SIDE FAILURE ONLY 5 DAYS LATER - THIS TO ME DEMONSTRATES A POTENTIAL FLAW IN THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS; AND, I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS MY DAUGHTER WAS IN AVOIDING A VERY SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT FROM THIS TYPE OF FAILURE - I THINK MORE DRASTIC MEASURES SHOULD BE INSTITUTED. DAVE LOJEK.*AK

CONSTANT ENGINE TROUBLE WITH A 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 77,000 MILES AND NEEDS A $1800-$4500 HEAD GASKET REPAIR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT LOWER ARM BALL JOINT WORE OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT YET RESOLVED. *AK

IF MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A RECALL, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE "DIAGNOSED" TO SEE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE INSPECTED IT AND KNOW THAT THE "BALL JOINT" RECALL FOR MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM.