1997 DODGE AVENGER Complaints

DRIVING THROUGH A LOW PUDDLE OF WATTER, THE CAR SUCKED WATER INTO THE AIR INTAKE AND IMMEDIATELY HYDROSTATICALLY LOCKED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY DESTROYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. I FEEL THIS WAS A RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING ON THESE VEHICLES AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW MANY OTHER DODGE AVENGERS SUFFERED THIS DEMISE BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN.

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS A REOCCURRING LEAKING PROBLEM. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE IS NO LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR A WEEKEND. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I FEEL IT WAS DUE TO MY STEERING LOCKING COLUMN FAILURE THAT I GOT CAUGHT IN A SNOW DRIFT, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

DRIVING IN FOGGY/RAINY WEATHER ON UNFAMILIAR ROAD,VEHICLE HIT A DITCH & FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HAS A POLICE REPORT ON FILE. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A LOUD/SQUEAKING NOISE THAT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKE DISC PADS SOUND AS IF METAL TO METAL RUBBING. SOMETIMES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF BRAKES. TSB ESTABLISHED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IGNITION KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM KEYWAY WHEN PLACED IN "PARK.".....ALL SETS OF KEYS!

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE SHAKES ALOT, AND THE STEERING KEEPS VIBRATING. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. *AK

PROBLEM 1: SINCE JULY '98, I HAVE OBSERVED (SMELLED) NOXIOUS FUMES -NOT YOUR TYPICAL SULPHURIC ROTTEN EGG SMELL-WHEN I ACCELERATE,USUALLY ABOVE 40MPH. THE SMELL IS OUTSIDE THE CAR,BUT IN SUMMER AND WARM MONTHS IT'S QUITE OVERPOWERING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT-IT'S "NORMAL"-I UNDERSTAND SOME SULPHURIC SMELL, BUT THIS IS NOT "ACCEPTABLE" OR "NORMAL"! THEY ARE BASICALLY TELLING ME TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT THEY AREN'T THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY AND HAVE THE FUMES OVERPOWER THEM WHENEVER THEY PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS. PROBLEM 2: MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT LOCKS AND WON'T UNLOCK UNTIL YOU DISENGAGE IT FROM THE LATCH. IT WAS FOUND TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED WITH A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ONCE AGAIN, I FEEL UNABLE TO GET THE DEALERSHIPS TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. HELPLESS, IF YOU MAY....THE BELT CONTINUES TO LOCK, AND I'M AFRAID IN THE FUTURE IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF I HAVE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU CAN HELP ME. I AM CURRENTLY WRITING TO CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER CENTER WITH MY COMPLAINT.

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR STRUTS. STRUTS WOULD GIVE OFF A LOUD SQUEAKY SOUND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD START BOUNCING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK