Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Dodge Avenger, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension19
- Service brakes, hydraulic18
- Air bags13
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Wheels6
- Exterior lighting6
- Electrical system5
- Power train4
- Seat belts4
- Steering4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 19 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 10.4–11.7 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 239–269 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avenger · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 8.1 | 10.4 |
| Avenger · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 8.7 | 10.9 |
| Avenger · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.5 | 11.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Dodge Avenger.
| 2001062 9 Mar 2001 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower lateral arm ball joint can separate due to loss of lubrication. There is a potential for moisture to leak past the protective bo… |
| 1997122 19 Jun 1997 | Seats And Restraints THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET WELD TO FAIL ON THESE VEHICLES. CORRECTION: A NEW PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WILL BE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Dodge told its dealers about the 1997 Dodge Avenger: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634272 | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC |
| 621898 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
| 620066 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERIC SCAN TOOL (GST), PUBLICATION NO. 81-170-00008 PROVIDED WITH THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO PROVIDE REFERENCE INFORMATION WHEN USING GENERIC SCAN TOOL ON OBDII VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT |
| 618049 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB |
| 616720 | INFORMATION ON NEW COMPONENTS AND A REPAIR PROCEDURE DEVELOPED TO REPLACE FAILED SEAT SLIDE MOTORS. *TT |
| 615688 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 612160 | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS |
| 610635 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT |
| 610000 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 609995 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT |
| 609988 | SUBJECT REGARDING MISDIAGNOSED LEAK DETECTION PUMP SYSTEMS WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1494, P0442 P0455, OR P0456. *TT |
| 6092304 | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 6089800 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6089137 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF POPPING/KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM |
| 6089038 | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM |
| 6089028 | INFORMATION ON 41TE/42LE SERVICE INFORMATION. *NLM |
| 6088988 | CONCERNS WITH 41TE/42LE TRANSAXLE SHUDDER DURING AN EMCC (ELECTRONICALLY MODULATED CONVERTER CLUTCH) SHIFT. *NLM |
| 6088938 | CONCERNS WITH POWER STEERING BELT ALIGNMENT. *NLM |
| 6088926 | INFORMATION ON NO START DIAGNOSTIC CAM/CRANK SENSOR $01 AND $28. *NLM |
| 6088890 | INFORMATION ON LEAK DETECTION PUMP (LDP) DEALER TEST MODE. *NLM |
| 6088884 | INFORMATION ON POOR DRIVABILITY WITH HIGH DI (DRIVABILITY INDEX) FUEL. *NLM |
| 6088858 | INFORMATION ON GASKET SURFACE PREPARATION ON ALUMINUM ENGINE COMPONENTS. *NLM |
| 6088814 | VEHICLE MAY EXPEREIENCE INOPERATIVE CD PLAYER SALES CODE RAZ RADIO. *NLM |
| 6088801 | INFORMATION REGARDING GARAGE DOOR OPENER. *NLM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)