Most common 1996 Dodge Avenger problems
Share of the 157 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Avenger complaints by model year
Best Avenger years: 2007, 2000, 2009. Years to avoid: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 1995. Compare all years →
1996 Dodge Avenger recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: 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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Dodge Avenger:
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
What 1996 Dodge Avenger owners say
Suspension all 59 →
In the am on 9/15/03 on the freeway traveling about 65 MPH, lateral arm broke off on the left side of my car, causing the left tire to push upwards into the fender and the axle to snap in half. I had to put the car into park at 40 MPH to get it to stop so I would not hit the concrete barrier or the I-5 sign. Dodge did pay for the car to be repaired, but not more than 2 weeks later the car began to make a noise while reversing and while going over bumps in the road, they told me this is the brakes, but another mechanic said that it is the lateral arm again. Dodge is refusing to pay to fix it and when I brought them the car they did not visually inspect the car, they only took it on a test drive. I have been having anxiety attacks everytime I hear that noise, my back and shoulder have been in pain and I have seen a specialist because of this. …
Tl contact owns a 1996 Dodge Avenger. In 2005, while driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact lost control and the vehicle pulled to the right. She depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle crashed into a dirt hill. She had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and was informed that the lower ball joints failed. A police report was filed. The contact paid for the repair. One year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle is currently parked at her residence. Dodge wants to conduct an investigation on her vehicle, however, they are asking her to pay out of pocket for the repairs. The contact refuses because she believes this is a manufacturer defect. The VIN, engine size, and number of cylinders were unknown. The failure mileage was 128,000 and current mileage was 140,000.
Brakes all 25 →
In the am on 9/15/03 on the freeway traveling about 65 MPH, lateral arm broke off on the left side of my car, causing the left tire to push upwards into the fender and the axle to snap in half. I had to put the car into park at 40 MPH to get it to stop so I would not hit the concrete barrier or the I-5 sign. Dodge did pay for the car to be repaired, but not more than 2 weeks later the car began to make a noise while reversing and while going over bumps in the road, they told me this is the brakes, but another mechanic said that it is the lateral arm again. Dodge is refusing to pay to fix it and when I brought them the car they did not visually inspect the car, they only took it on a test drive. I have been having anxiety attacks everytime I hear that noise, my back and shoulder have been in pain and I have seen a specialist because of this. …
Vehicle hit a tree head-on at about 35 MPH (est.). Neither the driver side nor the passenger side airbag deployed. Passenger's head struck and shattered windshield. Driver's face struck steering wheel causing damage to mouth and shoulder. Extensive damage to the vehicle. Amazing no one was killed or seriously injured. Also, I would notice that if I was traveling over about 40 MPH, the car would shake when the brakes were applied. Car would sometimes stall when stopped. Sometimes I would have to take the car out of park and put it back into park before it would start. Also the passenger side headlight seemed to not be fully sealed as it always had condensation inside. Noticed the passenger airbag seemed to be sticking out and the glove compartment was difficult to open. I wonder if this car had been wrecked before I bought it. I know I was not told it had been. …
Engine & cooling all 24 →
Periodic but repeated stalling of the engine when slowing to a stop and clutch disengaged. Complete loss of power when engine stalled and vehicle was still moving, resulting in numerous near collisions. Problem has worsened whereby the vehicle will periodically stall at any time when vehicle is in motion, even at high rate of speed and low throttle application. Very difficult to control vehicle when stall occurs at highway speeds. Extremely dangerous condition. Dealer has inspected vehicle and claims they cannot replicate condition. Has been brought to dealer several times. Other conditions involve the repair of a leaking head gasket that was partially covered by manufacturer after expiration of warranty. Door switch for dome light, door ajar indicator, and key-in-ignition warning tone malfunctioned once under warranty and was repaired by dealer. …
Repeated head gasket failure on engine. A recall needs to be initiated as this is a prevalent problem with this automobile! Awaiting third repair. Additionally, twice dealth with tensioner and pully problems. A defect recall needs to be initated on these parts. Defective headlight lenses resulting in extreme visability reduction. A replacement recall needed on these parts. The asog (advenger/seabring owners group) internet members group repeatedly identifying the engine gasket problems! Crysler initiated a recall change to the Dodge neon's, but discontinued the advender model without recall and replacement of defective head gaskets. Please do something for the consumer public with these three major areas of defective workmanship. Thanks for your assistance.
1996 Dodge Avenger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Dodge Avenger a good car?
Based on 157 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Avenger rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Avenger at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Avenger?
The suspension — 59 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › lower ball joint. Next are the brakes (25) and engine & cooling (24).
How many recalls does the 1996 Dodge Avenger have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Dodge Avenger, the most recent from December 18, 2000 (lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Avenger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2000 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 1995. See the full Dodge Avenger years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Avenger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 128,000 miles; 11% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.