Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 7 | 3% | 24,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% | 49,000 miles |
| 2012 | 10 | 2% | 26,000 miles |
| 2011 | 16 | 8% | 33,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% | 46,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2008 | 18 | 2% | 92,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 18% | 69,000 miles |
| 1999 | 13 | 21% | 85,000 miles |
| 1998 | 17 | 29% | 86,000 miles |
| 1997 | 19 | 23% | 140,000 miles |
| 1996 | 59 | 38% | 130,000 miles |
| 1995 | 59 | 30% | 142,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Hit a few deer head on it took out both sides and complete front end and air bags didn't deploy and it was a pretty hard impact ill be surprised if they don't total the vehicle out we were on hwy 45 in bloomington indiana
The car engines lights came on while driving the electric throttle body light and ecs lights came on. The car is losing oil and overheating while driving. I took the car to a shop and they found an oil leak but don't know exactly where the oil leak is coming from. Oil is spilling all over the transmission. I contacted Dodge since the car has 89,000 miles on it and they ignored the problem. The car sputters in the middle of intersection it drives at 2000 rpms without gas pedal being press. The brakes depress on their own. Why is there no investigation done on these Dodge avengers. Do someone have to lose their life in order to fix these issues?
From date of purchase brand new off the lot 2013 Dodge Avenger 3.6l blacktop edition. Within a few days I started noticing the car would pull to the right. I took it back to the dealership to have the alignment looked at and fixed and they said they re aligned everything and should be fine. After a week I noticed it started to pull to the right again. At that point I took it into a different shop where they actually told me that they can't re align the car based on the fact that how the cars suspension was manufactured and design is faulty to where the alignment will never be able to be corrected and there's nothing they can do. I am military and have moved 2 times since the purchase and have takin the car to several shops and have been told the same. That the alignment is as best as it can get and will always pull to the right based on the design and how it came from the factory. …
I have today owned this used 2013 Dodge Avenger and there are 3 problems that make me cringe. First somehow the back bushings are done on the control arm, it makes a very loud noise over bumps. Second the ac is leaking and now have to take it to Dodge because they make it so I cant do it myself and want me to pay 1000 because its a name your price kinda thing, jerks. Lastly after only 6 years I have rust everywhere. I wash my car every 2 weeks but Dodge has been known to use the cheapest metal to build their cars. Never gonna buy a Dodge again, they make America look bad with the garbage it puts out, how can anybody take pride in the car they own if its crap.
In late June got a flat tire. When I went to put on the spare noticed both rear tires had worn thru the steel on the inside shoulder. Took to a local dealership and they told me must be the alignment. Car was just under the 1 year anniversary date but just over the mileage for the warranty. I had to pay for an alignment and new tires. Alignment showed three of the wheels in spec and the fourth .03 degrees out of spec which the dealer said wasn't enough out to cause that bad of wear on the tires. Contacted Chrysler but no help. Went to oregon in November and got just north of where I was going and stopped for a break and noticed both rear tires were wearing on the inside shoulders like before. Took to dealership another alignment and set of tires that I had to pay for. Alignment was out and had to have camber kits installed to get alignment fixed. Once again no help from Chrysler yet. …
Bought a brand new 2012 Avenger se with a 3.6l. The car has shaken violently at speeds above 45 MPH. It has been to the dealer under warranty 6 times for the issue, and no faults we're found. The car is past it's warranty, and the dealer now wants an arm and a leg to diagnose the issue. The vibration is only getting worse and worse. The front suspension has been checked numerous times, and everything seems fine, the rear struts we're just replaced, which helped the vibration under 60 MPH, however it still vibrates. Car went to the dealer with 8000 miles on it due to passenger side window issues, where the dealer once again found nothing wrong. Left the dealership, and the check engine light came on for an o2 sensor. The wires had been pinched so bad, that it needed to be replaced as well. We have been through 6 sets of tires in 4 years. …
Back in 2019 on thanksgiving we had a car accident driving straight on route 17 in essex county because the wheel bearings went out to quickly we replaced them a year later it did almost did the same thing but we catch it in time are mechanic said it shouldn't have to change your wheel your wheel bearing 10 months apart we went through 3 already and it's asking me to put a date from when it happen I'll put the first time and the next two the next date it happen 9/23/2020/10/20/20 it's also doing some weird sliding in the back end of the vehicle
This car continues to sway and hop at almost any speed. If you hit the slightest bump the rear end of this vehicle hops as if the tires have actually left the ground. In addition, the car sways left to right especially on the highway at about 65 MPH. I have driven in the snow for the last 30+ years and I have never been so white knuckled in the snow. This car feels as if it has zero control in the snow. I have never experienced anything like it. And I am not talking feet of snow, it had literally just started to snow and there was maybe an inch or two on the ground. I have taken it to my mechanic thinking maybe it needed an alignment only to be told the alignment was already spot on ~ I am very concerned that there is a serious flaw in the suspension on this car yet no mechanic or dealer can tell me what's wrong even though they have felt it themselves. …
Related 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 investigations
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
BALL JOINT
allege failure of front ball joints may cause the driver to loose control of the vehicle as the front suspension collapses on one side.this loss of control increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Avenger years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (59), 1996 (59), 1997 (19), 2008 (18) and 1998 (17) model years. Suspension complaints make up 30% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Dodge Avenger suspension problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 00V421002 (lower ball joint, Dec 18, 2000); 99V066003 (lower ball joint, Apr 5, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Avenger suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › control arm › lower ball joint (86 mentions), followed by the front › control arm (27).
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.