1996 Dodge Avenger Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Dodge Avenger, and owners have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Dodge Avenger
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: 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. Ball joints that are within…
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Suspension: 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.
157 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Dodge Avenger have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 111,206 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 28 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I was driving and the right front control lowerball joint broke. This is the third time this has happened. I called dodge dealer.they said they fix it once. They won't do it again. Well if the problem”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 2, 2016 · Suspension
“The lower control arm on the left side is going and i've gone to deluca chrysler in haverhill ma twice and both times told me that it was already serviced and when i asked him what side was serviced h”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 21, 2007 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Dodge Avenger. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–19 / 25–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Dodge Avenger model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Avenger model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 196 |
| 1996 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 157 |
| 1997 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 83 |
| 1998 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 58 |
| 1999 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 62 |
| 2000 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 22 |
| 2007 Dodge Avenger | 4 | 2 |
| 2008 Dodge Avenger | 6 | 831 |
| 2009 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 67 |
| 2010 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 163 |
| 2011 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 209 |
| 2012 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 554 |
| 2013 Dodge Avenger | 5 | 548 |
| 2014 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 205 |
| 2015 Dodge Avenger | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1996 Dodge Avenger
How do I know if my 1996 Dodge Avenger has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Dodge Avenger; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V421002).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.