Engine
2.0L 4-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 150 of 196 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Suspension
66 complaint records7 crash reports
"LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE WHILE TURNING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse suspension parts in the directory →
Brakes
42 complaint records4 crash reports
"WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HAD ROTORS TURNED ONCE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Electrical system
21 complaint records2 fire reports
"THERE IS FAULTY WIRING AND/OR DISFUCTIONAL HCU ON FRONT BRAKES MAKING THE ABS SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, DISFUNCTIONAL. COSTLY AND DANGEROUS..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP03002 opened May 2003 | closed Jul 2003 | Steering | STEERING COLUMN SEPARATION MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED... |
| RQ00015 opened Aug 2000 | closed Apr 2001 | Suspension | LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT - led to recall 99V066004 There is no summary currently available |
| PE99008 opened Feb 1999 | closed Apr 1999 | Suspension | BALL JOINT - led to recall 99V066004 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. |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00V421002 | Suspension | 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. | Normally free |
| 99V066003 | Suspension | 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. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001062 2001-03-09 | Steering | 18,687 | 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 boot which can cause the ball stud to corrode. |
| 1999144 1999-07-30 | Steering | 10,789 | On certain vehicles, the rubber boot on the lower lateral ball joint could be damaged, allowing the intrusion of dirt and water, leading to extraordinary wear on the ball joint and possible separation. |
| 1998106 1998-05-25 | Emissions | 1,661 | THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE ASPIRATOR SYSTEM MAY FAIL, RESULTING IN INCREASED LEVELS OF NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| R2118796A Feb 2016 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling. | |
| 1802002 Jun 2002 | Unknown Or Other | FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC | |
| 0801001 May 2001 | Electrical System | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT | |
| 1801201 May 2001 | Equipment | 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 | |
| 2100601 Mar 2001 | Power Train | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0800600REV Dec 2000 | Electrical System | SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB | |
| 0804000 Dec 2000 | Seats | INFORMATION ON NEW COMPONENTS AND A REPAIR PROCEDURE DEVELOPED TO REPLACE FAILED SEAT SLIDE MOTORS. *TT | |
| 2300800B Nov 2000 | Seats | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT | |
| 082700 Sep 2000 | Air Bags | SUBJECT REGARDING NON-DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANDLING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 230800 Mar 2000 | Seats | SUBJECT REGARDING CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT | |
| 080600 Feb 2000 | Electrical System | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT | |
| 084699 Dec 1999 | Exterior Lighting | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. *TT | |
| 083799 Nov 1999 | Air Bags | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION IS NOW OFFERINB AIRBAG ON / OFF SWITCHES FOR SELECTED VEHICLES. *TT | |
| 233599REVA Oct 1999 | Structure | SUBJECT ON THE CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *MJS | |
| 090799 Sep 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION REGARDING 2.5L V-6 HEAD GASKET APPLICATION. *TT | |
| 090899 Sep 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING MULTI-LAYER STEEL (MLS) HEAD GASKET INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 210599A Sep 1999 | Power Train | THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY AND INSTALLATION OF A RESUABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL PAN GASKET. *TT | |
| 233599 Sep 1999 | Seats | INFORMATION ON CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS. *TT | |
| 020299 Apr 1999 | Suspension | VEHICLES EXHIBITING FRONT COIL SPRING CREAKING, POPPING, OR SQUEAKING. *TT | |
| 210699 Apr 1999 | Vehicle Speed Control | CONDITIONS WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL. *TT | |
| 210599 Mar 1999 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING REUSABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL PAN GASKET. *TT | |
| 210499 Feb 1999 | Power Train | SERVICE AND PARTS INFORMATION ON 1999 RUNNING CHANGES TO TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) *TT | |
| 190199 Jan 1999 | Steering | PROCEDURES ON ALIGNING THE POWER STEERING BELT. *TT | |
| 081798 Dec 1998 | Air Bags | SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG ON - OFF SWITCHES. *YC | |
| 050898 Dec 1998 | Service Brakes | EXHIBITTING A CONDITON WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES OR THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK | |
| 234998 Oct 1998 | Structure | SOME VEHICLES EXHIBIT A WHISTLE ( WINDNOISE) COMING FROM THE " A " PILLAR AREA. *YC | |
| 7671/7672 Oct 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VARIOUS INFORMATION PERTAINING TO FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, ASPIRATOR SYSTEM AND REPROGRAM PCM. EMISSIONS RECALLS. *AK | |
| 183298 Sep 1998 | Structure | SUBJECT ON FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *YC | |
| 182698 Aug 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXCESSIVE COLD CRANK TIME WITH A NO START CONDITION CAUSED BY NO/LOW COMPRESSION DUE TO LOOSE CARBON HOLDING VALVES OPENING/SAGS/STUMBLES/HESITATES AFTER COLD START. *AK | |
| 020798 Jun 1998 | Suspension | CONDITIONS WITH LIGHT KNOCKING OR TAPPING NOISE BEING HEARD FROM THE REAR SHOCK REAR WHILE TRAVELING OVER BUMPS. *YC | |
| 232398 Jun 1998 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION ON REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY PROGRAMMING. *YC | |
| 210798 Apr 1998 | Power Train | SUBJECT ON DELAYED TRANSAXLE ENGAGEMENT. *AK | |
| 020298 Apr 1998 | Suspension | A SQUEAKING OR HARD RUBBING NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS. *YC | |
| 081698 Apr 1998 | Equipment | INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK | |
| 180598 Feb 1998 | Vehicle Speed Control | DISCUSSION: REGARDING IDLER AIR FLOW TEST FOR ABOVE MODELS LISTED MAY INDICATE AN ERRONEOUS FAILURE DUE TO INABILITY OF POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE TO HOLD THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR STABLE DURING TEST SEQUENCE. *AK | |
| 090997 Dec 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION ON GASKET SURFACE PREPARATION ON ALUMINUM ENGINE COMPONENTS. *NLM | |
| 250297 Jul 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VARIOUS NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *YC | |
| 233897 Jun 1997 | Unknown Or Other | KEYLESS ENTRY TRANSMITTER DIAGNOSTICS. *TW | |
| 182297 Jun 1997 | Electrical System | MIL ILLUMINATION WITH HEX CODE $3A. *TW | |
| 220197 Jun 1997 | Tires | INFORMATION ON TIRE AND WHEEL RUNOUT. *NLM | |
| 210997 May 1997 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON 41TE/42LE SERVICE INFORMATION. *NLM | |
| 070397 May 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC | |
| 970314210597 Mar 1997 | Power Train | CONDITION WITH TRANAXLE SHUDDER DURING A 3RD GEAR TO 3RD GEAR PARTIAL EMCC ( ELECTRONICALLY MODULATED CONVERTER CLUTCH) ENGAGEMENT, 3RD GEAR PARTIAL EMCC TO 4TH GEAR PARTIAL EMCC ENGAGEMENT, OR 4TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR EMCC ENGAGEMENT. *YC | |
| 190597 Mar 1997 | Steering | CONCERNS WITH POWER STEERING BELT ALIGNMENT. *NLM | |
| 210597 Mar 1997 | Power Train | CONCERNS WITH 41TE/42LE TRANSAXLE SHUDDER DURING AN EMCC (ELECTRONICALLY MODULATED CONVERTER CLUTCH) SHIFT. *NLM | |
| 180897 Feb 1997 | Electrical System | SAG/HESITATION ON ACCELERATION, OR ENGINE MISS. *TW | |
| 180997 Feb 1997 | Power Train | VEHICLE SHUDDER DURING TORQUE CONVERTER EMCC (LOCK UP) OPERATION/DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 38. *TW | |
| 181097 Feb 1997 | Electrical System | INTERMITTENT SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE AND/OR MIL ILLUMINATED. *TW | |
| 230397 Feb 1997 | Structure | DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW | |
| 230297 Feb 1997 | Visibility | SUNROOF SUNSHADE BINDING OR COMING OUT OF TRACK. *TW | |
| 020197 Jan 1997 | Structure | A LIGHT THUMP, CHUCKLE, OR CREAK NOISE MAY BE HEARD FORM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL TO MEDIUM BUMPS- THIS NOISE COMES FROM THE INSIDE SHOCK. *JD | |
| 183195 Oct 1995 | Electrical System | NEW IN STOCK VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HARD STARTS, MISS-FIRE, OR ROUGH IDLE DUE TO SPARK PLUG FOULING. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY INFREQUENT ENGINE OPERATION DURING THE TRANSPORTATION PROCESS. BULLETIN INVOLVES CLEANING THE SPARK PLUGS PRIOR TO DELIVERY. | |
| 084495 Oct 1995 | Steering | BULLETIN APPLIES TO TALON MODELS BUILT PRIOR TO JUN 1, 1995 (MDH 06-01-XX) AND AVENGER/SEBRING MODELS BUILT PRIOR TO AUGUST 2, 1995 (MDH 08-02-XX). SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT OR RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE THEFT ALARM WHEN THE DOORS, TRUNK, AND HOOD ARE ALL CLOSED. | |
| 081695REVA Oct 1995 | Vehicle Speed Control | BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 08-16-95, DATED APR. 14, 1995. IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR **REPEATEDLY** PRESSES AND RELEASES THE SET BUTTON WITH THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR (A 'LIFT FOOT SET' TO BEGIN SPEED CONTROL OPERATION), THE VEHICLE MAY ACCELERATE AND... | |
| 250297 Jul 1995 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF POPPING/KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM | |
| CH210695 Jun 1995 | Power Train | UNKNOWN | |
| CH181795A May 1995 | Engine And Engine Cooling | UNKNOWN | |
| CH181495 Apr 1995 | Electrical System | DRIVEABILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TW | |
| CH181395 Apr 1995 | Electrical System | WHISTLE NOISE FROM PCM. *TW | |
| 180295 Feb 1995 | Electrical System | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON "EVAP PURGE FLOW MONITOR FAILURE." *TW |
Showing 60 of 63 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Find the roughest road nearby.Clunks over bumps, a droning hum that changes when the car leans, or a corner that sits low are this vehicle's suspension complaints. Wheel bearings and control arm bushings lead the parts list.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 2 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Dodge Avenger →