Problem: CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
NHTSA recall 00V421002 · Dec 18, 2000 · 393,796 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Fix: 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 THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
NHTSA recall 99V066003 · Apr 5, 1999 · 165,857 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1995 Dodge Avenger 2-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Avenger
23mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Avenger
23mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Avenger
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Avenger
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Avenger
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Suspension Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint; Front › Control arm
66
7
0
1
125,739 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc
41
4
0
1
—
Electrical system Ignition; 12v/24v/48v battery
21
0
2
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
19
0
1
0
—
Air bags Frontal
18
15
0
12
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
17
0
0
0
—
Steering Column locking › Anti-theft device; Linkages › Tie rod assembly
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Nov 26, 2008 · 142,000 milesSuspension › Front TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY DROPPED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM FRACTURED FROM SEVERE CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED THE BALL JOINT TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V066003 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 142,000.
May 2, 2008 · 96,000 milesStructure › Body DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BREAKS OFF, MOST USED.... *TR
May 12, 2007 · 103,754 milesTires › Tread/belt TREAD COMING OFF OF TIRE. *TR
Feb 21, 2007 · 98,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR UPGRADE TO 95-96. *JB
Sep 18, 2006 · 170,000 milesElectrical system › Ignition ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STALLS AND DIES NOW WONT START, WHEN DRIVING ON RAINY DAY CAR SUCKS WATER INTO THE AIR FILTER AND INTO THE ENGINE, DASH LIGHTS FLASH. *NM
Aug 18, 2006 · 100,000 milesSuspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A NHTSA RECALL # 99V066003, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 90 DAYS AND DID NOT EXPRESS WHY THE RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Nov 17, 2005 · 113,080 milesSteering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly 1995 DODGE AVENGER HAS FAILURES THAT I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT WERE PROBLEMS/FAILURES THAT WERE RECALLED BY CHRYSLER/DODGE/DIAMONDSTAR MOTORS. *NM
Sep 12, 2005 · 159,000 milesSuspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint DT: THE CALLER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER LAST WEDNESDAY, AND THE DEALER HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER EVERY DAY. THEY TOLD HER THEY WERE WAITING FOR A MANAGER TO APPROVE THE WORK. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP03002 · opened May 7, 2003 · closed Jul 22, 2003STEERING 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 BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR…
RQ00015 · opened Aug 2, 2000 · closed Apr 20, 2001 · led to recall 00V421001LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT There is no summary currently available
PE99008 · opened Feb 1, 1999 · closed Apr 13, 1999 · led to recall 99V066001BALL 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.