10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,067 miles

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problem #3

Aug 122003

Avenger 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
There is a problem with the construction of the front seats in my 1999, Dodge, Avenger, probably dealing with faulty welds in the frame. On July 1, 2003, after having the seat leaned forward to access the back seat, I returned the seat to its normal upright locked position. However, the seat continued to recline farther than its proper locked position (I keep it at roughly an 80-degree angle, and it improperly reclined to roughly a 65-degree angle). I checked with the dealership, and the service personnel said the frame likely bent, and that it would be at least $450 (for parts) plus labor to replace it. He suggested installing a used seat as a replacement to save money, which I recently purchased and am hoping to install soon. When I wrote Chrysler customer service, they said they wouldn't fix it or replace it because it was out of its three-year warranty (the car is just under four years old and has roughly 54,000 miles on it). Needless to say, I was disappointed in their response. Today, I was in my car and reached for my wallet. A popping sound came from the seat, and it reclined fully. This is absolutely unacceptable. I have checked the internet and have come up with at least two other instances of the same problem, one where a gentleman reached for his wallet and the seat reclined (www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/dodge_avenger.htm) and one where a gentleman was driving down the road and his seat reclined (members.aol.com/_ht_A/grncamaro/ownerse8.htm). I am concerned that since I am not the only person to have this problem, it is a manufacturing defect, and I want Chrysler to fix this problem.

- Champlin, MN, USA

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problem #2

Jul 022003

Avenger 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,200 miles
Driver seat frame front seatback recliner and entire front seat back frame. Adhesive that holds plastic driver and passenger door panels to metal body door frame. Also bad paint.

- Georgetown, KY, USA

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problem #1

Jun 302003

Avenger 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When the vehicle was at a stop, the driver's side seat back broke and went backwards. The seat only locked all the way back or all the way forward. The consumer leaned back to retrieve his debit card from his front pocket, and the driver side fsb recline broke away from the gold bolts and also the weld to the fsb tube assembly. (tire-GT-H M-S)

- Georgetown, KY, USA

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