1997 Dodge Avenger ES from North America - Comments

I bought a used '97 Avenger with 22k on it in '99. It is the longest I've ever owned a car. It is my weekend car. It now has 96k on it and I was planning on doing some minor cosmetic work on it and keep it a few more years but this blog scares the heck out of me.

I know I'm jinxing myself but it has never stalled, bucked, or had any electrical or transmission problems. I've replaced an oxygen sensor and both lower control arms. That's about it. This car always struck me as being extremely reliable, but like I said I'm scared now.

Hope I've got the 2nd cherry of the bunch.

I have a 99 Avenger, bought it around April. When I got it, we knew it was going to need work done to it. Have had to replace all but one mount on the engine and transmission. Had some tubes replaced and wires replaced.

I don't have the stalling problem mentioned, though it does have a slow reaction time on the throttle. It takes a second or two for it to respond the first 10 minutes or so while driving.

The problem I have now that I just discovered is that I have no power at all to anything, not the door locks, lights etc. So I was wondering if anyone had a solution, or knows where to start first?

I own a 97 Avenger also, it is probably the biggest money pit that I have ever owned! I got the headlamp cover issues both of them are foggy, I got the bent rim issues, I got a flat tire coming to work this morning, have had to pu a new transmission in it, the whole front end tie rods and all replaced, didn't even know about the recall on this issue, engine light has been on for months, but no stalling issues, oil leaks all over, but the heater works like brand new, imagine that, HAHAHA.

I find all this info very interesting, since we are having a lot of issues with our Dodge 1997 Avenger. We replaced all the front end brakes and struts, timing belt etc.

A while ago it stalled and we towed it to the shop, where it started out of the blue, but they mentioned that the computer wires needed replacing.

Months later it stalled again and they replaced the fuel pump.

Months later my distributor fried and I replaced it.

Two days ago I replaced the crankshaft sensor (after reading it here); it helped a little, but I can still feel a little misfiring.

I took it three times to the shop, and got a computer analysis, and still cannot fix all these issues.

Don't get me wrong, it is a nice looking car. I have the Sport Ltd version all fully loaded, but at this rate it will be behind a case of glass just for people to look at it.

As I am writing this, I realized how much money I have put into this car so far.

I'm what you call a backyard mechanic, but this 1998 Avenger ES has been unreal, I've replaced the distributer, the ECM, and still can't get this car to throw a spark to the plugs.

Timing belt appears to be fine.

Does anyone think a bad crankshaft sensor could be the source?

After reading this blog I am happy to report that my problem was fixed. I went to my shop and told my mechanic what to do.

It sounds funny, but different garages could not find the problem (crankshaft issues) so I asked exactly what I wanted and its been 3 months since and the stalling problem is gone.

I am enjoying my Avenger like never before, so thanks to the people responsible for this blog and the people who are writing on it.

I posted a couple of years ago about the stalling issues with my Avenger. My father and husband are the ones that I noted were mechanics.

I wanted to update you all on a couple of things. The shop I took it to wound up calling in a foreign car specialist (who just happened to be my bff's brother... go figure.) It was the crank position sensor. Problem solved and it was a dream.

The transmission problem was apparently the speed input and output sensors on the transmission. However, before we had the chance to change them out the car began to overheat. The gages/light would not show that it was overheating, it would just happen. As I mentioned, I've grown up around cars, so I knew that bubbling sound and each time I pulled over and waited on hubby.

Then without rhyme or reason, it quit running hot until one day when I went shopping out of town. My bff and I had the windows down, and the stereo pumping so I never heard the sounds. I was going up a hill when the auto trans downshifted itself to crawl the hill and I felt a problem. The RPMs red lined for just a sec leading me to comment my transmission had just gone. My baby let out a huge puff of black smoke and that was it. When I pulled to the side of the interstate she was BOILING and smoking everywhere, she knew to smoke. She was towed home and we had no compression. That was 2 years ago and she's still sitting in my back yard.

So, fast forward 6 months from the engine blowup. My stepson is about to turn 16 and we see another avenger at an auction. It's got a salvage title, so we buy it thinking we can use it for the motor or a car for my son. This one stalls too (big surprise.) It's different stall. It's more like a fuel issue and after repeated attempts to crank it it does wreak of fuel. We changed out the CPS and we've still got issues. I was told it's the mass airflow sensor, so we'll see. It's a shame to have a car that looks that good (we have a custom paint job on it now) be such a piece of crap. SHAME ON YOU DODGE!

Just want to let people know their posts are helpful.

We bought our 1997 Avenger on March 14th, 2009 and drove it for 2 weeks before it started stalling. We just had that issue with our Kia Sportage, so we started with new plugs and wires!

Now it has new distributor cap, rotor button, valve gasket set, coolant sensor,3 bottles of injector cleaner, oil change (now it is leaking oil too somewhere) and the first new set of wires had a dead #6 wire, so we replaced them again.

It still stalls and there are no codes showing. Now what?

I need a tow truck to follow me around just in case it won't start again.

It works good when they test drive it and when I try to drive it home 1/4 km away from the garage it starts stalling. (also today there is a new ticking noise almost like a fan hitting something).

Tomorrow I am going to ask them about the crankshaft position sensor after reading it here so often.

Well, we finally gave up trying to fix it and took it to the dealer and after 3 hours labour they told us "something has let go down in the engine" you need a new engine. Great!!!after hundreds of dollars to find out whats wrong now it needs an engine!!! This car is the biggest mistake I ever made in my LIFE. The brakes are now a whole new issue and I just found out a ball joint could be $200.

The rules said don't write anything insulting... about the 97 Avenger? I am beginning work on some type of water leak on my 16yr old son's 97 Avenger that his mother just gave to him. A/C vents don't work right for A/C, though I feel some cold air under dash. Lower control arms need replacing. But so far it always ran good. I will keep you all posted on my repairs.

I just purchased a 99 Avenger with 96k miles...I've had it for a week and it now has 97k miles... this car runs soooo amazing! Though I have stall encounter of the 1st kind...

After a long trip from Miami to Naples, nonstop, I exited and came to a stop, it stalled at the red light, I started it and it's fine!! It's only done this about 2 times already. What can it be? also, whats that multiple clicking sound when you slow down? Like a relay going on and off multiple times? I think its the TCC solenoid! man, what I've read here FREAKS ME OUT ABOUT THIS CAR!

HEY QUICK QUESTION, ABOUT THAT RECALL OF THE FRONT JOINTS OR W/E IT IS, WILL THE DEALER REPLACE MINE? I MEAN, IT'S A 99 AND IT SEEMS FINE, NOTE: I PURCHASED IT USED FROM SOMEONE!

THANK YOU PEOPLE! THESE CARS NEED HONDA ENGINES AND THEY WOULD SOOO ROCK!

I do own a 97 Dodge Avenger. On this thing I change the oil and filter when there is extra money, which is not too often, he he he.

I have my problems too, you know, catalytic converter, new battery, bad spark plugs cables, oil leaks, and transmission problems, in addition to the front end misalignment.

I changed the thermostat not to long ago, about 3 months to be exact. I just noticed my temperature gauge going hot, and literally, yes the car is HOT. I don't know exactly was going on, but I will check the "check engine light" with Autozone, to see if I can find out what's the problem.

I cannot complain about the car, this thing has being so good to me, that it would be an insult to talk anything bad about it. Reading this forum, about the problems of this car, has being an eye opener. A co-worker has the same car, but I think his is a ES model, his has got the stalling problem. I suggest to look at the catalyst converter, unfortunately, I found out here, that the problem could be some sensors.

Oh by the way on my 97, my transmission goes blank when hit the brakes suddenly and when the car is cold. I wonder what the hell it is. Any idea, anybody? Thanks...