1998 Dodge Avenger Complaints

RECALL TO INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS AND REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE LATERAL LINK TWICE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM

I EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THE CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER. THE RIGHT SIDE FAILED ON 4/18/04 - I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, DEALER DENIED FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RECALLED BALL JOINT ISSUE AND DEALER PERFORMED RECALL INSPECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE AT THAT TIME ALSO. THE LEFT SIDE THEN FAILED ON 4/25, ONLY 5 DAYS AFTER THE DEALER "INSPECTED" THE BALL JOINT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL - UNBELIEVABLE! THIS TIME THE LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF WHICH HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A SEVERE IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT! MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND WENT AROUND A VERY SHARP EXIT RAMP BEND. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND AGAIN THE DEALER IS DENYING THE RECALL FAILURE. I SECURED THE OLD PARTS FROM THE LEFT SIDE - AND CLEARLY THERE IS CORROSION IN THE BALL JOINT THAT CAUSE FAILURE OF THE BALL STUD. I TALKED TO THE SHOP-TECH DOING THE REPAIR WORK AND HE COMMENTED ON HOW YOU COULD SEE THE CORRODED METAL IN THE BALL SOCKET AND THEN...

CONSTANT ENGINE TROUBLE WITH A 1998 DODGE AVENGER, 77,000 MILES AND NEEDS A $1800-$4500 HEAD GASKET REPAIR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT LOWER ARM BALL JOINT WORE OUT. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT YET RESOLVED. *AK

IF MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A RECALL, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE "DIAGNOSED" TO SEE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE INSPECTED IT AND KNOW THAT THE "BALL JOINT" RECALL FOR MY 1998 DODGE AVENGER IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM.