The 2000 Dodge Avenger has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 393,796 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION00V4210022000-12-18393,796 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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…
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
WHEELS
3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
1
1fires
Total complaints33
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“2000 dodge avenger es. Air conditioner evaporator blew out. $1200 repair bill. My mechanic said there have been numerous complaints about this happening. *jb”
“The paint is flaking off the car. Appears that the wind from going down the road is knocking the paint off. Or maybe the sun has something to do with it. The entire top needs re-painted. *jb”
“Sensor in transmission quit working. The first time I was driving on the freeway and it completely lost speed. I exited and came to a complete stop. After that, it would not shift out of first gear. It was repaired by a dealership under warranty. That was at around 20000 miles. Today, at around…”
“Serpentine belt was replaced with a new one by the dealer, and 10 days later flew apart. That belt was replaced free of charge be another dodge dealer, but three months later came off, but did not break. It is now three months later, and the belt had to be replaced because of fraying.”
“I was getting onto the interstate when my rpms would not drop below 5000 and I realized my car locked in 2nd gear. This is a very common problem with the a694/41te transmission that chysler made.”
“I was getting onto the interstate when I noticed my rpm were around 5000 and would not go down. I realized the transmission had locked in second gear. This is a very common problem with the junk a604/41te transmission that chrysler made. *la”
“When the car was purchased 11/01. I was informed by a dodge tech that the transmission was going to go "out" around 50,000 miles. I have heard this from numerous dodge owners and mechanics. At 52,874 the transmission quit shifting and we had to take it to the dealer for repair according to the…”
“Vehicle caught fire while driving. Fire located on left side of engine compartment near left front corner of vehicle. Possible battery power cable short to ground at battery mount plate under battery. *nlm”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Dodge Avenger as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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