Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1996 Dodge Avenger
NHTSA data on file today
The 1996 Dodge Avenger has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 157 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07E055000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES/LEAKS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V421002 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V066003 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 55 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 22 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 21 complaints
- Power Train 17 complaints
- Electrical System 11 complaints
- Air Bags 10 complaints
Of the 157 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 157 complaints, owners report 14 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1996 Dodge Avenger has below-average reliability due to recurring suspension and engine issues, reflected in numerous complaints and relevant recall campaigns. Limited data on other systems suggests caution without clear patterns of widespread failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| engine and cooling | 70,000–110,000 miles | $1,000–$2,500 | occasional |
| brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Suspension inspection
- Tire rotation and alignment
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Excessive vibration
- Unusual engine noise
- Brake pedal softness
- Steering wheel play
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1996 Dodge Avenger at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.