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#BS-1996-DODAVE-7F95

1996 Dodge Avenger

Based on reports from 235 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
235
Crashes
28
Fires
3
Recalls
3
TSBs
71
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 235 complaints, 28 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

radio randomly shuts off

2 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission failure

2 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX
3

stalls while driving

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball JointHIGH

28 owners reported suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint issues — failures commonly reported around 131K miles.

!Inspect the Power Train:automatic TransmissionMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

1
0–30K
30–60K
2
60–90K
90–120K
9
120–150K
3
150K+

Peak failure range: 120–150K miles (9 reports) • Median: 131K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint (28 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint28 (12%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission15 (6%)
Suspension:front:control Arm12 (5%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine11 (5%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline10 (4%)
Air Bags:frontal9 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor9 (4%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip9 (4%)

1996 Dodge Avenger: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint Issues

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Avenger, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 131,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 131K-mile mark.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Avenger, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension:front:control Arm Issues

Suspension:front:control Arm complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Avenger, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front:control arm-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1996 Dodge Avenger, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

25
00
32
01
23
02
14
03
8
04
4
05
1
06
2
07
1
16

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1996 Dodge Avenger. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (3 recalls)

00V421002May 2001

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

07E055000Nov 2007

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.

99V066003Aug 1999

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Dodge Avenger is the 2012 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

1996 Dodge Avenger vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

235

Class avg

236

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other compact cars vehicles from 1996.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 235 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Dodge Avenger Model Years

201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995
View all Dodge Avenger years →

1996 Dodge Avenger: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1996 Dodge Avenger?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1996 Dodge Avenger is related to the suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint, with 28 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1996 Dodge Avenger reliable?
The 1996 Dodge Avenger has 235 complaints, 28 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1996 Dodge Avenger problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1996 Dodge Avenger have any recalls?
Yes, the 1996 Dodge Avenger has 3 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Dodge Avenger problems start?
Based on 15 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 131,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 120–150K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 235 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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