Dodge Avenger
The Dodge Avenger made its UK debut in summer 2007, aiming to disrupt the competitive upper-medium family and fleet saloon sector dominated by the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, and Volkswagen Passat. Drawing visual styling cues directly from the iconic Dodge Charger muscle car, the Avenger offered aggressive proportions, an aggressive crosshair grille, and a distinctive kicked-up rear haunch. Sharing Chrysler's JS architecture with the contemporary Chrysler Sebring, the UK model was offered with a choice of 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre World Gas petrol engines, alongside the popular 2.0-litre CRD Volkswagen-sourced Pumpe-Düse turbodiesel (138bhp) paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Standard equipment was generous, including chilled gloveboxes and MP3 connectivity, but British motoring journalists heavily penalised the Avenger for its brittle cabin plastics, choppy ride over urban potholes, and rapid depreciation. In the UK used car market today, the Avenger is an unusual, strikingly styled budget cruiser that provides affordable transport if prospective buyers thoroughly inspect its front suspension control arms, electronic throttle actuator on petrols, and turbo boost system on diesels.
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Common Faults & Reliability
These are the most common documented problems for the Dodge Avenger, sorted by their typical impact and frequency.
Front Lower Suspension Wishbone Bush and Ball Joint Wear
medium severitySharing its front suspension layout with the Chrysler Sebring, the Avenger's lower control arm bushes and press-fit ball joints degrade rapidly on British road surfaces. The voided rubber in the rear compliance bush tears under lateral cornering force and braking loads, while the ball joint develops dangerous axial free play. Worn suspension arms cause front-end clattering over potholes, a vague steering centre-point, and MOT test rejection for excessive play in steering and suspension joints.
2.0 CRD Turbocharger Intercooler Hose Split and Boost Loss
medium severityThe 2.0-litre CRD diesel engine features rubber and silicone charge air hoses connecting the turbocharger, front-mounted intercooler, and intake manifold. Oil contamination from the crankcase breather coupled with high boost pressure leads to degradation of the rubber wall, causing the lower intercooler boost hose to split along its underside bend. When boost leaks, the engine loses manifold pressure, generating a loud rushing air hiss, triggering black exhaust smoke under acceleration, and causing the ECU to enter limp-home mode.
Electronic Throttle Body Plastic Gear Failure (World Petrol)
medium severityOn 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre World Gas petrol engines, the drive mechanism inside the electronic throttle body uses internal nylon reduction gears to actuate the butterfly valve. With age, heat fatigue and motor torque cause the delicate plastic gear teeth to strip or jam. Once the teeth shear, the throttle valve cannot open or close accurately, prompting the ECU to illuminate the lightning bolt Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) light and force the vehicle into restricted limp mode with limited engine revs.
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