16 of the 235 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Avenger are about the electrical system — 7% of everything reported for this model year.
16
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED SIX TIMES ALREADY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHORT IN WIRES. ALSO, THERMOSTAT HAS GONE OUT SIX TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #8014412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THIS IS A CONCERN. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATE WHY THE HORN DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT SINCE IT IS TIED TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG IT WOULD COST BIG DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO BACK INTO ME. IT IS WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER. THE LACK OF A WORKING HORN IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS IS MY 2ND COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #747582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CAR HORN FAILS TO WORK WHEN COLD TEMPS OUTSIDE AND ENGINE COLD. LEFT BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL NEVER WORKS AND RIGHT BUTTON ONLY WORKS WHEN CAR IS WARM. I GOT HIT IN A PARKING LOT (LUCKILY LOW SPEED) AND I COULDN'T WARN THE OTHER DRIVER WHO DIDN'T SEE ME BECAUSE THE HORN WOULDN'T BLOW. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM - WHAT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN A DRIVER DOESN'T SEE ME??? I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE ABOUT HORNS NOT WORKING AND I THINK IT SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKED INTO!!
NHTSA complaint #740882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
A FIRE STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AFTER A SHORT RIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT INDICATES AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. FIRE SEEMED TO ORIGINATE NEAR THE FUSE BOX.
NHTSA complaint #724436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
PLEASE IF ANYONE IS HAVING THIS TROUBLE WITH THERE CAR EMAIL ME AT GRODON24@LEXCOMINC.NET THANKS NEED EVERYONE THAT IS HAVING TROUBLE
NHTSA complaint #713881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN DOES'NT WORK DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE HORN ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #845392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN BUTTONS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL DON'T WORK AND FAILED DURING THE 1ST YEAR. DEALER REPORTS THESE ARE A PART OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. TO FIX THE HORN BUTTONS, THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. COST OF AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IS OVER $600.
NHTSA complaint #707151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DEAD BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #533562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SHORTED PLUG WIRE.
NHTSA complaint #533562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #533562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
REPROGRAMED PCM/TCM.
NHTSA complaint #533562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HORN MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #508476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE FIALS TO START/STALLS, ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE/ROUGH IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #508050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE DRIVING CAR JUMPS GEARS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, ALSO REPLACED COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #985681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #984107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE THERE WAS AN ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #978917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.