Used 1997 Dodge Avenger Consumer Reviews
Used Avenger for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Worst Car I Have Ever Owned
Devonne , 10/04/2008
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have not had the best of luck with this car. I have had it for a year and a half and I have had to replace the ball joint, both axles (twice), speed censor, crank shaft, breaks, fan belt, battery (twice), lower left control arm, shocks, struts, starting coil, fuel pump, the over drive went out, and so did the cruse control. I drove it for 9 months without problems but once the speed sensor went out it has been down hill from there. My mpg have been really bad, I only got 15 mpg even after a new fuel filter, air filter, and pump.
This car is charming but flawed
wings, 09/29/2009
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This was my first car. Much like a first love it holds a special place in my heart. The car looks beautiful and the engine still runs smooth at 138,000 miles BUT I have brought it to my mechanic so many times that we could be best friends. The ball-joints, the tie rods, the struts have all been replaced. The struts are bad again after an additional 25,000 miles. Now, the transmission took a dump and it looks like my car has skin cancer. The car is charming yes, but after you get married to it, it will soon become lazy and consistently start to break in little annoying increments until you will want a divorce. If you are a risk taker, go for it, but you might get burned. other fish in the sea
1997 Dodge Avenger for sale near you
Showing 0 of 0 listings
Sorry, there are no 1997 Dodge Avenger vehicles for sale in our network.
See all 0 listingsLooks nice... when it works!
Lally, 07/05/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have always liked how my Avenger looks. It's a car that will get you the chicks, but I am so sick of major repairs every six months! I've had to fix things I've never even heard of. And trust me, the repairs aren't cheap! Also, I'm seeing places where the paint is starting to bubble, indicating rust.
My thoughts about my base model
c, 11/27/2008
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had my 97 4-banger stick as the original owner with only 17 miles on it when delivered to our dealer. I have gotten 500 miles to a single tank 4 times. Mine is not governed so I have had it up to 131 flat straight away in Germany and 136 downhill there. This car is fun to drive and has a huge trunk. And at 159,634 miles still going strong
We have been quite happy
Jim91010, 08/21/2009
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This was the choice of my wife as it was to be her primary car. We have put 197,000 miles on it with no major problems. We recently replaced the front end struts.
still enjoyable
Steve, 11/20/2009
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my Avenger new in 1997 with the 5 speed and 4 cyl. It's been amazingly reliable over the years with the only real issue with the tie rods/ball joints. It still has the original stainless steel exhaust/muffler! It still gets 32-34 miles per gallon. The 5 speed makes it fun to drive, although more horsepower and better brakes have made it even better. Even taught 2 kids how to drive stick with it (one of them learned while driving on the track at Road America) and still have the original clutch. Indy red color and best year for fron end fascia make it an eye appealing car even today.
Love my '97 Avenger Sport
Love My Avenger, 08/29/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had this car since 1997 and I love it! It has been a fairly low maintenance car and it runs great! It still looks brand new except for the side mirrors that are a little faded from "road-wear". I have definitely gotten more than my money's worth. It has 66,000 miles on it and I plan to put plenty more on it. It's a great cruising car for road trips or commuting to work and my son's car seat fits in the back, perfectly.
Avenger's Got it!
marrcoooo, 09/02/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought my sleek bright cherry Red Avenger last year. Great car. 2.0 litre doesn't give much power but I save in gas bg time. 6 speaker Stereo is great. Turning radias is not that good at all but so what. I'll just have to back up instead of making that 1 point turn. Always gets the looks and have had no problems with it so far.
GREAT CAR!!!
Brandon, 04/03/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for 9 months. I love it. It is hard to make U-turns but so what. I have had one problem with this car and it was the altenator belt broke. For being the only problem in 9 months that is GREAT. The car is so reliable. I love the stereo system. I love everything about it. The fun of having the get up and go.
Best vehicle that I have ever owned.
Bandit, 02/28/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The powertrain has to be the most suprising feature of this vehicle. Also, the independent rear suspension contributes greatly to the superb handling of this race inspired road rocket. The interior is almost as aggressive as the exterior, and in that regard, is just as appealing. Overall, this is the best vehicle that I have ever owned.
DON'T BUY THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JKauf05, 02/02/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with 58K and I have had nothing but problems with it. Here is a list of what i have had to fix in the last year. New tie rod and tie rod ends $960, New automatic trans. $1200, All new breaks $450, New control arm $120, All new coolent hoses $100. If you are looking at Avenger I would strongly suggest you change your mind. The car has been nothing but a headache and a money pit. And the performance is not that good.
Dont Count you chickens
Fsucrys, 07/27/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
When I bought this car, it was wonderful. I had no problems for the first 2 years. About 4 years into the life of the car it started falling apart. The poeple at the Dodge dealership know me by first name now. I have to have my spark plugs changed 2 times in a year. My battery is constantly shorting out. My drivers side door handle is broken. Im having transmission issues and last but not least currently my car is overheating. Word to the wise DO NOT BUY THIS CAR unless your a mechanic
Love this car!!
darkangel, 03/01/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
people always ask me why did I buy an avenger? the ratings are so bad. that's only because people by the V6's. My four banger's pushin' hard and I'm loving every minute of it. the bigest problem I've had was a broken power steering belt ($26 replacement wow..) kinda hard to work on the headlights, but oh well, I won't be changing them for a while.
Been a real good car
chuwig, 01/07/2005
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car has been a really good, reliable car. Its sporty, fun to drive. For the most part, it's had normal maintenance. Only major exspense was a tie rod and strut, for about $650, at about 84,000 miles! The right door lock needs to be replaced, at about $150. Other than that, great car for a single person! Car seat friendly, big back seat. No room for a tall person! Especially in passenger side!! The front seats are very compact. Very exspensive tires!At about $150 a piece Goodyear only lasted about a year, finally went to Kumo at about $120 a piece. Still exspensive. A lot of engine noise, especially on highway when accelerating.
Looks good, but beware of repairs
Dan, 05/02/2005
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had my avenger for 2 years now and I have put over $3,000 into it (not including routine maintance. I've had 4 new struts, 2 control arms, 3 tires, 2 rims, front brakes, hole in exhaust, and new locks. Now the sunroof is broken, radio reception is terrible, leak near drivers door, and my interior lights and some warning lights (low gas) don't work. The tires and rims are very expensive to replace and a tune-up and timing belt will run $300 and $500. The turning radius is also terrible and the V6 engine sounds strained.
Mostly Mitsubishi
bhoward, 01/12/2004
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Mitsubishi V6 has been dissed in these reviews but it is really a great engine. This one won't burn a qt between oil changes and will jump to 6000 rpm quick. The transmission is the weak link since it is made by Dodge. Change the trans fluid VERY often.
1997 avenger
charlieonefin, 03/30/2004
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I used to own one of these, found it annoying to have to own a set of jackstands and floor jack just to change the oil. It was fairly reliable, with the exception of the alternator, but all around it good vehicle, a nice mix of performance and economy. And yes, get your auto transmission filter changed every 15,000 miles.The Automatic used in these are weak and if not maintained on this cycle, can cause some serious headaches. I changed the filter on mine at this interval and had no problems after over 60,000 miles.
Nice looker
Zach Smith, 04/17/2004
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Overall it is a great car. It looks great and will still turn heads and get commented on. With the ES package, they come loaded. However, I have had alot of problems. I've put over $2,000 worth of work into it in less than a year and it needs another $500 or so not including routine procedures. The rims and tires are very expensive to replace and a tune-up costs $300+ due to the placement of the sparkplugs. The turning radius is horrible and the rear view is alittle obstructed. I would not drive anything else though.
The Mitsubishi Camaro
JPRacer, 08/19/2006
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
In the three years I have driven it, the Avenger is an overall excellent car. Exterior styling is second only to the Viper. Handling exceeds the power for a stiff, yet solidly comfortable ride. Interior space is engineered to the max for functionality and comfort with basic, well-placed controls and ample trunk space. The 163HP V-6 is brisk, yet not overpowering and has had no real problems at all for 80,000+ miles. Performs at the fun-to-drive level and accessories are pleasing. Fuel mileage is decent, but could be better. It's a unique auto and turns heads wherever I go. Definitely a great car if taken care of properly. I will keep mine as long as I can.
Great car
kay, 02/26/2008
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car in 98 when it had 3000 mi on it. It is currently 2008 and I now have 81000. This has been a great, reliable car! I can't say enough about the car. I have never had any mechanical issues and have always kept up with routine maintenance. The car is still peppy when accelerating, gets good gas mileage, and the exterior style turns heads. Not many of these cars around, but after 11 years, it still turns heads!
Avenger
Somer24, 08/16/2004
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have had my Avenger for over 6 years now. It is an ES V6 and has been very reliable. I have only had 1 minor problem with it. The only thing that discourages me about this car is the tires. I have had the worst luck with tires splitting on this car. They are also VERY expensive. The turning ratio is horrible, but the car looks good and is fun to drive.
Swisher's review
swishersplitter, 07/19/2005
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. Too bad the 6-cylinder didn't come in a stick, but the 2.0 liter DOHC 4 cylender is fun too. I heard some bad things about them, but I have loved mine and never had any major problems. You can mod the engine with Eclipse parts since Mitsubishi makes them both.
A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing
Rotting, 03/16/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Over the 3 years I owned the car, the first 1.5 years were trouble-free, and the last 1.5 years were trouble-full. The problems seemed to be related to things I've never had problems with in cars - for example, last month I had to install a new power steering pump. Even religious oil changes will not help to keep this car out of the shop. During my last trip to the shop, during a test drive the car caught fire and was destroyed.
What I think about this car.
abcdef123, 09/19/2006
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
An amazing vehicle indeed. I can't really find anything that is horribly wrong with it to where I would complain. I would recommend this car to anyone.
Love my little red rocket
Rhonda, 01/16/2007
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car after almost everyone I know warned me against buying a Dodge. All of them are at least somewhat impressed with the car, but not as much as I am. This car is fun! Aside from being a real head turner, the acceleration is great! The turning radius is a sad joke, but I can live with that. Who would have thought that my 10 year old beauty could still give me over 30mpg and raise eyebrows at the same time. The only mechanical items I have had to address in 5 years were routine maint. and ball joint failure on the passenger side. This was at least a recall item though and I hope to be reimbursed by Dodge shortly. She's a great car still!
The baby Viper
Steelnyak, 03/25/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Avenger is an exceptional car for the money, and it has enough power, looks, and features to keep it in my garage.
The Poor Man's Viper
OakleyJohn, 04/16/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a wonderful car. I bought it with 73,000 miles on it. I have at it for over 6 months now and it is a great car. The Avenger seems to get a bad rap, only because there were some major flaws in the ES V6, but the STD 4 CYL runs great. Turning ratio is a bit annoying, but hey a small price to pay for such a low maintainence car that packs a wallop! Overall the Avenger is a great car, if you buy the STD 4 CYL.
Fun to drive great on gas!
Steve, 08/26/2007
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Well I was lucky enough that this was my first car, I have the same one in the picture and it was the 2.0L 4 cylinder with automatic transmission. It was purchased for $4000. 2 weeks after purchasing it used the check engine light came on, then shortly after the car would not go into gear. Got it fixed, all they did is change the air and transmission filter. Set me back $97. 1 week after the repair the dodge avenger messed up again. This time the car didn't start because of an axle? Repair cost $1800. Overall the car is fun to drive, great on gas. I can spend $25 on gas and get any were from 250-300 miles on 1/2-3/4 tank of gas, or 7-9 gallons of the 12 gallon tank.
Awesome
Nareitz, 02/26/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is an awesome vehicle. I went from a Honda Accord to the Avenger and will never get another Honda again. These cars ROCK
nice
mrsbrandy, 03/13/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just got mine avenger and i love it so far. The seats are kinda uncomfortable, and it is hard to see behind you when backing up especially in your blind spot its very hard to see.Seems like the 6 in mine just drinks gas Like people drink water. The design is nice--very fun to drive...and the factory stereo is great. I hope it doesnt have problems like some ive read on the net...
Fun Car to Drive
Abugado, 04/02/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Mid priced sporty coupe with exceptional interior design; the car handles well!!
1997 Dodge Avenger 2 Dr Coupe 6 cyl 2.5
"J", 11/06/2008
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Wow I really like this car a lot. I bought it having 120,000 miles on it. Really no major problems. I had the water pump gasket begin to leak, but kinda difficult to get around under the hood. Should have small hands. Seeing behind you is kinda annoying, and turning ratio isn't great. Very powerful, and sleek, stylish. Gas mileage is OK. Radio system great. Little low in the front end. Plenty of space. Overall it does its job nicely.
Avenger
Sebring, 01/23/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Exception car to drive. Fuel economy is great yet the car has a very sporty feel with plenty of power and excellent handling. Fun to drive in town or down on the highway.
great car
Douggie fresh, 09/22/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
funnest and nicest lokking car i have ever driven
Great Affordable Car
Slonestar2000, 03/01/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Avenger in September of 1999 and I've had only a few maintenance difficulties with it but nothing that I couldn't repair myself. This car is amazingly low maintenance, and stylish yet still affordable.
Dodge exclusive. None other like it. Increasing the fleet.
pepteye, 06/22/2013
1997 Dodge Avenger 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
A Dodge boy needed a commuter. OK Mitsubishi in Wolves clothing. That said it is a unique offering. 4000 lbs and 30+ MPG is a good compromise. When I'm making my commute for 50 miles each way over a 1800 foot pass in the silicone valley I feel good. Take care of the timing belt it will cost you if it breaks. Best Dodge commuter until the new Challenger gets 30MPG. and you have 30K to spare.......Have one for the daughter and will likely win up with 4. CAME BACK A KILLER WENT OUT A WINNER...Thanks Brad....
Great Care
jamesbond, 06/15/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a great car that is fun to drive, yet it lacks in performance under the hood. Handleing is tight and it rides smooth. Got 55K and running good!
DAMN GOOD CAR
AUNEMAN, 08/22/2003
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is not the fastest sports car on the road but, it is a damn good one.
Great Car, but now I've got a baby
Kim, 03/05/2002
1997 Dodge Avenger ES 2dr Coupe
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I loved this car, but just had a baby and got a 4-door sedan (NOT a mini-van). I knew I couldn't keep driving a sports car, but didn't want to become a soccer-mom just yet. I wish I could have kept the Avenger.