Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Dodge Avenger problems

Owners filed 554 complaints about the 2012 Dodge Avenger with NHTSA between Feb 2012 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (109).

Complaints
554
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
34
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
35
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system109
  2. Air bags109
  3. Visibility/wiper95
  4. Engine87
  5. Seat belts43
  6. Power train31
  7. Visibility25
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)25
  9. Service brakes21
  10. Steering20
  11. Structure20
  12. Fuel/propulsion system16
  13. Vehicle speed control16
  14. Seats14

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201210
201322
201431
201553
201644
201777
2018119
201991
202055
202120
202211
20235
20248
20256
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

109 reports5 crashes5 fires1 related recall
“My 2012 dodge avenger will shut off whenever it feels like and you lose control of power steering. It feels like it’s not getting gas. It will crank back up when it feels like.The horn honks randomly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11767606

Air bags

109 reports22 crashes
“I was driving and I stopped at a stop sign. When I got ready to go, the car stalled and stopped and wouldn't start. After 30 minutes, it started but I ended up having it towed. My mechanic was able to replicate it after putting the car in the sun, running it for 10 minutes and then driving it. When the mechanic tried to look at it, he couldn't find anything to cause it to stop. I look it to the dealership. They were unable to replicate it or find the problem. It seems to happen when the car gets hot it stops without warning. Other people in the Dodge Avenger online group have experienced the same thing. The horn also keeps beeping without warning and the airbag sign is on. I think all of these items are connected. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2025Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11677692

Visibility/wiper

95 reports1 crash
“Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2025Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11699661

Engine

87 reports4 crashes6 fires
“My car dies while im driving down the street, making it difficult to steer and qhen you try to restart it, sometimes it starts and some times it don't. But this is not the first time its happened it was just the latest”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2026EngineODI 11739856

Seat belts

43 reports8 crashes1 related recall
“On November 19, 2021 I was a passenger in the above vehicle, which was owned by my ex-husband. We were involved in a 3 car accident when another car cut us off while driving at the speed of 45 mph (posted), with cruise control set. Upon impact with the 2 other vehicles, my seat (the passenger side seat) broke and threw me forward into the front passenger side compartment. Even though the dash airbags deployed, I suffered a catastrophic injury to my leg/ankle that required immediate surgery---had I not had surgery, I would have never walked again. The above vehicle had to be towed due to being a total loss. When my ex-husband went to the salvage yard to retrieve his belongings out of the totaled car, he and his daughter noticed that the front passenger side seat was broke. The vehicle, I believe is no longer available for inspection, since my significant other gave the title to the salvage yard. There has been a recall affecting the seat restraint pretensioners, however, since I did not own said vehicle, I do not know if this one was included in that recall. According to my ex-husband, there was no warning, messages, or other symptoms of a problem before this…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2022Seat belts, SeatsCrash reportedODI 11458662

Power train

31 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I HAVE A 2012 DODGE AVENGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 76200 MILES ON IT. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT MY TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR BUT THE RPMS BUT JUMP UP TO ABOUT 7000 AND STAY THERE. I WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROADWAY GOING THROUGH A CITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ENDED UP MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 76,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION ISSUES SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE AVENGERS. AND OF COURSE WHEN I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER CARE THEY STATED THEY CAN DO NOTHING FOR ME ON ANY KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 76000 MILES! VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2021Power trainODI 11397713
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.