Problems · by component

2012 Dodge Avenger seat belts problems

43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Avenger cite seat belts, 8% of all 554 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
43
8% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the seat belts

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“THE VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY IN CERTAIN CRASH EVENTS DUE TO A SHORTING CONDITION RESULTING IN A NEGATIVE VOLTAGE TRANSIENT THAT TRAVELS TO THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER VIA THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WIRES. THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER (ORC) MAY CAUSE AN ILLUMINATED AIRBAG WARNING LAMP DUE TO AN INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE ORC WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO DEPLOY ACTIVE HEADRESTS (AHR) DURING CERTAIN REAR-END CRASHES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR 02/2017”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2021Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11388702
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A YIELD SIGN, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEVER ENGAGED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINED A HEAD CONTUSION, CONCUSSION, NECK SPRAIN, AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND UNDERWENT SEVERAL BRAIN SCANS. SHE WAS ALSO CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING MINOR SEIZURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM OF CORPUS CHRISTI (4313 S STAPLES ST, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411, 361-288-2510) WHERE IT WAS KEPT FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR REGARDING THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT A LEAK WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2019Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11252978
“OFFICIALLY WRITTEN COMPLAINT REGARDING UNREASONABLE DELAY BY DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR RECALLED PART. FIRST NOTICE WAS ISSUED OVER A YEAR AGO, HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG. IN MEAN TIME HAVE RECEIVED 2ND RECALL FOR SEATBELT MALFUNCTION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11032260
“WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FOR OUR 2012 DODGE AVENGER THAT OUR SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK IN A CRASH. OF COURSE WE WERE VERY CONCERNED AS THIS WAS OUR ONLY CAR. WHEN WE CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY RECALL FIXED, THEY LIED AND TOLD US IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. WE GOT TIRED OF WAITING AND WENT TO TRADE THIS CAR IN FOR A TOYOTA. WE WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT THIS SAFELY RECALL WAS STAMPED WITH "NO FIX" AVAILABLE. DODGE WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE AND WE LOST OVER $7,000 IN TRADE IN VALUE DUE TO THIS "NO FIX" SAFETY RECALL. HOW CAN THESE COMPANIES GET AWAY WITH NOT FIXING SUCH A DANGEROUS SAFETY RECALLS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11019337
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FRANK FLETCHER DODGE IN SHERWOOD, AR: 501-834-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,246. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2017Air bags, Seat belts, EngineODI 11016044

Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Seat belts: pretensioner

Remedy pending

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

Seat beltsReported Sep 15, 2016NHTSA 16V668000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

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