Problems · by component
2013 Dodge Avenger air bags problems
154 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Avenger cite air bags, 28% of all 548 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
154
28% of all complaints
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
28
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Both head rest which is attached to airbags or have airbags in them I don’t know but the exploded open. Headrest could have exploded while someone was in the seat and got head injuries. No problem has not been confirmed by anyone but myself,husband and self employed mechanic, I didn’t know what to do. No, no type of warning before it happen. Passenger one exploded January 2025, driver exploded about May 2025.”
“The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights on the instrument panel flashed on and off. The contact stated that the horn was inadvertently honked while the vehicle was losing motive power. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.”
“I was driving my car and the active headrests on the driver side and passenger side both deployed prematurely. I wasn't in any collisions and the headrests deployed. It was very unexpected when they went off as i was driving to school it put both my safety and my sisters safety at risk when they deployed. As stated previously i am unsure as to why they went off as i was never involved in any collisions. There were no warning lamps or any messages prior to them deploying.”
“The TIPM failed causing the car to shut off and not start again. The problem has been confirmed by Upstate Auto. There was a recall on the TIPM but it was not replaced instead some occupant restraints were replaced instead and now the manufacturer does not make the TIPM part anymore.”
“The headrest in front passenger side made a loud noise and opened. It's scared me, because I had no clue what the noise was from at the time. It was night time and all I can say is thank God no other cars were near me...I probably would have wrecked. I'm very thankful that my son was not sitting there when it happened. There were no lights or warnings and I never knew that could happen let alone know the headrests could pop open. The vehicle has not been looked at our inspected. I seen there was a recall on this but after entering my Vin, it says this car has no active recalls.”
“My husband a I were driving down the highway and all of a sudden a loud sound a bam the air bag in the passenger seat blew open and dang near gave my husband whiplash. Also I have had the thermostat replaced 3 times in 2 years and the car is still overheating. The ABS sensor will not go off and its like the emergency brake is stuck. I can be driving and when I try to stop it is like its locking up.”
Showing 6 of 154 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.