2012 Dodge Avenger problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (94) · Air Bags (42) · Engine (41)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Avenger model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
391 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint 2017-10-10 · campaign 17V640000 · 363,930 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2016-09-15 · campaign 16V668000 · 1,435,625 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
Air Bags 2013-07-02 · campaign 13V282000 · 442,320 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control mo
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
Service bulletins (108)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-06-18 · U67 Combo Rev11 · Warranty Program/Extension
emissions recall u67 - catalytic converter efficiency - dealer notification (revision 11)
Unknown Or Other 2025-04-02 · 103954 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
actuator - a/c and heater
Unknown Or Other 2025-04-02 · 104087 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
actuator - a/c and heater
Equipment 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Suspension 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Electrical System 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Showing the 6 most recent of 108 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-28 · Steering“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.…”
2026-05-25 · Engine“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…”
2025-11-16 · Visibility/Wiper“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 circ…”
2025-08-01 · Unknown Or Other“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…”
2025-04-23 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint“the contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2012 dodge avenger. the contact stated that while her son was exiting a parking lot, upon driving over a speed bump, the passenger’s side head restraint unintendedly deployed. there was no warning light illuminated. the local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. the contact…”
2025-02-10 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint · 125,900 mi“the contact owns a 2012 dodge avenger. the contact received notification of an undisclosed recall. the contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the front passenger’s side headrest deployed inadvertently. the contact stated that a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved dtc: u0184. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufactur…”
2025-01-02 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint“the contact owns a 2012 dodge avenger. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side headrest deployed inadvertently and struck the head of the front seat passenger. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an undisclosed recall; however, the failure occurred. the vehicle was taken to …”
2025-01-02 · Unknown Or Other“my car has no heat on the passenger side causing window fogging this is the 3 time i have had the car in at the dealers and they say it's a clogged heater core i have the extended warranty. the dealer said the warranty is no longer covering heater cores when it should a recall with so many complaints. barkau chrysler dodge jeep ram at 700 east sou…”
2024-10-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor · 137,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 dodge avenger. the contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. the manufactu…”
2024-10-22 · Air Bags · 227,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 dodge avenger. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an auto repair shop where it was diagnosed that there was an open circuit in the front driver’s side air bag squib. the contact was informed that the air bag squib needed to …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.