KnownCarProblems2012 Dodge Avenger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 554 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Avenger, most often about the other or unspecified (29% of complaints, typically around 75,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Avenger model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Dodge Avenger problems
Other or unspecified
163 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 75,500 miles.
The heater in the car now only blows out hot air on the drivers side. Which in turn only clears off half of the windshield, making the visibility of the road difficult. During the changes in the temperature outside and the humidity levels it is impossible to get a clear view of the road. This condition is happening…
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 exit the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through…
Visibility and wipers
119 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 71,500 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, glass, side/rear.
I have been having issues with my horn sounding while driving and took it to the dealership and they could not diagnose the problem. The horn continued to sound while driving at different times without warning and on august 1, 2018 I was driving and it was raining and my horn started sounding and I had my windshield…
Windshield wipers will randomly stop working. Issue happens when the vehicle is stationary and in motion. I was on the express way in a downpour rain and my wipers stopped working, I had zero visibility and had to pull over for 20 minutes until they came back on.
Electrical
109 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator.
Etc replacement. Vehicle will jump, stall, or stutter in the middle of driving. You wont be able to push on the gas pedal for a while and will cause damage to engine and transmission.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While driving 55 MPH, the engine stalled and all the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The…
Air bags
109 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Without cause, the airbag light came on. After investigating the issue, I find that my car had a recall for the tipm, which was not done. I then had the tipm reset, however it did not turn the light out. Then I had a diagnostic test done that came up with a code of b2208, which of course warranty doesn't cover. This…
I was in accident the brakes failed during hard braking. I hit the brake pedal so hard I bent the pedal assembly. The seatbelt restraints didn't lockup and threw me forward so I hit my head on the roof line the point of impact was the sun visor. The airbags did not deploy and I hit the steering wheel with my chest. I…
Engine
91 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, exhaust system.
I own a Dodge 2012 Avenger and had some issues here and there but this is the first time the vehicle just died for no reason. I was stopped in heavy traffic on a hill, ready to merge onto the freeway. The light turned green and I stepped on the gas peddle and nothing happened. I wasn't sure what was going on so I put…
I was driving when my car lost power multiple times with the key in the ingition. The third time all of the lights on the dash went off and I had to coast into a parking spot. I had to jump the vehicle to get it started
Seat belts
43 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags, seat belts). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the…
I was in accident the brakes failed during hard braking. I hit the brake pedal so hard I bent the pedal assembly. The seatbelt restraints didn't lockup and threw me forward so I hit my head on the roof line the point of impact was the sun visor. The airbags did not deploy and I hit the steering wheel with my chest. I…
Transmission
31 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Will not shift into drive until speed reaches 45 - 50 MPH. Can not accelerate over 4000 RPM at any time. Unable to pass other slow moving vehicles at a reasonable speed. Have taken the vehicle into the Dodge service center, explained what was happening, and was told "nothing is wrong with it because there is no sensor…
Takata recall also heater core issue. Heat only blows on drivers side when set to heat and cold air blows on passenger side. Seems to be a known issue with chrysler but they do not want to force a recall. Transmission also slams into gear when stopping and at times before acceleration. No dip stick to verify fluid…
Stability control
25 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
While driving down the interstate with the cruise control on, the cruise shut off, the brake light, ABS light and traction control light came on and the car experienced a sudden lose of power and was braking itself. The sudden lose of speed and braking out of the driver's control on the interstate during rush hour…
In april 2018 and again in november 2018 my car stalled, completely died while I was stopped at a traffic light on a hill. I had to put the car in neutral and restart the car. This was on a hill, heading to a highway entry.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Dodge Avenger recalls
Seats: head restraint
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
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.
Full defect summary
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 module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Active head rest inadvertent deployment
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe19014 on september 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the active head rest (ahr) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (my) 2014 jeep grand cherokee and dodge durango vehicles.when odi opened the investigation, odi was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.a small number of early warning reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat ahr inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.reported safety consequences resulting from the ahr deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of
Questions about the 2012 Dodge Avenger
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Avenger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: other or unspecified (163 complaints, typically around 75,500 miles); visibility and wipers (119 complaints, typically around 71,500 miles); electrical (109 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Avenger have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 10, 2017 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Dodge Avenger?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Avenger model year since 2000, with 554 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.