2011 Dodge AVENGER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Dodge AVENGER has 311 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: passenger defrost blows cold air which means it is not clearing the windows in inclement weather. the frosting of windows has created safety issues for me because on a busy road i have almost had an accident.. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 16 crash reports 7 injuries

311

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

58 complaints

19%

• PASSENGER DEFROST BLOWS COLD AIR WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT CLEARING THE WINDOWS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FROSTING OF WINDOWS HAS CREATED SAFETY ISSUES FOR ME BECAUSE ON A BUSY ROAD I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.
• DEFROSTER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. DROVE FOR 40 MINUTES HAD TO KEEP FAN AND HEAT CONTROL ON FULL THE WHOLE TIME TO KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEANED OFF. SIDE WINDOWS NEVER CLEARED OFF.
• MY 2011 DODGE AVENGER HEAT HAS A HEATING PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAT/DEFROST ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. I PUT THE FAN ON HIGH AND STILL ONLY COLD AIR. WHEN WARMING CAR UP WITH REMOTE START THE CAR IS NOT WARM AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TO NOT DEFROST. I DRIVE 50 M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“PASSENGER DEFROST BLOWS COLD AIR WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT CLEARING THE WINDOWS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FROSTING OF WINDOWS HAS CREATED SAFETY ISSUES FOR ME BECAUSE ON A BUSY ROAD I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

41 complaints

13%

• VEHICLE MADE A MECHANICAL CLICKING NOISE AT LOW SPEED DUE TO ELECTRIC MODULE FAILURE. *KB
• THE CAR HAS A TREMENDOUS DELAY WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL FROM ANY SPEED. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME A FEW ACCIDENTS ALREADY WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE NO TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE FINALLY REACTS AFTER A SECOND OR TWO OF HAVING PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE PEDAL IS PRESSED SO FAR BY
• THERE IS A SIZABLE WATER LEAK ENTERING THE TRUNK LID INNER PANELS, ORIGINATING FROM THE LACK OF A PROPER SEAL AROUND THE THIRD HIGH BRAKE LITE ASSEMBLY( CHMSL). THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CHRYSLER SINCE THE 2008 MODEL YEAR OF THE AVENGER, STRATUS, SEBRING AND PT CRUISER. THEY ARE CURRENTLY USI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE MADE A MECHANICAL CLICKING NOISE AT LOW SPEED DUE TO ELECTRIC MODULE FAILURE. *KB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

39 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES AND WOULD ONLY OCCUR ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT T
• UPON COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED/ SHUT OFF. HAD TO PUT IN IN PARK TO RESTART AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SEEMS NORMAL NOW. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

35 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE DROVE THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THAT SUFFERED NECK INJURI
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. THE INJURY STATUS OF THE OCCUPA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

26 complaints

• I HAVE A 2011 DODGE AVENGER EXPRESS AND HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY ONLY WORK ON THE HIGH SETTING. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR THAT WOULD COST $200. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THAT REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THAT A NEW MOTOR WASN'T CALLED FOR BUT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIPERS OPERATED NON-STOP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR PARKED, THE DEFROSTER FAILED WHEN ACTIVATED AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC WHO FLUSHED THE RADIATOR LINES AND INSTALLED A NE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A 2011 DODGE AVENGER EXPRESS AND HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY ONLY WORK ON THE HIGH SETTING. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR THAT WOULD COST $200. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN FOR THAT REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THAT A NEW MOTOR WASN'T CALLED FOR BUT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 311 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: PASSENGER DEFROST BLOWS COLD AIR WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT CLEARING THE WINDOWS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FROSTING OF WINDOWS HAS CREATED SAFETY ISSUES FOR ME BECAUSE ON A BUSY ROAD I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE MADE A MECHANICAL CLICKING NOISE AT LOW SPEED DUE TO ELECTRIC MODULE FAILURE. *KB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)