2012 Dodge AVENGER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Dodge AVENGER has 837 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: upon using air conditioner or heater. there is a slight knocking noise coming from the passenger side dash. knocking noise even continues after car has been off for hours. any time car lights come on knocking noise occurs.. ⚠️ 12 fire reports filed.

12 fire reports 46 crash reports 47 injuries

837

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

164 complaints

20%

• UPON USING AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER. THERE IS A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. KNOCKING NOISE EVEN CONTINUES AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR HOURS. ANY TIME CAR LIGHTS COME ON KNOCKING NOISE OCCURS.
• DRIVING DOWN OWEN K GARRIOTT TO TAKE MY DOG TO THE VET AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND I SAW JACKSON'S ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I PULLED IN THEIR AND THEY HOOKED MY CAR UP TO SOME KIND OF TEST THAT TOOK AN HOUR AND GAVE ME A RIDE TO THE VET.WHEN I GOT BACK TO JAC
• AT THE END OF LAST WINTER I NOTICED MY HEAT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT, AND AFTER A FEW COLD DAYS RECENTLY I HAVE NO HEAT COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. PRETTY WARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I SEE THAT THIS IS PRETTY COMMON IN DODGE AVENGERS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED SO MY FAMILY CAN BE WARM WHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“UPON USING AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER. THERE IS A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. KNOCKING NOISE EVEN CONTINUES AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR HOURS. ANY TIME CAR LIGHTS COME ON KNOCKING NOISE OCCURS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

122 complaints

15%

• NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTERS I WARM CAR UP FOR 10 MIN. DRIVER SIDE CLEARS BUT PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FROSTED OVER IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MILES TO FINALLY CLEAR OFF. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS WERE NOT INSIDE THE IGNITION SWIT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTERS I WARM CAR UP FOR 10 MIN. DRIVER SIDE CLEARS BUT PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FROSTED OVER IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MILES TO FINALLY CLEAR OFF. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

110 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND THEN CRASHED INTO A STEEL CABLE BARRIER. THE ONLY AIR BAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS. THE FRONT P
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V282000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE MILEAG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED MINOR LEG AND BACK INJURIES. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 22 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND THEN CRASHED INTO A STEEL CABLE BARRIER. THE ONLY AIR BAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS. THE FRONT P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

108 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WAY THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ARRANGED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO REMOVE HIS EYES FROM THE ROADWAY IN ORDER TO VERIFY AT WHAT SPEED HE WAS TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D
• AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A SHORT 10 MILE DRIVE I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES WHEN I CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START THE BATTERY HAD A FULL CHARGE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP ALL GEARS I ATTEMPTE
• THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A PEA THRASHER WHEN ITS STARTED ON COLD MORNING. (IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER THAT HAS LOST ITS PRIME). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, SURGES (OVER REVS) WHEN COMING TO S ATOP, AND AT TIMES WHEN ITS DOWN SHIFTING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, IT SLA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WAY THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ARRANGED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO REMOVE HIS EYES FROM THE ROADWAY IN ORDER TO VERIFY AT WHAT SPEED HE WAS TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

91 complaints

11%

• THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A PEA THRASHER WHEN ITS STARTED ON COLD MORNING. (IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER THAT HAS LOST ITS PRIME). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, SURGES (OVER REVS) WHEN COMING TO S ATOP, AND AT TIMES WHEN ITS DOWN SHIFTING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, IT SLA
• VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON MAY 29,2012, VEHICLE WAS ONE OF THREE AVENGERS PURCHASED. THE OTHER TWO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. ON NOVEMBER 28, 2012 AT 12,940 MILES BOTH FRONT TIRES WORN COMPLETELY DOWN. ON JANUARY 15,2013, AT 16,892 MILES THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON JANU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF AND ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER/INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND TO BE REPAI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A PEA THRASHER WHEN ITS STARTED ON COLD MORNING. (IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER THAT HAS LOST ITS PRIME). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, SURGES (OVER REVS) WHEN COMING TO S ATOP, AND AT TIMES WHEN ITS DOWN SHIFTING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, IT SLA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 837 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: UPON USING AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER. THERE IS A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. KNOCKING NOISE EVEN CONTINUES AFTER CAR HAS BEEN OFF FOR HOURS. ANY TIME CAR LIGHTS COME ON KNOCKING NOISE OCCURS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE DEFROSTERS I WARM CAR UP FOR 10 MIN. DRIVER SIDE CLEARS BUT PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL FROSTED OVER IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MILES TO FINALLY CLEAR OFF. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER SE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND THEN CRASHED INTO A STEEL CABLE BARRIER. THE ONLY AIR BAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS. THE FRONT P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WAY THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ARRANGED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO REMOVE HIS EYES FROM THE ROADWAY IN ORDER TO VERIFY AT WHAT SPEED HE WAS TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)