The pcmcia light comes on then goes off.car will some times chugs and wants to shut off in motion
2009 Dodge Avenger airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Dodge Avenger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Dodge Avenger we track for airbags problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (11).
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three distinct airbag problems on the 2009 Dodge Avenger. First, spontaneous deployments with no collision: one owner was hit with deployment at highway speed on a straight road; another at 1 mph during parallel parking with light contact; a third at 70 mph crossing the steering wheel with no impact at all. These deployments cracked windshields and created serious safety concerns.
Second, failure to deploy during actual crashes. One owner experienced a frontal collision at 5 mph when another vehicle struck the passenger side, but the airbags never deployed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, though repair details are sparse.
Third, intermittent airbag warning lights with beeping and clicking sounds, often worsening during turns. One owner heard spring noises and pinging from behind the steering wheel while turning and pulled the airbag fuse out of safety concern. These warning lights appear and disappear over time; one owner reported the light returning one year after an initial failure repair.
The inconsistency is troubling: some Avengers deploy for no reason, others won't deploy when they should.
Same Dodge Avenger airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous deployment without collision
Airbags deployed without any impact, collision, or triggering event. One complaint involved deployment while at highway speed with no contact; another during parallel parking at 1 mph with only light contact; a third at 70 mph on a straight, flat road with no incidents. Owners reported no crashes, debris, animals, or road conditions that would justify deployment.
When: Various: ~11,000 miles (highway deployment); parking lot (1 mph bump); highway conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed with no collision; Passenger-side windshield severely cracked from deployment force; No crash or impact recorded; Deployment occurred during normal driving and low-speed parking
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield damage noted; vehicle returned to rental agency or towed to dealer; repairs unknown in some cases
Airbag non-deployment in actual collision
Airbags failed to deploy during a frontal crash when another vehicle struck the driver's front passenger side at low speed (~5 mph). Police report filed; no injuries reported despite impact severity.
When: ~97,000 miles at time of failure
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during frontal collision; Vehicle struck on front passenger side by another vehicle; Airbag warning light re-illuminated one year later at 115,416 miles
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; repairs performed but details unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Intermittent airbag warning light with beeping
Airbag warning light cycles on and off, often accompanied by beeping sounds. In one case, the light came on and off and triggered airbag sounds more frequently during left-hand turns. One owner pulled the fuse due to concern about unintended deployment. Another complaint noted the light staying on continuously or cycling intermittently.
When: Various mileages; one noted as occurring frequently over time; one complaint at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on and off intermittently; Beeping or airbag sound with warning light cycling; Light more frequent during left turns; Pinging/spring noise heard behind steering wheel when turning; Light staying on continuously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner pulled airbag fuse due to safety concern; no repairs cited in other complaints
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
While driving a 2009 Dodge avenger from national car rental (~11,000 miles on the vehicle) at 70 MPH on a florida toll way, the airbags deployed. There was no collision or contact with anything (animal, road debris, etc.), the road was flat and straight, and there were no circumstances or events that would have caused the airbags to deploy. I was talking on a cell phone using a bluetooth…
Air bags blew up when parrell parking bumped a car in front of me at 1 mile per hour and boom.
It began with the air bag light going on and off as well as the air bag sound. It became more frequent and occurred mostly when taking a left hand turn. Concerned that the air bags might deploy, I pulled the fuse. When turning the steering wheel, there is a spring noise behind the steering wheel that pings in either direction.
I was driving down the highway and getting back to speed and heard a bang. Didn't hit anything and the driver's and passenger side airbags deployed. I was not injured and injured no-one else. My windshield on the passenger side was severly cracked. Now I'm between a rock and hard place, my insurance says that it may not be covered since I didn't collide with anyone, and I'm over my 36000…
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Dodge Avenger?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Dodge Avenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 69,437 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Dodge/Avenger.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.