Every time I start my car, the airbag lights stays on. It will not turn off.
2010 Dodge Avenger airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Dodge Avenger have filed 36 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 95,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Avenger | 71 |
| 2009 Avenger | 11 |
| 2010 Avenger (this page) | 36 |
| 2011 Avenger | 27 |
| 2012 Avenger | 87 |
| 2013 Avenger | 129 |
| 2014 Avenger | 67 |
12crashes
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 36 airbags complaints filed for the 2010 Dodge Avenger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 36 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Airbags accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2010 Dodge Avenger is subject to NHTSA Recall 16V-668 for defective Takata airbag and seat belt pretensioner systems. Owners report the recall parts were unavailable at dealerships for over a year after recall notices were issued, leaving their vehicles unrepaired despite known safety defects. Several owners were driven in crashes—head-on collisions, T-bone impacts, rollovers, and rear-end hits—where airbags either failed entirely to deploy or deployed only partially (front bags but not side curtains). Injuries included concussions, broken bones, neck and back injuries, and bruising. In one case, a brake failure preceded a crash where airbags failed; in another, a rollover at 45 mph resulted in no airbag deployment and total vehicle destruction.
Beyond deployment failures, owners report persistent airbag warning lights that remain illuminated or flash even after recall service attempts. Dealerships either dismiss these as unrelated to the recall or cite loose wires and faulty sensors without performing repairs. One owner experienced spontaneous airbag deployment at 5 mph with no impact. Another reported airbag fragmentation causing windshield breakage and facial lacerations. Manufacturers and dealers offered no meaningful remedy—one dealership proposed $35-per-day reimbursement instead of loaner vehicles for owners unable to use safety-defective cars. The extended parts shortage and unresolved warning lights leave owners driving vehicles with compromised restraint systems and no clear repair path.
Same Dodge Avenger airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment capability (Recall 16V-668)
Occupant restraint control module failure preventing airbag and seat belt pretensioner deployment in crash events. This is a Takata recall affecting the entire restraint system.
When: Affecting vehicles from manufacture; repair delayed by parts unavailability spanning over one year in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle included in NHTSA Campaign 16V-668 with no parts available for repair; Airbags failed to deploy in multiple crash scenarios despite recall notice; Seat belt pretensioners did not function as intended
Codes mentioned: 16V-668, 16V668000
Repairs/costs cited: Occupant restraint control module replacement required; parts unavailable at dealerships for extended periods (reported over 1 year in some cases). Some dealers offered temporary $35/day reimbursement instead of loaner vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-668 / 16V668000 issued for airbags and seat belts. Interim recall notices sent but remedy parts not supplied to dealers. Manufacturer confirmed parts unavailable with no guaranteed timeline.
Airbag deployment failure in crashes
Complete or partial airbag system failure to deploy during frontal and side impact crashes where deployment should have occurred.
When: Mileage range 41,000–150,000 miles; reported in crashes at speeds from 35 to 75 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags completely failed to deploy in frontal crashes; Side curtain airbags failed to deploy in T-bone collision; No airbag deployment during rollover accident (4 times at 45 mph); Failed deployment when vehicle hit utility pole at 45 mph; Failed deployment in rear-end collision at unknown speed
Codes mentioned: 16V-668, 16V668000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled; some occupants sustained injuries requiring medical attention including concussions, broken bones, neck/back injuries, and bruising. One vehicle destroyed in head-on crash at 35–40 mph with no injuries reported.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V-668 issued. Vehicles included in recall but parts unavailable; some owners never contacted dealer for repairs. Manufacturer not notified in several incidents.
Airbag warning light illumination and persistent warnings
Dashboard airbag warning indicator remaining illuminated or flashing continuously, often with accompanying beeping alerts. Issue remains unresolved even after recall service attempts.
When: Reported at various mileages; some after recall work performed (42,700 miles, 121,764 miles, 158,540 miles); duration up to 4 months in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag/seat belt warning light on and will not turn off; Light flashing on and off intermittently; Continuous beeping when starting vehicle (approximately 7 beeps reported); Beeping sounds at complete stops and when turning wheel; Warning light remained illuminated for approximately 4 months
Codes mentioned: Airbag warning indicator illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed possible faulty airbag, loose wire, or bad sensor but vehicle not repaired. One owner reported dealership suggested wiring issue and dismissed concern as not part of recall. Owner reluctant to drive vehicle due to warning light.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives for warning light issues. Dealerships refused to diagnose or repair, citing not part of recall.
Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact
Airbag system deployed during normal low-speed driving with no crash or impact incident.
When: At 5 mph during normal driving; 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed without any crash or impact; Vehicle immobilized and had to be towed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. Both insurance company and Dodge sent representatives to inspect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure but no corrective action documented.
Airbag fragmentation and lacerations
Airbag deployment resulting in broken windshield glass and cuts to occupant face from shattered glass and airbag material.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag broke windshield during deployment; Small cuts to face from glass fragments
Repairs/costs cited: Owner sustained lacerations to face from airbag deployment.
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Dodge avenger. While driving 45 MPH, another vehicle t- boned the contact's vehicle. The front air bags deployed, but the side curtain air bags did not. The passenger sustained a concussion, broken nose, and fractured sternum. A police report was filed. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The contact received notification of NHTSA…
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Dodge avenger. While driving 75 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle as it lost power and crashed into the rear passenger side of a u-haul truck. The air bag did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed destroyed by the contact's insurance company. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The crash was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge avenger. While driving at a low speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a frontal crash with another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was able to drive the vehicle from the crash scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to be repaired by an independent mechanic. There were no injuries. The vehicle was included in NHTSA…
Had airbags trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Dodge Avenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 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?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 70,000 and 121,764 miles, with the median around 95,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 121,764. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2010/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.