Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Dodge avenger. While attempting to start the vehicle, the throttle indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the battery failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was…
2010 Dodge Avenger cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Dodge Avenger have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 68,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Avenger | 87 |
| 2010 Avenger (this page) | 17 |
| 2011 Avenger | 7 |
| 2012 Avenger | 8 |
| 2013 Avenger | 20 |
| 2014 Avenger | 6 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 17 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Dodge Avenger, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Among the 6 model years of Dodge Avenger in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2010 Dodge Avenger report electronic throttle control failures in three flavors, all scary.
Stalling and power loss dominate the complaints. The ETC warning light pops on, the engine stalls or loses power hard—sometimes dropping speed from highway to 15 mph in seconds—and the vehicle won't accelerate normally. This happens at stop lights, during city driving, and on interstates. Restart temporarily fixes it; then it happens again. One mechanic told an owner throttle issues are common for this model year.
Unintended acceleration appears in multiple complaints: the gas pedal floors itself, brakes don't slow the car, and the engine RPMs spike. One owner crashed at 5 mph into two poles when the car wouldn't stop. Traction control warnings light up alongside these surges.
Recurring failures after repair plague owners most. Dealers and mechanics replace the throttle body or ETC unit for $400–$800, the car runs fine for a day or two, then fails again. One owner replaced the ETC body twice in six months and needed it replaced a third time. Another couldn't get a single technician to identify the root cause—they kept fixing different parts (brakes, rotors, oil) without solving the deceleration problem. No warning codes appear in many cases, and no codes means dealers claim nothing's wrong. Chrysler deferred responsibility to dealers when asked.
Mileage ranges 7,900 to 100,000, clustering around 40,000–75,000.
Same Dodge Avenger cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) stalling and loss of power
Engine stalls or loses power while driving, often at low speeds or stops. Electronic Throttle Control warning light illuminates. Vehicle may restart briefly then stall again, or may refuse to accelerate above 10–20 mph. Happens intermittently, recurs even after repair.
When: 32,000–88,250 miles; most complaints cluster around 40,000–75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving or at stop lights; Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light illuminates; Sudden loss of engine power; Vehicle unable to accelerate or limited to 10–20 mph; Hesitation when attempting to accelerate; Check engine light comes on; Rough idling
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning or replacement; Electronic Throttle Control unit replacement; costs cited around $400–$800. Multiple owners report ETC replacement fails to permanently fix the problem—failures recur within days or months, sometimes requiring multiple repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler declined to investigate, claiming reliance on dealers for diagnosis. No recalls or technical service bulletins mentioned by owners.
Unintended acceleration and surge
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input, particularly at stops or low speeds. Brake pedal application does not slow the vehicle. One crash reported at 5 mph into two poles; another surge at stop lights with traction control warning light.
When: 7,900 miles; 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without throttle input; Brakes ineffective during unintended acceleration; Engine RPMs increase unexpectedly at stops; Traction control warning light illuminates; Vehicle surges forward from standstill
Repairs/costs cited: One case: throttle body replacement recommended but not completed. Other case: cause not determined; vehicle crashed into two poles, moderate front and driver-side damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One crash not reported to manufacturer; manufacturer notified in the other case but no documented response or recall issued.
Persistent deceleration and power loss recurring over multiple repair attempts
Vehicle decelerates intermittently during driving, forcing owner to pull over and restart. No warning lights illuminate. Problem repeats after mechanics repair different components each time (oil change, brake pads, rotors, unspecified 'parts'). Diagnosis inconsistent; cause remains undiagnosed.
When: Multiple instances over two years; owner reports it 'happened last year' and recurred this year
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected deceleration while driving; Vehicle pulls when coming to a stop; No warning lights illuminate; Forced to restart engine to regain function
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts with different components replaced each time; no single diagnosis sticks. Owner suspects undiagnosed throttle-related issue but mechanics cannot identify root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner inquiring about recalls; no manufacturer response documented.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control 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 cruise control problem on the 2010 Dodge Avenger?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 46,800 and 88,250 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,800; a quarter make it past 88,250. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.