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ProblemsByVin Index / 2011-DODGE-AVENGER / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2011 Dodge Avenger owner complaints

209 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle . Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

electrical 6 complaints shown

38 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/31/2013 70,000 mi ODI #10557972.0

I was driving my 2011 avenger, and whenever I would go over 2000 RPM my electronic throttle control light would come on. Then it would turn off, then it would come back on if I went over 2000 RPM, and then my throttle light would start blinking and my traction control light would come on. I couldn't go over 10 MPH, unless I pulled over and turned my car off, and turned it back on. I took it the shop, and they told me I need to replace my throttle control since it's bad. *tr

12/28/2017 112,000 mi ODI #11057225.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to emit heat on the passenger side. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

12/28/2017 94,000 mi ODI #11057248.0

The known issue of the passenger side heat going out. Not able to heat up in the cold weather of maryland's winters. One month ago car started ticking but now the heat is starting to fade away.

12/25/2014 25,600 mi ODI #10668242.0

I bought a 2011 Dodge avenger mainstreet three years ago. At 13k miles my car started giving me problems with the electronic throttle control. The car basically loses power with no warning. I have taken the car to my local Dodge dealer 5 times since february 2013 due to this problem and on two occasions they said they replaced the etc. Recently the car was giving me problems again with the etc where the car would lose power with no warning. I took it to an independent dealer less than two weeks ago and got the etc replaced and installed. Yesterday my car gave the same problems where the car would lose power. I know there is an investigation into the tipm of Chrysler vehicles and I have no doubt that the problems with my car are related to the tipm. If it was just the etc my car would be g

12/08/2018 90,000 mi ODI #11157072.0

Known issue that manufacturer refuses to address. Unsafe to drive during very cold temperatures. This vehicle only produces heat on the driver side vent. Temperature fluctuates and turns heat to cool while driving. Does not properly defrost. Has ticking issues coming from behind the steering column when changing ac settings.

12/08/2017 40,000 mi ODI #11053415.0

At less than 45000 miles my alternator stopped working, this cause my car to "die" in the middle of a heavy traffic area. Unable to move it I had to push it to a safe spot then wait for a tow truck. Total cost of repairs with towing $1000

other 5 complaints shown

12/28/2017 100,000 mi ODI #11057188.0

Takata recall heat in the car is not working. Passenger side doesnt work at all. The drivers side works at times but not really. I got air conditioner fixed and supposedly heat was fixed same time from Dodge dealership in toms river it was not.

12/20/2015 53,000 mi ODI #10811310.0

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.

12/16/2025 ODI #11705315.0

Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes and circulations. This safety issue affects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin temperatures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).

12/16/2016 48,500 mi ODI #10935882.0

Passenger side heat stopped working. Cold air blows out of vents on passenger side near door and right middle vent. As well as defrost vents and feet vent on passenger side. Driver side vents are blowing luke warm air. Not hot. Roughly 48k miles on car. Have seen many other complaints about this.

12/15/2017 143,121 mi ODI #11054862.0

While my 2011 Dodge avenger is idling and slowing down it continues to stall out. It also sometimes does it while I'm driving too. I then have to put the car in park and restart it and put it back into drive in the middle of the road. There is no check engine light and no notifications under the system check dash light.

visibility 4 complaints shown

16 total in this category · severe · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
12/28/2017 105,000 mi ODI #11057067.0

Heater only blows hot air on drivers side vent. Middle two vents are cool air and passenger vent is very cold air. It is causing the same effect on my windshield, which is causing serious visibility issues across half of my windshield due to nothing defrosting the entire passenger side. This does not change even after my car has been running for 45 minutes and more. This is a serious issue seeing as I cannot see to drive safely for myself and any passing by vehicles. We also have children and the temperature has been in the single digits this past week, ive had to pack blankets on top of them in the car (since they cannot wear thick coats while in a carseat) just to attempt to keep them warm and even then they are complaining that they are cold. For a vehicle that I still make payments on

12/20/2020 ODI #11384303.0

"window defrost and passenger heat /air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin)."

12/14/2017 73,000 mi ODI #11054670.0

Passenger-side defroster/defogger blows cold air rendering visibility during inclement weather, or cold season. Several near-miss occurrences on road way due poor visibility on passenger-side windshield and passenger-side window. Passenger-side heat inoperable. Replaced passenger-side blend door actuators. Flushed heater core (temporary fix), but reoccurring problem.

12/08/2017 49,500 mi ODI #11053417.0

Heat from my vehicle only comes out of my drivers side. This is causing half of my windshield to not be defrosted in the morning and I have to drive under those conditions

cruise control 1 complaint shown

7 total in this category · severe · avg repair $600 · see cruise control cluster analysis →
12/26/2014 13,000 mi ODI #10668261.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the etc warning light illuminated and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the etc throttle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the etc warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air filter needed to be replaced and that the fuel injection needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.

seatbelts 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $500 · see seatbelts cluster analysis →
12/19/2019 ODI #11290139.0

Driver side seat belt does not lock once I put it on. The rest work just fine.

fuel system 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system cluster analysis →
12/17/2014 74,105 mi ODI #10667009.0

After being stopped in traffic for a few minutes I released the brake to accelerate, the car began to sputter and stalled immediately afterwards. I then put the car in park, turned it off and it restarted with no problems. It has done this once a week for the last three weeks. The check engine light has not come on at any point. I ran a diagnostic with the obd2 and it produces no codes. *tr

airbags 1 complaint shown

27 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/13/2017 ODI #11054426.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge avenger. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (seat belts, air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer in madisonville, tx was contacted and stated that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

lighting 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
12/13/2017 ODI #11054609.0

Wipers stop working, the lights would not turn off, and the brake light come at random while vehicle in motion

Showing 300 of 209 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Dodge/Avenger#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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