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ProblemsByVin Index / 2012-DODGE-AVENGER / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2012 Dodge Avenger owner complaints

553 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 2 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

electrical 7 complaints shown

96 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/31/2019 185,000 mi ODI #11292227.0

My Dodge avenger has started to cut off while I am driving down the highway or while sitting in a line waiting on food. I also experience the right side of my vehicle not heating at all. There is also a clicking noise in my car that has worsened over time. There are a lot off issues with this car and to many people are experiencing the same thing. I am so afraid to drive my car because I don't know when its going to cut off. I have taken my car to the shop but still experience these issues. If someone could please contact me because something needs to be done about our unsafe vehicles.

12/30/2023 ODI #11562756.0

While driving for about 50miles, the electrical system failed, I lost power to the entire vehicle, steering was hard, brakes hard as well. as I pulled over, the car started back up. Next day car drove fine. Few days later the car cut off at red light in the middle of the intersection while other cars almost hitting me. Changed the fuel pump out because fuel pump would work at times. No one hurt, no incident report made. Car been intermittently cutting off after I think the car is running fine. No fault codes, no loose connections, no warning the car just cut off. I is becoming very dangerous and scary to drive but its the only vehicle i have and I have been spending money trying to figure this ghost out.

12/30/2015 61,000 mi Fire ODI #10816977.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, a clicking noise was heard from the front end. While driving at any speed, the contact smelled burning wires from somewhere within the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 61,000.

12/30/2015 ODI #10817070.0

Took car in for a coolant flush and only have heat on the drivers side. Passenger side blows cool air. Car is only 3 years old with 72,000 miles on it. Had heat before the dealership recommended the coolant flush. Took car into dealership to have it looked at and they tell me the heater core is partially plugged. Heat worked fine before flush, now it does not. *js

12/29/2017 60,824 mi ODI #11057315.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to emit heat on the front passenger side. The vehicle was taken to greenville Dodge Chrysler (5401 I-30 frontage rd, greenville, tx 75402) where it was diagnosed that the heater core needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 60,824.

12/27/2017 39,985 mi ODI #11056781.0

The dashboard console lights keeps going out and flickering at inconsistent times. All other interior lights are working fine. Vehicle has less than 40k miles on it. This issue occurs often.

12/22/2014 78,000 mi ODI #10667665.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that the air bag warning light continuously illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the occupant restraint control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the tipm was reset. The failure persisted. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13v282000 (air bags, electrical system). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

other 6 complaints shown

12/31/2018 84,000 mi ODI #11164268.0

At all times - hot air only blowing on driver side.

12/29/2017 70,000 mi ODI #11057374.0

Heat does not work on the passenger side floor. Only blows cold air. Mechanic has checked it and I received an estimate of $1,000 to $1,200. Mechanic stated he has seen this problem in several other Dodge avengers.

12/28/2017 48,000 mi ODI #11057211.0

Takata recall. Beginning last winter the heat was only coming out on driver side.this winter it was notably worse. My mechanic checked and tried from actuator and electrical but said how the heater core is situated that was the cause for heat loss . He flushed and cleaned as best he could and said it needed a new heater core . It is very hard to keep windshield defrosted let aline be warm . He recommended contacting Dodge.at fast speeds the heat is very sparse and if car is warmed up it is hardly any better. I can send a copy of mechanic's bill if requested

12/27/2017 39,985 mi ODI #11056776.0

I got a 2012 Dodge avenger and the passenger side blows freezing cold air and the drivers side blows hot. There are lots of consumer complaints and historical data on this issue; and the source of the issue is manufacture defect.

12/27/2017 61,000 mi ODI #11056997.0

With the vehicle warmed up I get heat blowing out of the vents, whether it's the cabin, floor or defrost for maybe 10 seconds, then it turns to completely cold on both driver and passenger side

12/23/2019 100,000 mi ODI #11290842.0

I have had my 2012 Dodge avenger for a little over a year. The heat does not work on the passenger side and I was told by the mechanic I purchased from that it was an issue with all these cars and nothing could be done. Also in the past 6 months my car has went dead while driving and would not crank for at least 3 to 4 hours. I was just on this interstate friday night going 60 and my car went dead and had to coast of the interstate in a really bad part of town. I see that there are many issues with both of these and cannot believe that nothing is being done about this. Thanks Dodge.

visibility 3 complaints shown

84 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
12/31/2021 ODI #11445708.0

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)."

12/31/2019 90,000 mi ODI #11292233.0

The vehicle blows hot air on the drivers side, but cold air on the passenger side. Since it is blowing only cold air on one half of the windshield the windows ice up, freeze up and fog up. This is a driving hazard, since this impairs visibilty.

12/29/2017 50,000 mi ODI #11057336.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that the defrost system became inoperable while defrosting the windows in the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. *tt the consumer stated dealership fixed the problem and installed a new heater core. *tr

airbags 2 complaints shown

87 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/27/2016 83,000 mi Crash ODI #10937537.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, an unknown animal was hit by the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location and was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v668000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

12/22/2014 88,181 mi ODI #10667733.0

My air bag light came on december 16,2014 I reported it on december 18,2014. I took it in to be fixed on 12/21/2014 but my airbag light is still on due to the fact that he said the occupant restraint control module needs to be replaced. I feel this is a defect and should be part of the recalls. How do I know that he reprogrammed it if the light is still on. Also my trunk holds water when it rains and the water comes out of the latch once it is held up. I feel that Dodge should hold up to its product and repair all problems. *tr

lighting 1 complaint shown

5 total in this category · severe · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
12/21/2019 15,600 mi ODI #11290655.0

While driving down the highway the lights start flickering and then the dash board lights start going dim.

Showing 300 of 553 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/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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