2012 Dodge Avenger problems and recalls

Owners have filed 553 complaints on the 2012 Dodge Avenger, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (163 complaints).

553
Complaints
3
Recalls
34
Crash reports
7
Fire reports
35
Injuries
79.5
Severity index

Severity index 79.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 79.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 37 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 72% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 163 complaints (29.5%)163 29%Air BagsAir Bags: 109 complaints (19.7%)109 20%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 108 complaints (19.5%)108 20%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 95 complaints (17.2%)95 17%EngineEngine: 86 complaints (15.6%)86 16%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 43 complaints (7.8%)43 8%Power TrainPower Train: 31 complaints (5.6%)31 6%VisibilityVisibility: 25 complaints (4.5%)25 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16329.5%
AIR BAGS10919.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10819.5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER9517.2%
ENGINE8615.6%
SEAT BELTS437.8%
POWER TRAIN315.6%
VISIBILITY254.5%

Complaints filed per year

0601202012: 102013: 222014: 312015: 532016: 442017: 772018: 1192019: 912020: 552021: 202022: 112023: 52024: 82025: 62026: 1 (partial year)121314151617181191920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201210
201322
201431
201553
201644
201777
2018119
201991
202055
202120
202211
20235
20248
20256
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (19 against 86).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V64000010/10/2017SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINTChrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
16V66800015/09/2016SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONERChrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air
13V28200002/07/2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEMChrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactu

Other Dodge Avenger model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 3 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.