2012 Dodge Avenger: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / dodge / avenger
known issues	6 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-19)
complaints	553 on file (2012-02-24 → 2026-05-25)
recalls	3
investigations	1
fars	81 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Passenger-side heater core blocks heat and defrostVISIBILITY/WIPER111 complaints2018-12 → 2025-11avenger-2012-passenger-heater-core

11699661 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
11265540 DODGE LEFT RESIDUAL MACHINING DEBRIS IN THE AVENGER ENGINE BLOCKS THAT FLOWS WITH COOLANT INTO THE HEATER CORE AND RADIATOR CAUSING THE HEATER CORE TO CLOG UP AND BLOCKS HEAT TO PASSENGER SIDE IN THE WINTER CAUSING UNSAFE OR UNFIT TO OPERATE IN COLD WEATHER
11162991 PROBLEM: HEAT DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT. AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, NO HEAT AT ALL. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK 3 TIMES (WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME)

Active head restraint deploys without warningSEATS16 complaints2019-08 → 2025-04avenger-2012-headrest-inadvertent-deploy

11656367 The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while her son was exiting a parking lot, upon driving over a speed bump, the passenger’s side head restraint unintendedly deployed. There was no warning light illuminated
11330402 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FRONTAL PASSENGER'S SEAT HEADREST DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE
11265796 ACTIVE HEAD REST DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE RETAINING PIN BROKE CAUSING THE HEAD REST TO DEPLOY

Horn sounds continuously from steering wheel shortSTEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6 complaints2020-05 → 2022-09avenger-2012-horn-electrical-short

11325150 THE HORN HAS A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH CONTINUES TO HONK, WHILE DRIVING, OR STANDING STILL. YOUR DODGE JEEP CHRYSLER DEALER IN GLENDALE, NOW TELLS ME, THAT THERE IS A SHORT, AND HE KNOWS THAT THE SWITCH IS BAD, AS IT CONTINUES TO HONK WHEN THE HORN IS CONNECTED
11323410 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, ALL OF SUDDEN MY HORN, STARTS GOING OFF, I TOOK CAR TO MEINEKE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THE BALANCE INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKEN, TWO OF THE 3 SPRINGS WERE BROKEN
11486206 Was driving and horn just start going off

Transmission limp mode or clunking on accelerationPOWER TRAIN5 complaints2020-06 → 2021-06avenger-2012-transmission-limp-mode

11397713 I HAVE A 2012 DODGE AVENGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 76200 MILES ON IT. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT MY TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND MY VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR BUT THE RPMS BUT JUMP UP TO ABOUT 7000 AND STAY THERE
11389904 VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS PROPERTY. STARTED AFTER A PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A ISSUE UNTIL I HAD IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN STARTED THE LIMP MODE AND THEN DRIVING IT IS VERY DANGEROUS

Engine stalls or shuts off while drivingENGINE24 complaints2019-01 → 2026-05avenger-2012-engine-stall-loss-of-power

11739856 My car dies while im driving down the street, making it difficult to steer and qhen you try to restart it, sometimes it starts and some times it don't. But this is not the first time its happened it was just the latest
11321479 ON APRIL 7TH 2020 I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WHEN I GOT TO THE PEAK OF THE HILL AND I WENT TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS NO POWER. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY
11562756 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

Air bags fail to deploy in a crashAIR BAGS4 complaints2018-12 → 2023-03avenger-2012-airbags-no-deploy-crash

11513774 Was hit from the rear emd amd air bags did not deploy. Back bumper was totally destroyed amd brakes go out fast
11444286 Air Bags from Steering Wheel did not deploy in a at fault rear end accident. Driver suffered from neck and back injuries. Problem has not been inspected. No warning lamps

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
553	2012-02-24	2026-05-25	34	7	UNKNOWN OR OTHER:163; AIR BAGS:109; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:108; VISIBILITY/WIPER:95; ENGINE:86

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
17V640000	10/10/2017	SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT	Chrysler (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.	If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.	Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
16V668000	15/09/2016	SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER	Chrysler (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 bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.	If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.	Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
13V282000	02/07/2013	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Chrysler 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 manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.	In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.	Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
PE19014	closed	Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment	SEATS	2019-09-09	2026-02-25	·	The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments in

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	81	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Dodge Avenger vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/dodge/avenger

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_dodge_avenger_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Dodge Avenger},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/dodge/avenger}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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