repaired · 2019 Q2
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
2012 Dodge AvengerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 554 owner complaints about the 2012 Dodge Avenger, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-640 the manufacturer reports only 33% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Dodge Avenger has problems
554 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
109Air bags23 crash/fire/injury
109Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
95Visibility/wiper1 crash/fire/injury
87Engine8 crash/fire/injury
43Seat belts8 crash/fire/injury
31Power train
25Visibility
25Electronic stability control (ESC)
21Service brakes
12815 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 109 | 23 |
| Electrical system | 109 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper | 95 | 1 |
| Engine | 87 | 8 |
| Seat belts | 43 | 8 |
| Power train | 31 | 4 |
| Visibility | 25 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 25 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 6 |
| 15 other systems | 128 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 Dodge Avenger recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2015 Q1
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints, their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Dodge.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
60kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 61 air bags complaints. 87% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles53under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,718median
Middle half: $1,075 – $2,500
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Avenger year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Avenger median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Dodge Avenger safety ratings
2012 Dodge Avenger 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Dodge Avenger, and the recalls they led to.
- Active Head Rest Inadvertent DeploymentNo recall
In owners' words
What Avenger owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I was driving and I stopped at a stop sign. When I got ready to go, the car stalled and stopped and wouldn't start. After 30 minutes, it started but I ended up having it towed. My mechanic was able to replicate it after putting the car in the sun, running it for 10 minutes and then driving it. When…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an auto repair shop where it was diagnosed that there was an open circuit in the front driver’s side air bag squib. The…
I have been unable to get the safety belt part for the recall. Additionally, it keeps saying I need to replace the gas cap and even the dealership cant help me.
Own a 2012 Avenger?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.