U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Dodge AVENGER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

553 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 391 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 163 of 553 complaints (29.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	46	8.3%
Braking behavior	39	7.1%
Steering behavior	31	5.6%
Engine operation	29	5.2%
Transmission and shifting	19	3.4%
Fuel system concerns	3	0.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Unknown Or Other

163

Air Bags

108

Electrical System

107

Visibility/Wiper

Engine

Seat Belts

Power Train

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Unknown Or Other: 163; Air Bags: 108; Electrical System: 107; Visibility/Wiper: 95; Engine: 86; Seat Belts: 42; Power Train: 30; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 25

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

106

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 72; 50,000 to 74,999: 106; 75,000 to 99,999: 87; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 15

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (106). 162 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

119

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2012: 10; 2013: 22; 2014: 31; 2015: 53; 2016: 44; 2017: 77; 2018: 119; 2019: 91; 2020: 55; 2021: 20; 2022: 11; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 6; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 46 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10496808 · 2013-02-08 (February 8, 2013)

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A SHORT 10 MILE DRIVE I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES WHEN I CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START THE BATTERY HAD A FULL CHARGE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP ALL GEARS I ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE WITH OUT SUCCESS AFTER TROUBLE SHOOTING I DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE CABLE TO THE BATTERY AND LEFT IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RECONNECTED IT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR WHICH DID START AT THAT POINT I TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,058 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496808 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10555271 · 2013-12-09 (December 9, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V282000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE MILEAGE RESTRICTION FOR THE RECALL AND REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS ALSO EXCLUDED FROM THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. THE VEHICLE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,332 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555271 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10453388 · 2012-03-28 (March 28, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,600. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453388 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10455599 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)

WHEN STOPPED ON HILL THEN LET FOOT OFF BRAKE LETTING CAR COAST THE TRANSMISSION WILL DROP ON LOW GEAR SHUTTERING CAR MAKING LOUD NOISE, NOTED THIS ALSO WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL SHUTTER CAUSING SOME LOSS OF SPEED. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455599 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10468144 · 2012-07-29 (July 29, 2012)

07/07/12, 16,214 MILES: VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 16000 MILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, TO INCLUDE: LUBE, OIL, FILTER; TIRE ROTATION; AIR FILTER; INSPECT BRAKE LININGS; INSPECT EXHAUST SYSTEM; AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUSPENSION, TIE ROD ENDS AND BOOT SEALS FOR CRACKS OR LEAKS AND ALL PARTS FOR DAMAGE, WEAR, IMPROPER LOOSENESS OR END PLAY. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING THAT ROUTINE SERVICE THAT THE GOODYEAR EAGLE LSII TIRES ON MY CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF SIDEWALL SEPARATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE, 07/10/12 AT 16,463 MILEAGE. …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,213 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468144 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10470116 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)

I WAS MAKING A U TURN AND THE CAR STALLED, IT WAS STILL ON DRIVE GEAR BUT AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL NOTHING OCCURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AS WELL AS THE BRAKING PEDAL. I PUT THE SHIFT BACK IN PARKING GEAR TURNED OFF THE CAR WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10470116 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508005 · 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)

THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A PEA THRASHER WHEN ITS STARTED ON COLD MORNING. (IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIFTER THAT HAS LOST ITS PRIME). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, SURGES (OVER REVS) WHEN COMING TO S ATOP, AND AT TIMES WHEN ITS DOWN SHIFTING WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, IT SLAMS INTO LOWER GEAR.. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL BODY SOUNDS THAT I HAVEN'T ADDRESSED YET. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS AND SERVICE TECH'S THAT THIS WAS A COMMON SOUND FROM MY SIZE ENGINE. THE HAVE RAN UPDATES, YET THE NOISES ARE STILL THERE. I MENTIONED THAT AT…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508005 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459108 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY DOWN-SHIFT VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY AS A RESULT TO THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST REPAIR CONSISTED OF THE PCM BEING REPROGRAMMED. THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459108 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10966545 · 2017-03-17 (March 17, 2017)

MARCH 12, 2017 HEADING SOUTH, DOWN VETERAN PARKWAY SPRINGFIELD IL. WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR RED 2012 DODHE AVENGER R/T TURNED OFF MID MOTION AROUND 45MPH. NO WARNING!! NO ACCELERATION, NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEARING!? NO CONTROL OF THE CAR! STAYING CALM BUT CLUELESS, I WAS ABLE TO TURN TO A SIDE ROAD AND CAUTIOUSLY TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT NEXT TO OFFICE MAX AND WAITED 1 HR FOR A TOW.STREET NAME ILSE AVE. TOWED TO GREEN DODGE SPRINGFIELD IL THE SAME DAY. MONDAY, MARCH 13 THE TECH DIAGNOSES FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING, (2CD DIAGNOSIS OF FUEL PUMP FAILU…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10966545 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11133102 · 2018-10-03 (October 3, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM COGDILL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (8544 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919) WHERE IT WAS INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11133102 at NHTSA ↗