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KLUNK
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2012 Dodge Avenger

The Verdict

23 Check Engine

The 2012 Dodge Avenger has 551 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (248 complaints) and electrical (163 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 23/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Dodge Avenger, consider the 2007 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2007 has 99% fewer complaints

View the 2007 Dodge Avenger dashboard →

23

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000145106
200700020
200816418208234219
200923512216
20103913643314
2011957554110
20122481416310323
20131702718913921
2014481390476

By Category

Body
248
Electrical
163
Engine
103
Transmission
23
Brakes
14

By Severity

1
253
2
255
3
4
4
39

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

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

1mo ago
Electrical 1

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).

8mo ago
Electrical 1

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 mechanic tried to look at it, he couldn't find anything to cause it to stop. I look it to the dealership. They were unable to replicate it or find the problem. It seems to happen when the car gets hot it stops without warning. Other people in the Dodge Avenger online group have experienced the same thing. The horn also keeps beeping without warning and the airbag sign is on. I think all of these items are connected. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

11mo ago
Body 2

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. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

15mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact received notification of an undisclosed recall. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the front passenger’s side headrest deployed inadvertently. The contact stated that a handheld diagnostic machine retrieved DTC: U0184. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,900.

17mo ago
Body 1

My car has no heat on the passenger side causing window fogging this is the 3 time I have had the car in at the dealers and they say it's a clogged heater core I have the extended warranty. The dealer said the warranty is no longer covering heater cores when it should a recall with so many complaints.Barkau Chrysler Dodge jeep Ram at 700 East South Street Freeport IL 61032 1-815-232-5141. Please help as I have Renard's andi can get frost bite and loose my feet or hands Not only is it a safety issue but a health issue can't upload my dealership note

18mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side headrest deployed inadvertently and struck the head of the front seat passenger. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under an undisclosed recall; however, the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and to Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Seminole County (750 Towne Center Blvd, Sanford, FL 32771), where a diagnostic testing fee was provided; however, the contact declined to pay the fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

18mo ago
Body 2

Blank

19mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.

21mo ago
Electrical 1

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 contact was informed that the air bag squib needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 227,000.

21mo ago
Electrical 2

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.

23mo ago
Brakes 2

The vehicle has intermittent (brake) (ABS) and (Traction control) lights. I took the vehicle to Airport dodge in Orlando Florida. They advised the ABS module and pump are faulty however there are no repairs available at this time. The most concerning was they advised to continue to drive the vehicle without ABS.

25mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V640000 (Seats, Air Bags). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, the contact entered the vehicle and observed that the headrest was uneven. The contact inspected the headrest from the rear of the vehicle where she observed that the headrest had separated but was still attached to the middle of the headrest. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,206.

26mo ago
Engine 1

This is a HUGE SAFETY issue!!!!!! The engine randomly shuts off, which also causes the brakes to stop working and to have no power steering. Anything connected to the battery is fine (lights, radio, dashboard, etc.). myself, any passenger, and those around me are put at risk by the car shutting off in the middle of the road. Someone could hit me because I am not moving, or I am trying to get out of the way. or I might end up hitting someone else because the brakes don't work. this is a huge risk to life and limb. Noone other than myself has tried to see what is going on with my car, specifically. i have already put out a lot of money on parts that research says it COULD be. other people have had the same complaint about their Dodge vehicles. they have even taken them to many repair shops, with no one finding a real answer as to why this is happening. i would just like a car the safe to drive with my kids in it. as it is i fear for their safety if they were to ride in it. they are no warning lights or messages. I fear for my safety, the safety of my children, and the safety of others on the road around me. This car should really not be on the road without a definite answer to the problem.

26mo ago
Engine 2

I was driving to the store and out of nowhere my car completely shut down the lights engine everything my steering wheel locked and I couldn't apply my breaks

28mo ago
Engine 1

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.

31mo ago
Electrical 3

My driver side Headrest suddenly deployed while sitting at a red light. It struck me in the back of my head, this caused me to lurch forward and almost being hit by oncoming traffic. Dodge denied me replacement saying it was out of any warranty. They did not even look at it and told me it would cost me $850 to replace. No warning lights or signs that this was going to happen before it deployed. I still need to call my Insurance company to see what can be done.

36mo ago
Electrical 4

Was hit from the rear emd amd air bags did not deploy. Back bumper was totally destroyed amd brakes go out fast

40mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the front driver’s side headrest air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

40mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and various other speeds, the passenger’s side of the windshield defroster blower was only blowing cold air. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the HVAC system and blower needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,122.

43mo ago

551 total

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