10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,158 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #16

Mar 212020

Avenger

  • 112,000 miles
The dealership stated that the car tire's were check I than had to come back 2 days later because of the wheel shaking badly and making a loud noise. The dealership stated that the car had a bad wheel bearing and that they missed it. I than brought car to be fixed and was turned away because of the weather conditions which dealership was already aware of even after telling them I don't feel safe driving the car home on the rain I was still turned away and asked to come back at a convenient time for the dealers mechanics car was swerving on high way due to tire and rain and could have caused an accident

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Dec 202017

Avenger

  • 55,000 miles
The car would just shut off while on the freeway and would take long time to power back on. Head rest air bag deployed while driving causing to lose control of car. Windows unlocks while driving. Dealership using the same totally integrated power module that are on recall Chrysler 2000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #14

May 032019

Avenger

  • 123,900 miles
Cadillac converter recall- when the Cadillac converter went out the car made a horrible noise and lost power to accelerate. Come to find out the pressure blew back and popped hoses of and broke the intake manifold. The flap cant open and close. Chrysler said that the intake manifold was not due to the Cadillac converter but teo auto macanica said it was. This is a $700 repair due to a recall! had been driving car around town all day. Stopped to turn and loud noise happened. Luckly coasted to blocks to house and had tow truck take to repair shop.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #13

Jan 202019

Avenger

  • miles
My 2012 Dodge Avenger caught fire under the hood while I was driving on the fwy. I could not stop the car because the brake became locked in place and I couldnt press it down with my foot. The emergency brake did not work. It was unsafe to get out of the moving car, so I was trapped in the car as the fire under the hood grew rapidly. I was able to get off at the next exit and with quick thinking, I used the curb at the end of the fwy off ramp to help me stop the car. When firefighters arrived, the entire front end of my car was fully engulfed. From my understanding, Chrysler/Dodge has had reapeated complaints regarding similar incidents.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #12

Jan 012019

Avenger

  • 99,000 miles
Two separate incidents have happened. First was in November 2018. I was driving home on a city street when the vehicle flashed the throttle body sensor light along with the check engine light and the car lost power and would not accelerate past 25mph. Brought to Dodge dealership for diagnosis and they couldn't check the etc light due to it shutting off with restart of the vehicle but was told I needed a new alternator. Fixed the alternator and no problems again until January 2019. This time I was driving home from work on a very busy highway and the car flashed the check engine light and died while in motion. Power steering was very tight but I was able to get to the side of the road safely and put the car in park. After 4 tries of restarting the vehicle, it started back up but the check engine light is still on. I will be taking it back to the Dodge dealership in hopes of finding out what is wrong, but am nervous because of what I have read amongst other Avenger owners.

- Marquette, MI, USA

problem #11

Jul 092018

Avenger

  • 121,000 miles
The throttle body control light keeps coming on with the ABS light. Had it and the sensor cleaned. Two days later the same lights and the engine light are coming on.

- Rolla, MO, USA

problem #10

Mar 152016

Avenger

  • 0 miles
I have a 2012 Avenger; the heat on the passenger side of the car stopped blowing hot air. I took the Avenger in for a diagnostic test and was told that the issue was from casing sand clogging the radiator, heater core and the oil cooler. This is a manufactures defect. Also the spring on the actuator door was sticking and not opening properly..poor contact materials on the connectors for the actuators!!. it seems that over time they oxidize and develop a resistance that attenuates the signal back to the control. When the signal gets too low the control loses track of the actuator position and keeps driving the motor, resulting in clicking or broken teeth. It is tough to reach the connector contacts to clean them- the clicking goes on even after the car is off!!!! please fix!

- Apollo Beach, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 012016

Avenger

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While driving 20 mph, the electronic throttle control indicator illuminated intermittently. The failure caused the vehicle to slow down significantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #8

Aug 232016

Avenger

  • 98,000 miles
While driving the car started accelerating by itself and the engine reed high. Wipers come on by themselves. Seat belt light stays on even when you have it on. Battery light comes on periodically.

- Zwolle, LA, USA

problem #7

Jan 172016

Avenger

  • 90,000 miles
I was on the highway going 60 mph all of a sudden my etc light started to flash and my car started to slow down, my car would not go over 10 mph. It was very difficult for me to get in a safety lane. I almost got rear ended a few times, I was very scared. I did some research and found that this problem has been going on since the production of this vehicle. There are tons of complaints online about this vehicle, some of the vehicles have low mileage and some don't. it is a very dangerous situation to be in. I think Chrysler needs to own up and recall this throttle body!

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #6

Nov 062015

Avenger

  • 85,000 miles
While driving down the interstate with the cruise control on, the cruise shut off, the brake light, ABS light and traction control light came on and the car experienced a sudden lose of power and was braking itself. The sudden lose of speed and braking out of the driver's control on the interstate during rush hour created a safety hazard.

- Mayview, MO, USA

problem #5

Oct 252015

Avenger

  • 90,629 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power. The accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The throttle control and electronic stability control warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,629.

- Swansea, SC, USA

problem #4

Dec 302014

Avenger 6-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
While driving down the interstate this vehicle's power steering and anti lock brakes stopped working and the vehicles rpms were as high as could be measured by the vehicle. This issues made it very difficult to navigate the vehicle off the roadway safely. The vehicle had to be towed to the nearest dealership and the alternator was diagnosed as the primary issue. The concern with this vehicle is that it has the same size engine and amp alternator as the Chrysler vehicles that are already under recall for alternator failure 3.6L engine with a 160 amp alternator and the dealership repairing this vehicle states it is the same type of failure. I am concerned that this vehicles alternator should also be recalled as it poses a danger to the people driving it and any other vehicles on the road near this vehicle when this failure occurs.

- Mayview, MO, USA

problem #3

Nov 012014

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
The throttle body on my car has to be replaced. My son has had numerous incidents of the car running rough, seemingly not getting enough gas, and the final straw before taking to the shop was when it the engine died as he was driving. This car is only three years old with approximately 62,000 miles on it. It is not at all acceptable for this part to go bad given the age / miles of the car. After speaking with several shop owners and technicians, I've found that this has been a common failure on late model Dodge vehicles. In addition the throttle failure, he has no heat coming in the passenger side of the car. Only cold air as if something is stuck open. This began the later part of last winter when the car was just two years old. He just dealt with it at the time due to lack of money. With winter coming, this will need to be addressed right away as well. Then we have the power mirror not working on one side. Which also began last year. And last but not least, the airbag light is on. I did see that there is a recall having to do with one of the airbags. I will schedule that right away, but it remains to be seen if that is why the airbag light is on.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #2

Apr 292012

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
Will not shift into drive until speed reaches 45 - 50 mph. Can not accelerate over 4000 RPM at any time. Unable to pass other slow moving vehicles at a reasonable speed. Have taken the vehicle into the Dodge service center, explained what was happening, and was told "nothing is wrong with it because there is no sensor light on".

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 032014

Avenger

  • 44,000 miles
I noticed several times before this date going down the hwy and the car accelerating on its own. I was at a dead stop and go on the hwy rush our I let off the brake to ease on up and my car went under into a truck doing over $7800 in damages no airbags none deployed I just got my car from the shop on 8/30. I got in the car started it and backed up put the car in drive and it jolted into drive no foot on the gas peddle I had to hit my brakes again then I proceeded home. Still noticed this a couple more times. I didn't think about it at the time of the accident I was taken straight out by ems with a neckbrace. I've sit here confused for 2 months knowing how did this happen knowing it was a brake ease off and brake again traffic and the amount of damage done to the car. My 14 yr old daughter had to convince my mom I was not speeding because of the amount of damage. I will call the shop again on mon am but also Dodge or Chrysler re: This. I had to pay out over $4K in car rental (no I didn't know I did not have that coverage.) I'm now pissed off and confused at did this cause the collision? I've only had this car a year and until that point had never had an accident my fault in M life I did have one this last week in a rental it was my fault I own up to that but not the first in the Avenger after starting it again yesterday at pickup and this immediately happening and I mean immediately happening again had the shop not already being closed for the weekend and my ride left I would have left the car at the shop. I know of the overhead airbag problems I have tried to call once before. I will call Monday until my calls are returned please reply to this. I am also contacting my insurance Agency re: This problem and the accident. Please contact me. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Simpsonville , SC, USA