Dodge Avenger reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 1,680 complaints about the Dodge Avenger with NHTSA since 2010, most often about airbags and other or unspecified. Dodge has filed 3 warranty extensions and 0 service campaigns for it, and there are 8 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Dodge Avenger? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Avenger a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 1,680
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 3
- Filed by Dodge
- Service campaigns
- 0
- Filed by Dodge
- Safety recalls
- 8
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Avenger with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain (100%) | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 205 | Airbags (34%) | 1 | 2 |
| 2013 | 548 | Airbags (28%) | 5 | 3 |
| 2012 | 554 | Other or unspecified (29%) | 3 | 3 |
| 2011 | 209 | Other or unspecified (27%) | 3 | 3 |
| 2010 | 163 | Electrical system (25%) | 3 | 1 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Avenger model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Dodge
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Dodge filed with NHTSA for the Avenger, in its own words. A warranty extension means Dodge pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionJun 2026· Engine· model years 2011–2014
Emissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
- Warranty extensionNov 2020· Seats· model years 2010–2014
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X84 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves inspecting the sled bracket striker pin and possibly replacing a front seat AHR that has inadvertently deployed.
- Warranty extensionJun 2014· Engine and cooling· model years 2011–2013
MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves checking for excessive cylinder leakage and replacing the cylinder head if necessary.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Avenger model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Airbags404 (24%)
- Other or unspecified358 (21%)
- Electrical system321 (19%)
- Engine310 (18%)
- Seat belts169 (10%)
- Visibility and wipers160 (10%)
- Seats84 (5%)
- Brakes63 (4%)
Safety recalls
8 recalls cover at least one Avenger model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
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.
Due to abrasive debris in the balance shaft bearings, these engines may have a loss of engine oil pressure, possibly resulting in an engine stall or engine failure.
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.
These vehicles may have a gas tank that has a broken control valve in the fuel tank assembly.
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011DODGE journey, jeep wrangler, chrysler 200, chrysler 200 convertible, dodge avenger, dodge nitro, jeep liberty, dodge caliber, jeep compass, jeep patriot, dodge grand caravan…
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Chrysler sebring, 300, charger (lx) and dodge challenger (lc), avenger (js), and journey (jc), as well as model year 2011 Dodge ram light duty pickup (ds) vehicles.
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 Chrysler sebring; dodge avenger and nitro; jeep liberty, commander and grand cherokee; and model year 2009-2010 Dodge ram truck.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE19014Preliminary evaluation· opened Sep 2019, closed Feb 2026· Seats· model years 2011–2014
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
- PE12016Preliminary evaluation· opened Jun 2012, closed Oct 2012· Engine· model years 2011
Engine stall
NHTSA's own page for the 2016 Dodge Avenger has the complaint text and every document.
Was the work actually done on the car you're looking at?
Model-year records can't tell you about one car. A Dodge service history check returns that vehicle's own dealer records by VIN.
Check a Dodge's service historyCommon questions
Is the Dodge Avenger reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 1,680 owner complaints, 3 warranty extensions and 0 service campaigns Dodge filed, and 8 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2012 (554), 2013 (548), 2011 (209). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Dodge Avenger?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name airbags (24%), other or unspecified (21%), electrical system (19%). Dodge has filed 3 warranty extensions covering the Avenger, listed on this page.
Which Avenger model years have the most complaints?
2012 (554), 2013 (548), 2011 (209). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Avenger with each other rather than with other models.
Has Dodge extended the warranty on the Avenger?
Yes: engine (model years 2011–2014); seats (model years 2010–2014); engine and cooling (model years 2011–2013). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Avenger?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 8 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.