2011 Dodge Avenger

Above average

Owners filed 209 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

159 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 78,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other42
100
Air Bags32
816
Engine30
000
Electrical System26
000
Visibility/Wiper17
100
Suspension12
000
Power Train10
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
100
Electronic Stability Control (esc)6
000
Steering5
100

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Pretensioner16V668000
Filed Sep 15, 20161,435,625 vehiclesChrysler (fca Us Llc)

Defect. Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. 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.

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 a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Remedy. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Air Bags13V282000
Filed Jul 2, 2013442,320 vehiclesChrysler Group Llc

Defect. Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. 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.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Steering › Column11V315000
Filed Jun 8, 201111,096 vehiclesChrysler Group Llc

Defect. 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 AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED STEERING COLUMN PIVOT RIVET.

Risk. A MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED RIVET COULD COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO SUPPORT THE OCCUPANT LOADS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, DECREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FRONTAL IMPACT SAFETY SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THE CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR RIVET PRESENCE AND ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN PIVOT AS REQUIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 4, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 16, 2025NC

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 affects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin temperatures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).

Steering
Filed Jul 3, 2023205,000 milesAL

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the passenger’s side seat headrest exploded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags) and 11V315000 (Steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 205,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 31, 2023UT

Vehicle turns off while driving sometimes starts up sometimes not! Doesn't give a warning replaced multiple things afraid of the car doing it in a turn everything shuts down power steering and everything!

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Feb 28, 2023NE

Heater on the passenger side of the vehicle blows out cold air while driver side blows out hot air like it's supposed to. By having cold air being blown out, this causes the windshield and windows on the passenger side of the vehicle to fog up causing visibility issues.

Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2022171,998 milesNM

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the check engine warning light and air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control, buttons on the steering wheel, and occupant restraint control were malfunctioning. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that the air bag and occupant restraint warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,998.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 1, 2022PA

Throttle Body changed 3 times still stalling and poor acceleration problems very unsafe stalls out of no where very frustrated also changed electronic pedal and battery Lighting signs still comes on and stalls very dangerous!

Electrical System
Filed Jan 6, 2022PA

Vehicle will shut off while driving, has happened numerous time's, horn randomly honks by its self, it take numerous attempts to get the car started once it shut off, and now it's locked In limp mode and won't leave second gear

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 3, 2022MN

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 temperatures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 2, 2022TX

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 temperatures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin). Manufacturer is aware but has yet to recall the issue even though reports are widespread for their vehicles in this model and dealership states it is a known issue.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 21, 202127,000 milesPA

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the rear turn signals became inoperable. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jul 27, 2021ME

Hot air from drivers side and cold air from passenger side. I live in maine. I had a couple rough winters because we couldn't find out what it was. I found out what it is but I can't find a garage to put it in. This is a server visibly concern. The trunk and inside the car leaks above the windshield causing the car to smell musty and cause mold. Above the windowsheid where it leaks is causing Moisture inside and making the visibility almost impossible at times. This car has had two owners with less then 100,000 miles. Family owned

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 2021132,000 milesGA

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, TIRE PRESSURE, AND TRACTION LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING (RADIO, INSTRUMENTS PANEL, SPEED ODEMETER ETC...)WHEN OFF IN THE CAR AND THEN THE A/C STARTED BLOWING. IT KEPT DOING THIS OFF AND ON THE WHOLE TIME DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. SO FAR I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND THE BRAKE SWITCH SENSOR AND IT'S STILL DOING THE SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HWY. I ALSO GOT AND CHECK ENGINE SCAN DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE ONE I COULD FIX I FIXED ALL BUT THE TIPM

Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2021SC

MY CAR DOESN'T START. I'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS SINCE LAST YEAR. I'VE BEEN TOLD 3 TIMES THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATIVE SO I'VE BOUGHT 3. THEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CORDS ON MY BATTERY SO I FIXED THAT. NOW I'M CURRENTLY GETTING IT LOOKED AT WHICH I THINK IT IS THE TRANSMISSION OR STARTER. I'VE ALSO BOUGHT TWO BATTERIES. LAST WEEK WEN I WENT TO THE STORE A GIRL CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED DO I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR I TOLD HER YES SHE SAID HER MOTHER HAS THE SAME CAR AS I DO AND TOLD ME THAT SHE HER CAR KEEPS TURNING OFF AND WANT CRANK. SHE SAID SHE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THE CAR THAT SHE JUST HAD TO GET ANOTHER ONE. SO I KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE I'M ALSO HAVING THOSE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS AND I KEEP MY CAR UP VERY WELL.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 22, 2021PA

A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2011 DOGE AVENGER WHERE THE HEATER CORE GOES BAD .IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY DODGE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $1K OUT OF POCKET . I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF FORUMS STATING THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED . RIDICULOUS BY DODGE.

Power Train
Filed Jan 17, 2021CA

I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE OPEN. THIS VIN IS ALSO ON THE BUYBACK LIST AND I'VE CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS TO ASK ABOUT IT AND THEY WON'T GIVE AN ANSWER BUT 'WE CAN TRADE IN'. I'VE ALSO CALL FAC. I BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED USED.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jan 15, 2021142,000 milesIL

MY CAR STALLED 3XS HAS TO REPLACE IGNITION CONTROL SWITCH. MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. MY LIGHTS FLICKER AS I ACCELERATE ON EXPRESSWAY OR EVEN ON THE STREET NOW. MOTOR ON PASSENGER WINDOW WENT OUT

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 20, 2020MI

"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)."

Air Bags
Filed Dec 5, 2020MI

AIR BAG LIGHT DRIVERSIDE BEEN ON FOR MONTHS DRAIN MY BATTERY NOW AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF ON

Electrical System
Filed Dec 5, 2020NV

MY CAR KEEPS TURNIN GOFF WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWM. AT 80 I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR TURNED OFF AMY TIMES

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Nov 25, 202094,000 milesVA

BACK IN 2019 ON THANKSGIVING WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROUTE 17 IN ESSEX COUNTY BECAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT TO QUICKLY WE REPLACED THEM A YEAR LATER IT DID ALMOST DID THE SAME THING BUT WE CATCH IT IN TIME ARE MECHANIC SAID IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR WHEEL YOUR WHEEL BEARING 10 MONTHS APART WE WENT THROUGH 3 ALREADY AND IT'S ASKING ME TO PUT A DATE FROM WHEN IT HAPPEN I'LL PUT THE FIRST TIME AND THE NEXT TWO THE NEXT DATE IT HAPPEN 9/23/2020/10/20/20 IT'S ALSO DOING SOME WEIRD SLIDING IN THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE

20 of 209 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20151000Routine
2014205130Above average
20135485100Above average
2012553370Above average
2011 — this page209320Above average
2010163380Routine
200967200Routine
20088316261Fatalities reported
20072400Routine
200022510Routine
199962520Routine
199858610Routine
199783600Routine
1996157331Fatalities reported
1995196330Routine

Compare every Avenger year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 15, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.