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2012 Dodge Avenger
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
553 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 28, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2010–2014 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2012 Dodge Avenger.
Why caution?
43 complaints involve a crash, fire, injury or injury. Read them before deciding.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#516 of 565Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Dodge Avenger ranks #516, scoring higher than 9% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Dodge Avenger 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Dodge Avenger, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (109) · Seat belts (43)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Visibility & wipers
22%119 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“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 defros…”
Airbags
20%109 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“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.”
Electrical system
20%108 complaints · typically near 62k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“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.”
Engine
16%86 complaints · typically near 57k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“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…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 553 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 43 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Seats · 17V640000
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. 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.
Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
Seat Belts · 16V668000
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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System · 13V282000
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.
Fix: 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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Dodge before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Dodge Avenger. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report visibility & wipers problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 40k miles). Has this car shown any visibility & wipers symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Dodge AVENGER beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Avenger model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Dodge Avenger against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.
See a wrong vehicle match or a stale/inaccurate detail on this page? Report a correction →