What 553 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Avenger

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.

NHTSA ODI 11534927

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

NHTSA ODI 11513774

On November 19, 2021 I was a passenger in the above vehicle, which was owned by my ex-husband. We were involved in a 3 car accident when another car cut us off while driving at the speed of 45 mph (posted), with cruise control set. Upon impact with the 2 other vehicles, my seat (the passenger side seat) broke and threw me forward into the front passenger side compartment. Even though the dash airbags deployed, I suffered a catastrophic injury to my leg/ankle that required immediate surgery---had I not had surgery, I would have never walked again. The above vehicle had to be towed due to being a total loss. When my ex-husband went to the salvage yard to retrieve his belongings out of the totaled car, he and his daughter noticed that the front passenger side seat was broke. The vehicle, I believe is no longer available for inspection, since my significant other gave the title to the salvage yard. There has been a recall affecting the seat restraint pretensioners, however, since I did not own said vehicle, I do not know if this one was included in that recall. According to my ex-husband, there was no warning, messages, or other symptoms of a problem before this accident occured. My whole life was changed that evening. I am facing huge medical costs for my recovery---my hospital bill alone was $186,500.00! This does not include follow up visits, physical therapy, and all the pain and suffering I have experienced!

NHTSA ODI 11458662

Air Bags from Steering Wheel did not deploy in a at fault rear end accident. Driver suffered from neck and back injuries. Problem has not been inspected. No warning lamps.

NHTSA ODI 11444286

THE INTERIOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE SLICED MY FINGER WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR.. IT LOOKS LIKE THE METAL IS SEPARATING AND IS SHARP AS A KNIFE.... MY OTHER ISSUE IS .. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE IN MY PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD.. ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE VENTS BLOW HOT AIR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT BLOWS COLD AIR.

NHTSA ODI 11288775

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A YIELD SIGN, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEVER ENGAGED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINED A HEAD CONTUSION, CONCUSSION, NECK SPRAIN, AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND UNDERWENT SEVERAL BRAIN SCANS. SHE WAS ALSO CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING MINOR SEIZURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM OF CORPUS CHRISTI (4313 S STAPLES ST, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411, 361-288-2510) WHERE IT WAS KEPT FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR REGARDING THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT A LEAK WAS STILL PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. AFTER REVIEWING THE CARFAX REPORT, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V640000 (SEATS, AIR BAGS) AND 16V668000 (SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, SHE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11252978

THIS CAR IS TOTALLY UNSAFE WORSE VEHICLE EVER. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER MAKING ME ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE MY KIDS WERE IN IT AS WELL AND DRIVING ON. THE HIGHWAY. IT WILL BE FINE THEN JUST EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF. IT HAS SHUT OFF THEN NOT START OR I?VE CHANGED THE ENGINE ONE TIME AND AFTER THAT IT WAS OK AND NOW A YEAR LATER IS DOING G THE SAME EXACT THING. CAR WON?T START FOR SOME ODD REASON THEN STARTS FINE 30 MIN LATER I WAS TRYING G TO START MY CAR N IT BLEW UP IN MY FACE N BLEW THE AIR FILTER OFF AS WELL THIS CAR HAS BEEN SO BAD I?M SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE IT I ALSO HAVE VIDEOS OF IT DRIVING G FINE THEN JUST SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY THIS IS THE WORSE VEHICLE EVER WAY TO UNSAFE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTS GOING HAY WIRE FLASHING THE LIGHT OFF N AND THE CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF WHEN NO BODY HAS TOUCHED IT OR DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE IT GO OFF THERE'S MORE JUST REALLY UPSET CAN'T THINK OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11234331

THERE IS NO HEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THERE IS HEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A HILL IN PARK AND STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL AND THE BRAKE AND EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING AT THAT MOMENT IN THE CAR. I ALSO HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND DUE TO THIS IT CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS ALSO WELL KEPT, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE A MECHANICAL DEFECT

NHTSA ODI 11190390

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.

NHTSA ODI 11173834

I HAVE A 2012 DODGE AVENGER V6 WITH ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE HEAT WORKING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED IT THERE IS SAND PARTIALS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM FROM THE SAND FORGING OF THE MOTOR AND WHERE THERE WAS NOT PROPER FLUSHING OF THE COOLING SYSTEM BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE MOTOR. IT IS A CLOSED SYSTEM SO THERE IS NO WAY THAT SAND PARTIALS CAN ENTER THE SYSTEM AND CAUSE THAT ISSUE. DODGE BELIEVES THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE WITH IT AND IT IS A "CREATURE COMFORT", BUT WHEN IN FACE THE HEAT DEFROSTS THE WINDOWS TO ENABLE VISIBILITY. WITH NO HEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOME OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS UNABLE TO DEFOG, DEFROST, OR MELT ANY ICE OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. THIS IS NOT A DRIVER ISSUE, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 11173338

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE CONTACT CALLED HILL-KELLY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (6171 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505, (850) 972-2050) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11162770

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INCORRECTLY, WHICH INJURED THE CONTACT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAKATA AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. *TT*JB CONSUMER STATED VIN UPDATED, CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER NOT THE OWNER. *JB *DT PHOTOS ATTACHED 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11161946

WHEN IT RAINS I CAN NOT DRIVE I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AGO IN THE CAR HAD THE PROBLEM I DIDN KNO AT THE TIME CAUSE IT WAS WINTER WHEN I GOT IT AND I REALLY FEEL IN DANGER PLEAS HELP

NHTSA ODI 11088385

VEHICLE IN TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT - STRUCK BY VEHICLE IN ACCIDENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE DOOR - DUBLIN OH POLICE DEPT INCIDENT # 18000499 - NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TT *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI 11080856

1ST COMPLAINT IS THE SEATBELT WILL RANDOMLY LOCK AND RESTRAIN YOU AND AND TAKE SEVERAL SECONDS TO RELEASE. 2ND COMPLAINT IS MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR IS CONSTANTLY DRENCHED WITH A FLUID WHEN IT RAINS. 3RD COMPLAINT IS THE CAR SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 40MPH. 4TH COMPLAINT I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11012229

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED A MONTH PRIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 10986162

THE METAL COATING ON ALL OF THE DOOR HANDLES IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS PEELING UP EXPOSING A VERY SHARP EDGE ON ALL HANDLES THAT CAUSES DEEP LACERATIONS ON HAND.

NHTSA ODI 10981728

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED BEHIND A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE TRUCK IN FRONT SUDDENLY MOVED AND ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO NOTICE ANOTHER VEHICLE HEADING TOWARDS THEM AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM, PCM, AND ORC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A NEW PCM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,013.

NHTSA ODI 10978567

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED MUSCLE STIFFNESS, BACK PAIN, AND BRUISES ON HER CHEST, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 10967216

WE HIT A PATCH OF SLUSH AND ICE, THE REAR TIRES LOCKED AND THE CAR SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. THE CAR'S BUMPER, GRILLE, SUPPORT BAR ETC WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE RADIATOR WAS FOLDED INTO A "V". THE DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FLASHING ON/OFF WHEN WE USED THE TURN SIGNAL. THE CAR DIDN'T START OR SHUT OFF AT TIMES. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/AIRBAG. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 10957805

MY SON WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND IT FULLY EXTENDED ALLOWING MY SON'S HEAD TO SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. HE HAS HAD A HEAD ACHE, IN THAT EXACT SPOT FROM THE IMPACT, FOR 7 DAYS CONSECUTIVELY. - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENTS) TS

NHTSA ODI 10945218

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN UNKNOWN ANIMAL WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V668000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 10937537

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A STREET COMING FROM A PARKING LOT. BECAUSE THIS IS A BUSY STREET THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THIS LOCATION. I HAD A GREEN LIGHT TO TURN. ANOTHER DRIVER TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH OR MORE IN A PICK-UP TRUCK, RAN A RED LIGHT AND SLAMMED DIRECTLY INTO MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY HEAD AND MY SHOULDER TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE IMPACT. MY COLLARBONE WAS FRACTURED AT THE TIP WHERE IT CONNECTS TO MY ACROMION BONE, AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS, NOT EVEN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 10933862

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT FORWARD DOWN A FLAT THREE-LANE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AND IT CROSSED TWO LANES AND ROLLED MULTIPLE TIMES DOWN A 30 FOOT EMBANKMENT. IT CAME TO A REST RIGHT SIDE UP. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DESPITE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING INTERIOR LIGHTING AND POWER WINDOW FUNCTIONING THAT COULDN'T BE IDENTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI 10917305

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING WIRES FROM SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 10816977