2012 Dodge Avenger Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Dodge Avenger, and owners have filed 554 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Avenger
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Head restraint (seats) and air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Air bags and 2 other components
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…
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.…
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Air bags and electrical system
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…
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…
554 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Dodge Avenger have filed 554 complaints with NHTSA; 34 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 35 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,368 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 119 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My 2012 dodge avenger will shut off whenever it feels like and you lose control of power steering. It feels like it’s not getting gas. It will crank back up when it feels like.The horn honks randomly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 28, 2026 · Electrical system
“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 the first time its happened it w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 25, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Dodge Avenger. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 28–30 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 6-spd |
Compare Dodge Avenger model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Dodge Avenger model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 196 |
| 1996 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 157 |
| 1997 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 83 |
| 1998 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 58 |
| 1999 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 62 |
| 2000 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 22 |
| 2007 Dodge Avenger | 4 | 2 |
| 2008 Dodge Avenger | 6 | 831 |
| 2009 Dodge Avenger | 2 | 67 |
| 2010 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 163 |
| 2011 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 209 |
| 2012 Dodge Avenger | 3 | 554 |
| 2013 Dodge Avenger | 5 | 548 |
| 2014 Dodge Avenger | 1 | 205 |
| 2015 Dodge Avenger | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2012 Dodge Avenger
How do I know if my 2012 Dodge Avenger has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Dodge Avenger; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Dodge dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V282000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Dodge models
- Durango13,770 complaints
- Grand Caravan13,508 complaints
- RAM 150012,416 complaints
- Caravan10,526 complaints
- Dakota6,629 complaints
- RAM 25006,443 complaints
- Intrepid6,228 complaints
- Charger5,741 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.