Is the 2011 Dodge Avenger a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avenger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Dodge Avenger are in line with other Avenger years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Avenger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 41 (20%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 39 (19%) | 51k–116k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 35 (17%) | 58k–136k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 26 (12%) | 60k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 20 (10%) | 60k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (7%) | 43k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (7%) | 33k–100k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 10 (5%) | 26k–123k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 9 (4%) | 59k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (4%) | 29k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (4%) | 62k–99k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 7 (3%) | 27k–120k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Suspension | 16 (8%) | 16k–46k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 209 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving to work today I lost all power and noticed a red lighting bolt on the dash. I would try to accelerate but could not going more then 1600 rpm's.
I was driving down the autobahn at about 45 MPH when the electronic throttle control light began flashing and the car lost all power.
After purchasing my vehicle I took it for a short drive on the highway. I was speeding up to 35-40 MPH when the car stalled.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 71,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Dodge Avenger: 3
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. 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.
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. In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 49
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Dodge Avenger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
No Start After Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Replacement and/or Reprogramming
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
Powertrain Diagnostic and System Improvements
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Engine stall
Neighbouring years
2010 Avenger: 163 complaints, keep it · 2012 Avenger: 554 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Avenger year
2000 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · All Avenger years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Avenger a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avenger years. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Avenger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (41), engine (39), air bags (35), visibility and wipers (26), seat belts (20).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Avenger have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-668), Electrical system (NHTSA 13V-282), Steering (NHTSA 11V-315). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.