Is the 2012 Dodge Avenger a bad year?
554 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avenger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 Dodge Avenger are in line with other Avenger years. Visibility and wipers, air bags, electrical system and 1 more stand 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 2012 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 72,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 119 (21%) | 57k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 109 (20%) | 42k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 109 (20%) | 54k–92k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 43 (8%) | 42k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 90 (16%) | 52k–103k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 31 (6%) | 7k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Stability control | 25 (5%) | 51k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 23 (4%) | 20k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 20 (4%) | 30k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 20 (4%) | 16k–96k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 19 (3%) | 60k–113k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 16 (3%) | 48k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 14 (3%) | 64k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 10 (2%) | 17k–50k 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 72,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 554 complaints: 34 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 30 report an injury · 18 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Heater core clogged, causing windows to fog up in cold conditions, eventually leading to heater core and coolant system failure due to overpressure, resulting in engine overheating.
Poor heating system performance. Sludge builds up in the cooling system and restricts coolant flow to the heater core causing loss of heat in the passenger compartment.
In the last 3 years my vehicle has stalled 5 times. Today was the 5th time. I was on a hill about to turn onto another street, and as I started turning the steering wheel, the car turned off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 72,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Dodge Avenger: 3
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. If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
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.
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: 62
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Dodge Avenger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Some vehicles may exceed NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission level standards due to loss of catalytic converter efficiency
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2011 Avenger: 209 complaints, keep it · 2013 Avenger: 548 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 2012 Dodge Avenger a bad year?
554 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avenger years. At 72,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Avenger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (119), air bags (109), electrical system (109), seat belts (43), engine (90).
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Avenger have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 17V-640), Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-668), Electrical system (NHTSA 13V-282). 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.