2012 Dodge Avenger reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Dodge Avenger has 553 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 21 per year. That is about even with the other Avenger years here. Their median is 21 complaints per year. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Front seat head restraint, Pretensioner, and Electrical system.

Complaints

553

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (109 of 553), then Electrical system (108) and Visibility and wipers (95). Those filings include 34 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 30 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Avenger has 548 complaints, 24 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Dodge Avenger. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall Front seat head restraint 2017-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 17V640000

Summary 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 is T56.

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2016-09-15 · NHTSA campaign 16V668000

Summary 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.

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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

Recall Electrical system 2013-07-02 · NHTSA campaign 13V282000

Summary 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.

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 may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.

Complaints by component (553 total)

Air bags

109

Electrical system

108

Visibility and wipers

Engine

Seat belts

Powertrain

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Visibility

Service brakes

Structure

Steering

Fuel and propulsion system

Speed control

Seats

Exterior lighting

Suspension

Engine and engine cooling

Wheels

Fuel system, gasoline

Hydraulic brakes

Forward collision avoidance

Lane departure

Tires

Traction control

Show 16 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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 was just the latest"
Engine · filed 2026-05-25
"Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents.…"
Electrical system, Visibility and wipers · filed 2025-11-16
"I was driving and I stopped at a stop sign. When I got ready to go, the car stalled and stopped and wouldn't start. After 30 minutes, it started but I ended up having it towed. My mechanic was able to replicate it after…"
Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or other · filed 2025-08-01
"The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while her son was exiting a parking lot, upon driving over a speed bump, the passenger’s side head restraint unintendedly…"
Seats · filed 2025-04-23
"The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact received notification of an undisclosed recall. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the front passenger’s side headrest deployed inadvertently.…"
Seats · filed 2025-02-10

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Dodge Avenger 4 DR FWD	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Avenger	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 4-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	29	24 MPG	$2700
Avenger	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	20	30	23 MPG	$2800
Avenger	3.6L, 6-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	19	28	22 MPG	$2950

Specs and fitment

JS generation, 2012–2014

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-20 (2.4L and 3.6L) , 4.6 qt capacity

Tire size 225/55R17, 225/50R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 16V-668 covers certain 2010-2014 Dodge Avenger and other FCA models: the Occupant Restraint Controller may experience a solder joint crack that can disable the air bag system warning lamp and affect air bag deployment. Recall 13V-043 covers certain 2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles that may have a gas tank with a broken control valve in the fuel tank. Recall 17V-640 covers certain 2012-2013 Avenger vehicles where a component within the ORC may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying.

Compare

Next year 2013 Dodge Avenger See every Dodge Avenger model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Dodge Avenger reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Dodge Avenger?

Is the 2012 Dodge Avenger more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Avenger has 548 complaints, 24 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Dodge Avenger been recalled?

The 2012 Dodge Avenger has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Dodge Avenger?

Owners have filed 553 complaints about the 2012 Dodge Avenger with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Dodge Avenger get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Dodge Avenger is 23 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Dodge Avenger take?

Viscosity and capacity depend on engine and model year; use the generation specs here and confirm in the owner's manual.

What generation is the 2013 Dodge Avenger?

JS generation (2012-2014) for the US years this site tracks.

What tire sizes does a Dodge Avenger use?

Common US sizes include 225/55R17 and 225/50R18 depending on trim.