2012 Dodge Avenger Reliability
The 2012 Dodge Avenger has 554 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and visibility / wipers. Compared with nearby Avenger model years (2010–2014), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Avenger's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
554
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
34
Complaints citing a crash
7
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Dodge Avenger complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 163 | 29% |
| Visibility / wipers | 119 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 109 | 20% |
| Air bags | 109 | 20% |
| Engine | 87 | 16% |
| Seat belts | 43 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 31 | 6% |
| Stability control | 25 | 5% |
2012 Dodge Avenger recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V282000 | Jul 2, 2013 | 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… |
| 16V668000 | Sep 15, 2016 | Seat belts — pretensioner | 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,… |
| 17V640000 | Oct 10, 2017 | Seats — front assembly / head restraint | 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… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Avenger years
Verdicts compare these Avenger model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 163 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2011 | 209 | 3 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2012 (this page) | 554 | 3 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2013 | 548 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2014 | 205 | 1 | Air bags | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 Dodge Avenger
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 Dodge Avenger can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 Dodge Avenger reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Dodge Avenger reliable?
The 2012 Dodge Avenger has 554 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and visibility / wipers. Compared with nearby Avenger model years (2010–2014), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Avenger's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Dodge Avenger problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Dodge Avenger are unknown or other (163), visibility / wipers (119), electrical system (109), air bags (109). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Dodge Avenger have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Dodge Avenger, including 13V282000 (electrical system) and 16V668000 (seat belts — pretensioner). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Dodge Avenger compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 209 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2013 has 548 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 554 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 Dodge Avenger?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Dodge Avenger research
Other Dodge Avenger model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Avenger, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.