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EnginePart report

2012 Dodge Avenger Engine Problems

Complaints
87about this part
Share
16%of 554 total for the year
Median mileage
78,502miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 87 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Dodge Avenger, 16% of the 554 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,502 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 6 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was on a hill about to turn onto the freeway when my vehicle turned off/stalled. I was moving about 10 miles per hour and when I went to turn right I found it difficult to move the steering wheel, at which point I realized my vehicle had stalled. This is the third time I have had this issue with my vehicle within the last year.”

NHTSA complaint #11176499, filed 2019-02, 90,220 miles

“My Dodge Avenger recently started stalling/shutting down while in motion. It has happened 4 times in the last 3 months. I loose all power to the steering wheel and brakes, I cannot control the car. Thankfully this has only happened on local roads. I am terrified if it happens while I am on the highway which I travel everyday on my way to work and back.”

NHTSA complaint #11118226, filed 2018-08, 133,000 miles

“Driving at 50-55 MPH and check engine and other dashboard lights flashed and started losing power. Pulled off to side street a few feet away. I was lucky to be able to get in center turn lane where the car died completely. Power steering also was lost. We pushed car off road where it restarted about 1/2 hour later. Driving home less then 5 miles it died but started again.”

NHTSA complaint #11083551, filed 2018-04, 103,280 miles

“My heater is not blowing out hot air. I was told that casting sand was in the cooling reservoir that's causing the heater to not blow out hot air and that the casting sand will cause sludge in my cooling system. Even though this is no fault of my making and this happened at the manufacturing plant Dodge will not fix their mistake nor is it covered by my lifetime added care plus warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #11155611, filed 2018-12, 53,568 miles

“I have continuosly been having problems with my brakes and rotors, engine stalling while driving, and the lock to my drivers side door isnt working properly. I have had my brakes and rotors repaired three times within a 4 month time frame. This is ridiculous. I dont know what kind of mechanical meltdown this vehicle is having. But some needs to provide some answers.”

NHTSA complaint #10823172, filed 2016-01, 119,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20144220%
201312022%
20128716%
20113818%
20102314%
20091116%
200811614%
199912%

Other parts of the 2012 Dodge Avenger

Other or unknown
164 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
119 complaints
Air bags
109 complaints
Electrical system
109 complaints
Seat belts
43 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
31 complaints
Electronic stability control
25 complaints
Brakes
23 complaints
Steering
20 complaints
Body and structure
20 complaints
Fuel system
19 complaints
Vehicle speed control
16 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Dodge Avenger

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology