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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2012 Dodge Avenger Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
31about this part
Share
6%of 554 total for the year
Median mileage
41,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Dodge Avenger, 6% of the 554 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“I was driving 35 MPH on a street when the engine light popped on and the car stopped accelerating the wheel became very stiff and the brakes weren't working. I managed to turn the wheel enough to make a turn on a non busy street and managed to put it in park once it stopped rolling. I turned the car off for 10 minutes before starting it up to head to the mechanic up the road to the mechanic. Diagnostic says catalytic converter.”

NHTSA complaint #11315952, filed 2020-03, 167,070 miles

“My car hesitates and jerks viciously whenever I accelerate. I only had the car 9 months. I did research and noticed this year car has a recall on it but I have yet been notified by my dealer. I just want to know what's the problem and will I receive any recall assistants ??”

NHTSA complaint #10917380, filed 2016-10, 95,000 miles

“I have had several problems with the acceleration of this vehicle the dealership replaced the transmission and several sensors due to bucking and hesitations. This never resolved the situation it still bucks when its moist or rains I was told by the dealership that this is a characteristic of this particular model.”

NHTSA complaint #10533990, filed 2013-08, 200 miles

“I have been having issues with my horn sounding while driving and took it to the dealership and they could not diagnose the problem. The horn continued to sound while driving at different times without warning and on august 1, 2018 I was driving and it was raining and my horn started sounding and I had my windshield wipers on at the time and when the horn sounded the wipers stopped working for a few seconds and when the horn stopped sounding the wipers began working again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11118914, filed 2018-08, 71,043 miles

“Transmission will get stuck into a gear and not shift. Vehicle was taken to dealership for repair. After 1000 miles, transmission again malfunctions and towed to dealership for repair. Second malfunction very similar to first, but I was not able to even drive the car after the second malfunction. Car seems to be stuck in a higher gear that will not allow me to get started from a full stop. This is a new Avenger with 3.6l pentastar engine.”

NHTSA complaint #10492096, filed 2013-01, 7,500 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2014126%
2013326%
2012316%
2011147%
20102012%
20091015%
200823628%
2000627%
19991016%
199847%
199745%
19962113%
1995168%

Other parts of the 2012 Dodge Avenger

Other or unknown
164 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
119 complaintsAir bags
109 complaintsElectrical system
109 complaintsEngine
87 complaintsSeat belts
43 complaintsElectronic stability control
25 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsFuel system
19 complaintsVehicle 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 28, 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