2013 Dodge Avenger Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Dodge Avenger most often write about two kinds of trouble: front head restraints that deploy on their own while driving or parked, and a heater/defroster that stops sending warm air to the passenger side. Engine stalling and electrical quirks (random horn honking, dead starts) are the next most frequent themes in the sampled complaints, and most reports come in above 60,000 miles, so these are largely used-car-age problems rather than new-vehicle faults.

1. 1
   Seats

   Head restraint deploys on its own

   • 65 complaints (12%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the active head restraint on the driver or passenger seat springing forward with force while driving, parked, or unoccupied, with no crash or hard braking involved. Several say the restraint stays folded forward and that the dealer quoted an out-of-pocket replacement, and some were told the vehicle was not covered by a recall. A related warranty bulletin on the active head restraint exists for this body style, and a recall covers failure of the occupant restraint controller that controls active headrest deployment in a rear impact. Reported mostly between about 41,000 and 149,000 miles, often on cars that were parked or being driven normally.

   Recall 17V640000Recall 16V6680006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether either front head restraint has already deployed or been replaced, and check that both restraints sit flush in their normal position and reset cleanly. Ask a dealer whether the occupant restraint controller updates and the active head restraint warranty bulletin apply to the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I I was sitting in the parking lot of a grocery store when the active head restraint exploded on the passenger side head rest. My vehicle was not moving and there was no contact with any other vehicle or object. I took my vehicle back to the dealer and they stated you can not even order parts to have this fixed until 05/01/2021. He stated he would try to close it but because it is made with cheap plastic it was probably broke.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374189, filed 2020-11, 148,000 miles

   “While I was driving to the store on 10/07/2020 around the corner of my house the headrest deployed while I was driving. No accident, no sudden stops the headrest just deployed. I did check to see if there were any recalls on it but not recalls. I did find several people had the same problems and had taken there car to the dealership to see about repairs. Everyone was told that there was no recalls and they could fix it or replace the headrest, but it would be an out of pocket expense to the customer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11363508, filed 2020-10, 117,000 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Passenger-side heater and defroster blows cold

   • 113 complaints (21%)
   • median 89,666 mi at 6.1 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners report that the heater gradually stops warming the passenger side, leaving cold air from the passenger vents while the driver side stays warm, which fogs the passenger half of the windshield in cold or rainy weather. Complaints describe blend door or temperature actuator replacements, heater core replacement or flushing, and repeat failures after repair; dealer responses varied, and some owners were told it was not covered. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 205,000 miles, most noticeable in winter and wet weather.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a cold start, set the heat to full and confirm both driver and passenger vents blow warm air and that the defroster clears the whole windshield. Ask whether the blend door actuators or heater core have been replaced and whether the A/C-heater actuator bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vent doors keep failing, driver side vent gets hot while one of the vents in the middle is warm and the other is cool. Passanger side is cold as can be. This is while using the heater. I have seen many people online talk about this problem. I have also seen reports on NHTSA about the same issues. I also have replaced them multiple times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365905, filed 2020-10, 90,309 miles

   “My passenger side heat quit working so I no longer have defrost during the winter months on the passenger side of my vehicle and will have to pull over to scrape the inside and outside of my vehicle or roll down a window to keep it from fogging up and randomly started a couple years ago”

   NHTSA complaint #11386385, filed 2021-01, 95,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 111 complaints (20%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (92 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out at speed or after a stop, sometimes with the oil pressure or check engine light coming on, and often restarted after a short wait. Owners report diagnoses involving oil pressure loss and leaking oil housings, failed balance shaft bearings, fuel pump replacement, and coolant temperature sensor faults; several link the symptom to a recall for 2.4L engines with debris in the balance shaft bearings, and others say their vehicle was not included. Spread from about 45,000 to over 200,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   Recall 13V552000Recall 13V0430001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check whether the engine-oil-pressure recall work was completed for this VIN if it has the 2.4L engine, and ask for oil and filter service records. Listen for knocking or rattling at start-up and confirm the oil pressure warning behaves normally on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway at about 55 MPH then suddenly my car stalled. My car shut completely off. I saw that there was a recall for this but it was for the smaller engine which does not include my engine. I just took my car to the dealer and he said their was an oil pressure problem which caused the oil housing to leak.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322118, filed 2020-04, 83,000 miles

   “I was driving approximately 40 and then the car had no power. When I gave it gas it would not go. It dropped to about 10 MPH. The red flashing etc and engine light came on. Very scary. I could not move out of anyone way if I had to.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406161, filed 2021-04, 51,900 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Random horn honking and electrical dropouts

   • 70 complaints (13%)
   • median 82,756 mi at 6.4 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the horn sounding by itself while parked or in traffic, sometimes alongside the radio, interior lights, wipers, or power windows acting up, and some report losing motive power at the same time. Complaints mention repeated battery and alternator replacement, no-start conditions, and diagnoses pointing to the totally integrated power module (TIPM) or a general electrical fault. Broadly reported from about 42,000 to 170,000 miles, in both wet and dry conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the horn, wipers, windows, and interior lights and watch for warning lights flickering during the drive. Ask whether the TIPM or battery/alternator has been replaced and whether any connector repair kit was installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2013 Dodge Avenger has randomly started honking the horn while stopped and in motion. The honking lasts anywhere from a quick honk to sounding like I am laying on the horn for minutes going down the freeway. I have tried pulling over and restarting the vehicle which did not help or stop the horn. This is very dangerous.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300490, filed 2020-01, 170,000 miles

   “My car doesn't start after every 8 hours. I had a 'draws' test administrated on my vehicle but no one can tell me why this is happening. I drive around with a jumper box to start my car when needed. For the last 3 years I have replace my alternator twice and 4 batteries. Please help”

   NHTSA complaint #11312031, filed 2020-02, 85,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, airbags not deploying

   • 124 complaints (23%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or flashing with a chime, and several describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Complaints note that the vehicle was not covered by the airbag recalls announced for similar models, and some mention seat belt pretensioners or belts that locked or failed to restrain. A recall covers short-circuiting of the occupant restraint control module, which can prevent frontal airbags, side airbags, and belt pretensioners from deploying. Reported from about 23,000 miles upward, both as an ongoing dash warning and after crashes.

   Recall 16V668000Recall 13V282000

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb-check on start-up and stays off, and ask a dealer to confirm whether the occupant restraint control module recalls were completed for this VIN. Also test that both front seat belts extend, latch, and retract smoothly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On january 31,2021, I was driving home in the rain on interstate 40. I hydroplaned and lost control of my car. I was driving 55 MPH when this happened. I wa sin the far right lane and I spun out across the highway and I crashed into the center median at full speed. My airbags never deployed. I have many bruised on my chest, hips, legs, arms and torso from the impact, as well as whiplash in my neck and back.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395069, filed 2021-02, 117,700 miles

   “The airbag light keeps going on and off making a dinging noise. There is recalls for vehicles that are the same as mine yet for some reason mine is not recalled. This happens every time that I start the car and continues while I am driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11397874, filed 2021-02, 150,000 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that restraint, heater, and electrical faults are common, so a pre-purchase inspection that includes the airbag warning light, both seat belts, the head restraints, and the heater on a cold start is worthwhile. Ask for proof that the open recalls were completed and for service records on the engine and cooling system before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.