10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,542 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Dodge Avenger engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Dodge Avenger Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

May 042022

Avenger

  • 171,998 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the check engine warning light and air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the cruise control, buttons on the steering wheel, and occupant restraint control were malfunctioning. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that the air bag and occupant restraint warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 171,998.

- Bloomfield, NM, USA

problem #37

Jun 162021

Avenger

  • miles
Vehicle will shut off while driving, has happened numerous time's, horn randomly honks by its self, it take numerous attempts to get the car started once it shut off, and now it's locked In limp mode and won't leave second gear

- Nanticoke, PA, USA

problem #36

Apr 102021

Avenger

  • miles
My car doesn't start. I've been having the same problems since last year. I've been told 3 times that it was the alternative so I've bought 3. then I was told it was the cords on my battery so I fixed that. Now I'm currently getting it looked at which I think it is the transmission or starter. I've also bought two batteries. Last week wen I went to the store a girl came up to me and asked do I have problems with my car I told her yes she said her mother has the same car as I do and told me that she her car keeps turning off and want crank. She said she put so much money into the car that she just had to get another one. So I know that it has to be something wrong because I'm also having those same type of problems and I keep my car up very well.

- Greenwood, SC, USA

problem #35

Jul 172019

Avenger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car keeps turnin goff while driving and slowing dowm. At 80 I was driving and my car turned off amy times

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #34

Sep 092020

Avenger

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle jerked and lost power. The engine and traction warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the crankshafts on three occasions. The contact stated that the battery cable box burned and was also replaced by the independent mechanic. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The contact stated that the vehicle did not seem fully repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Athens, AL, USA

problem #33

Jun 202020

Avenger

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving down the highway this has happened I believe atleast 3 times now, all of a sudden while driving not sure if a specific speed but I was going atleast 50 mph each time, the steering wheel seems to lock up for a good second or two which is a long time when your going that speed. It's extremely scary and the first time it happened I didn't know if it happened or not than it happened again not sure how long after and that's when I was like ok maybe that steering wheel did lock up before than when it happened again I knew for sure it was really happening cause I had a friend in passenger seat who witnessed this. Now it's been a while and my car all of a sudden won't start and my steering wheels will not lock. I've replaced sensors tried deleting codes. The codes I got were wrong immobilizer key and low voltage. Doing as much research as I have for the last week buying and trying things I've seen a major problem with these cars is a security issue and it can shut your car off as your driving normally.thia is dangerous and for as many complaints how is there no recall on this

- Cambridge, MN, USA

problem #32

Jun 112020

Avenger 6-cyl

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car has problems picking up speed when pushing pedal it slowly picks up speed, when the car is in motion and I push on brakes or I am backing out of parking space car shuts off. Also sometimes while car is running I notice it won't go over a certain speed it jus won't allow me to do over 50 mph and car starts to over heat but normally I pull over turn the car off and start it back up and it drives normal again, until the car is turned off again it mysteriously just happens again whenever it decides.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #31

Oct 072019

Avenger

  • 99,875 miles
Passenger's side of vehicle blows cold air when the driver's side blows hot air. This is an ongoing problem with most all 2011 thru 2014 Dodge vehicles, of which Dodge is aware of. The heater core is clogged with left over filings and dirt from the engine when it was made. It is a major job to replace the heater core. This problem should be a recall as it is a problem created when the vehicle was made.

- Manchester, TN, USA

problem #30

Sep 152019

Avenger

  • 102,300 miles
When I am driving the battery light will go off along with the ABS and the brake light. I just bought the car about a month and a half ago.

- San Bruno, CA, USA

problem #29

Jan 032018

Avenger

  • 93,000 miles
Heat only blows hot on drivers side - passenger side blows cold air. Took to the dealership 01/18 they replaced the heater core and flushed the system. 11/18 doing the exact same thing. Already cost $1200, told that it is the coolant and they would not replace the heater core under warranty because it is clogged. If it is the coolant they put in wouldn't that still be covered? this is a safety issue for the defroster on that side also only blows cold air!

- Banton, AR, USA

problem #28

May 122019

Avenger

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Dashboard lights up without warning; dealer failed to correct or report when first purchased vehicle in 2011. Now in 2019, dealer denies record despite having given us loaner Jeep and Chrysler 200 in separate occasions. In 2019, car lights up randomly, engine stops while driving on freeway or in regular street traffic or turning at an intersection, and dealer reports unable to correct. Extremely hazardous. Worth a lawsuit. Dash lights up, engine shuts off, steering wheel locks, car sometimes starts again but not always. We paid the dealer to fully replace the crank sensor but that isn't fixing it. Tpm sensor warning appeared and isn't going away despite dealer stating it should. Replacing psi sensor did not correct this system warning either. Dealer said warning appeared 518 miles before we took it in but the error occurred on 5/12/19 and we took it in on 5/14/19, only driving about 15 miles from 5/12 - 5/12/19. Either dealer lied or info isn't being held on computer's memory. Tired of almost getting crashed into because the car randomly dies.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #27

Jan 222019

Avenger

  • 68,748 miles
Car has died while driving in traffic 5 times between 01/22/19 and 03/06/19. Presented many different issues, including stall, no start, no crank, poor idle. Towed in 5 times to 3 different dealerships and dead again. Over $2000 in out of pocket costs so far and the danger to life sitting in a dead car in the middle of snowstorms in rush hour traffic. Also several times in between would not even start in the driveway. And many other what I refer to as "electrical gremlins"! all times dates and occurrences are documented in writing, backed up by texts and even some short videos showing dash with check engine lights and other issues.

- Port Huron, MI, USA

problem #26

Apr 102018

Avenger

  • miles
2011 Dodge Avenger express. Drivers side blows hot air but passenger side blows cold. This began doing this action in April 2018 and when I drive on the highway or city traffic, it blows hot on one side and the other side is cold. I also noticed that the air stops blowing for several minutes then comes back on by itself.

- Bridgewater, MA, USA

problem #25

Jan 252019

Avenger

  • miles
Heat only blows hot on drivers side.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #24

Jan 012016

Avenger

  • miles
For the last 2 years I only get heat on my driver side. Passenger side blows cold air. I heard it could be related to a defect during manufacturing process Dodge where metal casing are left in the engine block causing the core to get clogged and that is why I have the problem.

- Paramount, CA, USA

problem #23

Oct 312017

Avenger

  • 80,134 miles
The heater in my car is only blowing heat on the driver side the passenger side is blowing cold air. Being from Maine this creates a safety issue in the winter when the weather is inclement as it does not defrost properly as it should. I was quoted $2100 4 heater core and radiator replacement. With all the complaints for this same issue I have seen I would think that Chrysler Dodge with take responsibility do the right thing and fix this issue without charging the consumer.

- Otis, ME, USA

problem #22

Dec 092017

Avenger

  • 125,000 miles
2011 Dodge Avenger. 3.6L engine. While driving between 30 and 40 mph, on deceleration, once the gas pedal is pressed to accelerate, the engine stalls. All electrical still works, but power steering and braking are lost. Car does not restart for at least an hour or more, but will start evnetually. Has happened "intermittently" 10 times since Dec 2017 (this report done July 2018). 8 dealer trips with a torque converter replacement, new fuel pump and still stalling issues while trying to accelerate. Empty back roads, state highways and even busy freeways have all been locations for stalls. All weather conditions, (winter, summer, wet, dry). One code pulled referred to the tipm, which is a major problem for Chrysler, but not documented in the Avenger. Dealer wants a second code to confirm but of the 10 stalls and 8 being towed to the dealer immediately, only once was code saved in car's computer.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

problem #21

Mar 152018

Avenger

  • 75,000 miles
My Dodge Avenger has the same problem that everyone else's car has with a 3.6L vvt in the car, the engine oil cooler cracks, and sprays oil everywhere, the problem is that if it isn't caught the oil get all over the place and causes belts to smoke because the oil and antifreeze are leaking from the oil cooler. Considering that this is a common problem with these motors, this needs to be investigated, so the oil cooler can be recalled, so Dodge will fix this problem!! it is dangerous especially if you're in the middle of a trip and it decides to crack while you're doing 70 mph down the freeway and all the oil and antifreeze blows out the car. And you don't even know where the problem is until the car is stopped and you get it towed home, you check all the fluids and refill them then you come outside the next morning and you see the big leak from the oil all on the ground and you have to have them tear the car apart because there is oil all over the place under the hood.

- New Castle, PA, USA

problem #20

Mar 012018

Avenger

  • 110,000 miles
Passenger side heat blows weak cold air (dash, floor, and defroster). Windshield will not defrost. Heater core replaced, clogged with casting sand from manufacturer. Two weeks later, new core clogged. Mechanic spent most of one day continuously flushing engine/system. Sand still flushing out at end of day from heat/cooling system. Conditions are stationary or moving (any speed) with heater on. Unsure how long this was occurring as I rarely have a passenger. Driver's side seemed to work fine, so I did not notice until routinely transporting passenger and got worse to the point it was difficult seeing out of windshield.

- Evans, CO, USA

problem #19

Jan 222018

Avenger

  • 76,400 miles
With less than 77,000 miles on my 2011 Dodge Avenger the heating system quit working, I was told that it would cost 2,000 to 3,000 dollars to fix. I also been told from past Dodge mechanics that Dodge has been aware of this problem for 10 to 15 years and fail to recall the cars affected. I currently have no heat on either side of the car, after seeing hundreds of complaints about the same issue this obviously has to be a manufacturers defect and needs to be recalled by Dodge.

- Kalispell, MT, USA

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