CarComplaints.com Notes: Consumer Reports road tests has noted deficiencies in the 2012 Avenger with regard to engine noise, acceleration, braking, handling, transmission, fuel economy, driving position and rear visibility. But at least it has a cool marketing campaign ... right?

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
79,300 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (9 reports)
2012 Dodge Avenger engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Dodge Avenger:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Dodge Avenger Owner Comments

problem #9

Feb 142022

Avenger ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

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

My car has stopped in traffic on 4 occasions… each time, the dealership service department says they don’t know what it is. Their answer is "we can’t find any reason for the car to stop" . Chrysler has many reports of this issue… this is a major safety issue, and they don’t seem to care. If there is an accident the insurance will pay for it… I find it hard to believe Chrysler builds a car without knowing what each part does to keep the car running… I am filing complaints about this everywhere available, even the Attorney General. Come on Chrysler, make this right… so we can support your company.

- Judith J., Louisville, Ky, US

problem #8

Aug 072018

Avenger SE 2.4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

My 2012 Dodge Avenger recently started stalling while driving. I had the head gasket, plugs, wires, oil, and hoses replaced and it still happens. In the past 3 months it has happened 4 times. I have no control over the vehicle when it happens and I lose all steering and braking power, Thankfully I was not on a busy highway when it happened, but one time I was rounding a corner onto a busy highway and it stalled while traffic was heading towards me. This has to be a safety issue that Chrysler must fix.

Update from Nov 18, 2020: This is still happening. I've taken the car to 2 very good mechanics and they changed the cam sensor, crankshaft sensor, replaced the plugs, cleaned the throttle body unit, and checked the fuel pump, $1200 later, this is still happening. The car stalls at least twice a week. Very dangerous, especially when i have my 4 year old daughter in the car. I actually do not drive with her in my car anymore. I cannot get ANY answers from Chrysler. I guess ordinary people don't matter;

- Mark F., Folcroft, US

problem #7

Aug 132018

Avenger SE 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,217 miles

Just purchased this car 4 days ago. First of all I need to say, I love this car (IE: how it looks, how it sounds, when it runs it runs perfect, it rides like a caddy.) But, in the last 4 days it had stalled twice. First time had to tow it 35 miles home. Second time I was a mile from home. I found if I let it sit 20-30 min it would start back up. It won't throw a code so I have no idea why it's stalling or what to fix. This can be a very dangerous problem in traffic - No power steering, No power brakes. Even for a mechanic this is the most frustrating problem with a car because there is no warning or reason and no apparent way to fix the issue.

- Paul C., Battle Ground, WA, US

problem #6

Apr 182018

Avenger SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,004 miles

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

I have had my car since 2013 and had some issues here and there but this is the first time the vehicle just died for no reason. I was in heavy traffic on a hill, ready to merge onto the freeway. The light turned green and I stepped on the gas pedal and nothing happened. I wasn't sure what was going on, so I put on my hazard lights which thankfully worked. I could tell straight away that the car wasn't even on, so I put it in park and turned the key and it started up.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed by Dodge especially as I had read multiple complaints from many different owners of this happening to them as well. What happens if I'm in peak traffic doing 65 and my car just dies? I have my 7 year old son in the car a lot of the time and if we get in an accident because of this issue then I will sue Dodge. It's obvious that they have knowledge of this and there is history of this happening with many different models so why aren't they taking action???

Update from Nov 27, 2018: On 27 November 2018 my car stalled again on a hill. Same issues, almost the same spot. I put the car in park and started the engine again.

Again, this is an issue that needs to be addressed by Dodge especially as I had read multiple complaints from many different owners and this is the second time it has happened to my car.It's obvious that they have knowledge of this and there is history of this happening with many different models so they should recall the vehicles and fix the problem.

- Tanya S., Chula Vista, US

problem #5

May 012017

Avenger ?

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,627 miles

On May 1, 2017 we looked at vehicles and this one caught my wife's eyes, so we had the salesmen let us test drive. IT'S BEEN SITTING AWHILE SO WE NEED TO JUMP IT?? BULLSHIT MAN! So he jumped it it started right away. Ok, we did paper work then I drove 2 hours home and the lights flickered off and on.

The next day my wife gets in and says the piece of sh*t won't start, so we call the dealer and he says "oh we must of did something on the way home". I said excuse me I don't drive reckless and you had to jump the car to begin with and he laughed and said "sorry no warranty" and said "you did purchase the GAP insurance right?". I said this is a bunch of BS, we come to buy a reliable car for my wife to drive our granddaughters to and from school. We lost our daughter a year ago and have to buy a better car and we can't put our grand babies lives in danger.

NOTHING TO THIS DAY. THEY DON'T REPLY TO OUR CALLS OR MESSAGES.

- James J., la Push, US

problem #4

Feb 012018

Avenger

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

On a raining day, I was driving home from work. I didn't notice my car shut off until it was time for me to turn onto another street. Since my car was shut off, the steering was locked and I was unable to turn. I hit another car that was on the opposite side of the street. I took the car to the dealership and they were unable to find a solution to the problem. As I research the issue, I found out that the 2011 Dodge Avenger had the same issues. I contacted Dodge to see if they can assist but were unable too. I still have not found an solution to this problem. I replace the fuel pump and clean the fuel injectors. I'm not sure if it's because of the a/c unit. since it does cut off when I do turn it on.

- Ashley S., Baltimore, US

problem #3

Jul 022017

Avenger SXT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,426 miles

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

Driving from church and the car just shut off. Got it home let it sit for about three hours engine light went off drove it for about thirty minutes and it shut off in the middle of the street. Set for about twenty minutes and it did it again. Call dodge and they act like they have never heard of this before. I know they have because I see others having the same problem. This is very dangerous. Does anyone have an answer?

- Cathy D., Union City, US

problem #2

Feb 192015

Avenger SXT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,651 miles

I had just started out and had only gone a mile or so at speed of approx. 40 miles an hour. When all of a sudden, I saw that my electronics just went out and the engine had cut off! I quickly put gearshift in neutral while rolling (as there was nowhere to let the car roll off and stop...only a hill, no shoulder of road). Fortunately the car started again. I am taking it to the Dodge dealership to find problem, but the service dept. said they had never heard of search a thing.

I tend to always do my homework and I found that this problem has been happening in the 2011 Dodge Avenger. Although mine is a 2012, it was actually built in 2011. The info showed that the PCM shuts the engine off at low speeds. I have printed this out and intend to take to the dealership this coming week. I will register this complaint everywhere I can.

I also have another complaint that I will be filing about car randomly not wanting to start. It will spin like going to start but engine will not engage/start running. I will update what happens at dealership. I don't feel safe driving my car because this could cause an accident if it shuts off again and I'm in traffic, crossing over a road into oncoming traffic, etc.! This could cause someone to be killed!!! I need this fixed, not just my sake, but also all who may be driving near me!

- Carolyn R., Pendergrass, GA, US

problem #1

Nov 152012

Avenger

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,600 miles

Running roughly, loss of power at high speed(interstate). No one can find out why this is happening I got a lemon!

- Rebecca T., Jesup, GA, US

Not what you are looking for?