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?

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,910 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.

2012 Dodge Avenger accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2012 Dodge Avenger Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Aug 142014

Avenger

  • miles

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

I bought my 2012 Avenger in 2014 and the heat on the passenger side don't work it has been that way since I purchased it. The salesman was the one who noticed it the dealer said they would fix it, however I didn't get around to fast enough because I had to go away for the army and since I didn't get it done right away they voided the deal they made with me. Here I am four years later still no heat on that side of the car. I got married and now have a newborn son at home and here it is about to be winter again and no heat and this is our only vehicle and no way to get out of the loan to purchase a different car. This is a safety concern for several reasons one being the window doesn't defrost which makes visibility close to impossible and two if my family gets stuck on the road somewhere we will freeze to death.

- Garrett, IN, USA

problem #33

Jan 042018

Avenger

  • miles
Passenger side window frosts / ices over in winter due to lack of any defroster / vent heat. Heat is delivered normally to drivers side windshield. The lack of visibility through half of windshield in winter conditions creates an unsafe condition.

- Geneseo, IL, USA

problem #32

Aug 152018

Avenger

  • 100,000 miles
I bought the car used and have had it for about 9 months. Everything was working fine, we keep regular vehicle maintenance and the heat stops working the in the car entirely. The vents blow cool air no matter the setting which means the widows do not defrost at all. This is dangerous in the winter time considering I cannot see. I have seen numerous people complain about the exact same problem.

- Mission, SD, USA

problem #31

Nov 012016

Avenger

  • 90,000 miles

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

No heat on passenger side of vehicle, causing no clearing of windows on passenger side of vehicle, making it unsafe to drive

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #30

Aug 012018

Avenger

  • 71,043 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. I was driving on a city street at the time.I took the car back to the dealership and they kept if for several days and then diagnosed the issue as total integrated power module.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #29

Nov 202017

Avenger

  • 60,000 miles
2012 Dodge Avenger act plus. Stopped heating on passenger side and only defrosts and unfogs the window on the driver side. This is an apparent manufacturer defect that requires the heater core to be replaced as a remedy. I would urge Dodge to do a proper re all before somebody dies due to poor visibility. This, first, happened to my car while driving at night. The window was covered in steam or fog (whatever you call it) and the blower in the dash was not clearing it for proper visibility. I'm glad I did not crash or hurt someone because I could not see. After I pulled off the road and investigated, I realized that the heat was not working on passenger side, it only blew cold air, but driver side was warm air. Not ideal for cold pa winters and I should not have to foot the bill for an obvious manufacturer defect. I hope Dodge will recall this and do the right thing before somebody is killed, if it hasn't happened already. There are endless complaints exactly like this. Step up and fix it!

- Altoona, PA, USA

problem #28

Nov 242017

Avenger

  • 45,000 miles

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

When using climate controls the air on driver side gets hot but air through the vents on passenger side remain cold. In winter the winshield will only defrost or defog one side which obscures vision on passenger side which could lead to an accident and or death as a result.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #27

Dec 042017

Avenger

  • 90,000 miles
Passenger-side defroster blows cold rather than hot/warm air causing collection of condensation/frost on the windshield in the winter. This happens all the time, regardless of if in motion or stationary. I'm told it is a partially blocked heater core.

- Edmore, MI, USA

problem #26

Feb 012018

Avenger

  • 125,000 miles
Driver side receives heat only while defrosting window passenger side is cool air and needs additional intervention to clear window. When heating cabin area once more only driver side receives heat passenger side is cold. Vehicle was in both moving and stationary positions on all occurances and starts off on city streets into highway.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #25

Nov 012016

Avenger

  • 75,000 miles
Starting in fall of 2016 the vents only blow cold air out of passenger side and lukewarm air out of driver side. The windows do not defrost and fog up constantly during the winter time while I am driving. My vision is constantly impaired during cool and cold weather. My children have to bring layers of blankets to get to school without freezing. I have to drive with gloves on to keep my hands from going numb. I have had the thermostat replaced and the system flushed but yet the problem still goes on. I was told that the heater core would need to be replaced in order to fix the problem. This is an ongoing problem and not just a one time incident. I do not have an exact date for when it happened but instead every day the temperature was below 30 since I've bought the car in April of 2016.

- Papillion, NE, USA

problem #24

Sep 012017

Avenger

  • miles

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

Ive been reading online that there are many people having the same issue I have with my car. When you turn the heater on the passenger side of the car blows out cold air. If I want the passenger side of my car to defrost I have to manually get out of my car and scrape it and even then the inside still is hard to see out of. I cant even bring my daughter in this car because the passenger side of the car seems like it is running the air conditioning in the middle of winter. There is also sometimes was a clicking noise under the passenger side dash which is the actuator. After replacing this it still does the same thing. I hear that it costs thousands of dollars to fix and I believe it is a manufacturer issue and they should resolve it.

- Odin, IL, USA

problem #23

Feb 102016

Avenger

  • miles
It started almost 2 years ago, my heat in my 2012 Dodge Avenger started to not work. I have had it flushed 4 times and that never helped. I have had the blendor actuartor replaced twice and that did not fix the issue. I have also replacedboth thermostats replaced twice in the last year and that did not fix the issue. It seems to be a mystery to the three mecanics/dealerships that I have taken my car to for repair on what the issue is. I have looked up multiple complaints on this make, model and year and everything shows that it is a manufacture defect/issue which is the sand/sludge in the heater core and radiator. I am a single mom of 2 children and I don't need to be driving in a car with no heat when it is 0 degrees outside. I have had this car looked at multiple times and have put a lot of money into this car. With this car only being 6 years old, this should not be having these issues. This is not a customer defect this is a manufacture defect. I need Dodge/Chrysler to respond and repair this issue as like I said before have put a lot of money into this vehicle (100's and 1,000's of dollars) I bought my 2012 Dodge Avenger brand new, it only had 4 miles on it when I left the dealership, it wasn't even paid off when I started having the issues.

- Grand Rapids, OH, USA

problem #22

Oct 112017

Avenger

  • miles
The heater core has failed causing only mild heat on the driver side of the vehicle. While only cold air will blow on the passenger side. With this failure from bad casting sand removal upon manufacturing of the vehicle it has caused the thermostat to fail causing my vehicle to run far below operating temp. Since the cabin space cannot receive full heat it makes for dangerous operating conditions in cold climates as I cannot defrost the front windshield. This has made operating the vehicle during winter dangerous as I cannot see while driving. The vehicle will not provide passenger side heat no matter if the vehicle is in motion or not. While in motion the vehicle will never get to operating temp nor will the front windshield defrost.

- Stevensville, MD, USA

problem #21

Dec 012016

Avenger

  • 70,000 miles
"window defrost and passenger heat /air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin)." Have had numerous repairs over last year with no resolution. Known safety issue!

- Goshen, IN, USA

problem #20

Dec 122016

Avenger

  • 45,000 miles
Starting last winter,2016, heater began to blow cold air more so on passenger side. This winter took to very good mechanic who flushed system, checked actuator doors and electrical.he said how heater core was mounted causes residue, that can't be flushed out, and was causing lack of heat to most of cabin.also there is little or no defrost which is so very dangerous.many people have replaced heater core to find thr same thing happened again. Hope there is help.

- Monroeville, PA, USA

problem #19

Oct 012017

Avenger

  • 78,000 miles
Heater blows cold air on the passenger side at all times, and has weak heat on drivers side as well which causes windows to fog up and not be able to be defrosted limiting visibility greatly. It also is very uncomfortable being in the car without a properly working heater.

- Windber, PA, USA

problem #18

Jan 111982

Avenger

  • 76,000 miles
Window defrost and passenger heat /air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exit the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #17

Nov 012017

Avenger

  • 60,000 miles
I have a 2012 Dodge Avenger with approximately 60K miles. The heat did not work on the passenger side. I have an extended warranty and took it to a Dodge dealer for repair. I was told it was the heater core. The only sign was no heat, no leaks or smells. The extended warranty company was contacted but was told it was not a covered repair, it was a maintenance issue. I only take my car to the same Dodge dealer for all repairs, maintenance services, recalls, etc.. I paid to have it flushed, but that didn't work, so I had to have it replaced and paid $1100. I've read the same complaints from other Dodge Avenger owners. I contacted Dodge several times and each time I'm placed on hold for hours and once I get through, they rushed me off the phone. How could over 100 other Dodge Avenger owners have the same complaint as myself regarding the heater core. The dealer explained to me this is manufacture's defect and it should be a recall. There was nothing I could have done to prevent the heater core problem. This is a safety issue. No heat on the passenger side making it impossible to see clearly through the entire front windshield.

- Bedford Hts, OH, USA

problem #16

Dec 062017

Avenger

  • 40,000 miles
The heater core on the Dodge vehicles clogs easily. The way that clog develops only effects the passenger side heat. In these situations, the heat is available only on the driver side. This will greatly effect the visibility on the passenger side. This is a widely know complaint among all Dodge vehicles.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #15

Dec 292017

Avenger

  • 34,599 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While operating the vehicle, the passenger side heater was faulty and only cold air blew from the vents. During the failure, the passenger side of the front windshield could not be defrosted. The vehicle was taken to all-star Dodge (11503 St. Charles rock rd, bridgeton, mo 36044) where it was diagnosed that the cooling system was clogged with sludge. The contact was informed that the entire cooling system needed to be replaced. The cause of the sludge was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 34,599.

- Maryland Heights, MO, USA

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