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 1 of 5)

problem #94

Oct 192022

Avenger

  • miles

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

Window Defrost and Passenger Side Heat/Air. Either while 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. This results in the passenger side of the front windshield being fogged up and low visibility. 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). I've looked online and there are many reports of this problem, including Dealer Star Case - S1207000008, and multiple dialogs on various forums (like https://www.avengerforumz.com/threads/passenger-side-no-heat-from-vents.60250/). There's a picture showing the sludge within the heater core - I'll copy and include that picture below. This is completely a manufacturing defect, and it affects the safety and drivability of the vehicle. Please feel free to contact me, if you need additional information. Thank you.

- Penndel, PA, USA

problem #93

Nov 192022

Avenger

  • 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).

- Brainerd, MN, USA

problem #92

Dec 302021

Avenger

  • 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)."

- Atchison, KS, USA

problem #91

Aug 192021

Avenger

  • miles

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

It seems to be a common issue that I'm experiencing as well. When I turn the heat on it only blows hot on the driver side. So depending on the weather conditions, it may completely fog up the passenger side of my window. Making it dangerous for driving when you're trying to defrost a window with cold air.

- Toney, AL, USA

problem #90

Sep 302021

Avenger

  • miles
My wipers stop in the middle of the windshield when it-€™s pouring outside. Now my horn won-€™t turn off! I was told that it-€™s the TIPM and it-€™s a known issue with my car.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #89

Feb 172021

Avenger

  • 108,442 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)."

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #88

Oct 022020

Avenger

  • 70,000 miles

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

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).

- Sidney, MT, USA

problem #87

Nov 192018

Avenger

  • 43,000 miles
No heat on passenger side. Affects defrosting and creates a safety issue.

- Sidney, NE, USA

problem #86

Nov 122020

Avenger

  • miles
Had car worked on once at dealer for same issue in 2013. Hot air on drivers side cold air on passenger. 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). This has been an ongoing problem since we bought the car new.

- Desoto, MO, USA

problem #85

Dec 012020

Avenger

  • 125,000 miles
Driver side vent blows hot air when heat is on, but center and passenger side blow cold air. This causes fogging of the windshield, which means I can't see out the window. I've read this is common with the 2013-2013 Avenger.

- Daleville, VA, USA

problem #84

Oct 102020

Avenger

  • 98,000 miles

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

Drivers side heater works okay but the passengers side is very cold... I live in a cold climate area and the windows are always frozen 😩 it's so hard to keep the car when this doesn't work it's very unsafe

- Goodland, KS, USA

problem #83

Nov 012019

Avenger

  • 65,000 miles
Heat and defrost for windshield does not work on passenger side. Even if I scrape that side of the windshield it still frost over as I drive causing visibility to be difficult on that side. I've read a lot of reviews and this is a common occurrence on the V6 versions. This is a manufacture issue a long with being a safety concern. Being able to safely see is not accessory it is essential. So many complaints with this exact issue only leads back to the manufacture. Has noting to do with vehicle maintenance. This company needs to be held accountable!

- Mankato, MN, USA

problem #82

Oct 242020

Avenger

  • miles
Defrosters doesn't work because heat on passenger side doesn't work. I've had the actuator replaced and was told it was my thermostat, after I've gotten that replaced I was told it was my heater core! I can't drive my car during rainy days because defrosters doesn't work due to no hot air.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #81

May 182018

Avenger

  • miles
With heat on cold air blows on passenger side not keeping the widow from fogging over

- Slippery Rock, PA, USA

problem #80

Jan 222020

Avenger

  • 230,000 miles
The heat on the passenger side went out while the drivers side still had heat. We were driving in snow and ice and had very limited visibility out of the windshield of the passenger side as well as the side windows when checking for traffic while driving on an interstate. I understand that this is a common occurrence in Dodge Avengers. The actuator was changed which did not help. The drivers side heat is now very reduced which is causing more visibility issues in driving in snow and rain

- Richland, IN, USA

problem #79

Jan 092020

Avenger

  • 50,500 miles
The passengers side of my heater including defrosters's blows cold air. The car only has 50,500 miles. This causes the passengers side to not properly defrost and for any passenger in the car to be cold as cold air is blowing at their feet or face depending on where the control is set. This is a continued issue until I find out what the problem is.

- Coeur D Alene, ID, USA

problem #78

Oct 012018

Avenger

  • 62,000 miles
Continuously no heat from any of passenger vents, including the rear vent below the passenger seat for passengers in back seat & a strong smell of anti-freeze when the heat is turned on to the point of nausea, X2 winters now, est. 62,000 miles, may have been that way at 50,000 miles when I bought it, but didn't need heat that time of the year of early spring.

- North Mankato, MN, USA

problem #77

Dec 022019

Avenger

  • 170,000 miles
Passenger side has only cold air blowing out of the defroster. Driver's side is hot and working properly. This condition applies when the vehicle is fully warmed up, driving, accelerating or stationary

- Mont Vernon, NH, USA

problem #76

Dec 162019

Avenger

  • 90,000 miles
The vehicle blows hot air on the drivers side, but cold air on the passenger side. Since it is blowing only cold air on one half of the windshield the windows ice up, freeze up and fog up. This is a driving hazard, since this impairs visibilty.

- Moberly, MO, USA

problem #75

Dec 202019

Avenger

  • miles
The passenger side windshield defroster puts out cold air even after the vehicle has been warmed up and driven for a while. This often makes my car difficult and dangerous to drive because the windshield will not defrost or defog in a timely manner or at all.

- Westerville, OH, USA

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