Representative model. Photo: Cutlass, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Dodge Avenger recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 554
Latest campaign: Oct 10, 2017

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Seats	1	Oct 10, 2017	17V640000
Seat belts	1	Sep 15, 2016	16V668000
Electrical system	1	Jul 2, 2013	13V282000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Oct 10, 2017Latest campaign


Oct 10, 201717V640000	Seats: front assembly head restraint If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V640000 What's wrong Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash. Risk If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury. Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56. Campaign NHTSA 17V640000 · Oct 10, 2017
Sep 15, 201616V668000	Seat belts: pretensioner If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle… DetailsHide details for campaign 16V668000 What's wrong Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash. Risk If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems. Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61. Campaign NHTSA 16V668000 · Sep 15, 2016
Jul 2, 201313V282000	Electrical system In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 13V282000 What's wrong Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury. Remedy Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38. Campaign NHTSA 13V282000 · Jul 2, 2013

Oct 10, 201717V640000

Seats: front assembly head restraint

If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 17V640000

What's wrong: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.
Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.
Campaign: NHTSA 17V640000 · Oct 10, 2017

Sep 15, 201616V668000

Seat belts: pretensioner

If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle…

DetailsHide details for campaign 16V668000

What's wrong: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.
Campaign: NHTSA 16V668000 · Sep 15, 2016

Jul 2, 201313V282000

Electrical system

In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 13V282000

What's wrong: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Sebring and 200 vehicles manufactured June 28, 2011, through December 13, 2012; model year 2011-2013 Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured June 25, 2011, through January 14, 2013; model year 2011-2012 Dodge Nitro vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through December 15, 2011; and model year 2011-2012 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured June 17, 2011, through August 15, 2012. Electrical over-stress of a resistor in the occupant restraint control module may lead to the non-deployment of the active head restraints during a rear impact collision.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or replace the occupant restraint control module, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N38.
Campaign: NHTSA 13V282000 · Jul 2, 2013

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Mopar recall lookup (Dodge). Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component554

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

554Complaints filed

34Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

35Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Unknown or other	163	29	2	0	2
Electrical system	109	20	5	5	5
Air bags	109	20	22	0	23
Visibility/wiper	95	17	1	0	0
Engine	87	16	4	6	3
Seat belts	43	8	8	0	10
Power train	31	6	2	1	2
Visibility	25	5	1	0	1
Electronic stability control (ESC)	25	5	0	0	0
Service brakes	23	4	5	2	5
Steering	20	4	1	0	0
Structure	20	4	7	2	5
Fuel/propulsion system	16	3	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	16	3	1	1	1
Seats	14	3	1	0	1

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Steering
“My 2012 dodge avenger will shut off whenever it feels like and you lose control of power steering. It feels like it’s not getting gas. It will crank back up when it feels like.The horn honks randomly.”
Filed 09/28/2026 · ODI 11767606
Engine
“My car dies while im driving down the street, making it difficult to steer and qhen you try to restart it, sometimes it starts and some times it don't. But this is not the first time its happened it was just the latest”
Filed 05/25/2026 · ODI 11739856
Electrical system
“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.”
Filed 11/16/2025 · ODI 11699661

Other Dodge Avenger model years

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2012 Dodge Avenger recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Avenger have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Dodge Avenger. The most recent, 17V640000 (reported October 10, 2017), concerns seats. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Dodge Avenger?

Unknown or other is the most-reported component, named in 163 complaints out of 554 filed with NHTSA (29%). Across all complaints, owners reported 34 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Dodge Avenger?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Mopar recall lookup (Dodge). That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Dodge dealer.

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