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.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the heating system was not working and affected her ability to defrost the windows. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the heater core needed to be replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 86,000.
Passenger side vents only blow cold air. After driving for over an hour, the drivers side vent will be blowing warm air while the passenger side is still blowing cold air. Unable to defrost windshield and windows causing visibility issues.
Heat only works on drivers side part of the time. Have found out this is a manufacturer defect with the heater core. With no heat on passenger side I can not drive my car in the winter. I can not defrost my windshield due to no heat and if I am driving in snow or freezing wet temperatures my windshield w freezes up. This has been a problem I have had since I bought the car in 2018. Took it to the dealership I bought it from and found out it was a manufacturer defect. Filed a complaint with Dodge and was told I would have to bring the car in for diagnostic which would be charged to see what is wrong with it. Have read that many Avenger owners are having the same problems with no real fix by Dodge. It is a heater core defect. Which is over a $1,000 fix that I should not have to pay for due to it being a defect from the manufacturer.
Passenger side heater/defroster inoperative (blows cold air) causing poor visibilty in inclement and cold weather. Began shortly after purchase in Sept 2017 and has continued since
- Beech Bottom, WV, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While driving 65 mph, the defrost was not functioning properly for the center and passenger vents. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to maddox motor company (located at 564 glover rd, sidney, ne 69162, (308) 254-5577) where it was diagnosed that the heater core needed to be flushed. The vehicle was repaired; but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 68,000.
Knocking coming from passenger side every 20 minutes. Heater not working blows out cold air and now there is knocking coming from driver side as well defroster don't work on passenger side makes hard to see during raining and foggy weather
Vehicle was serviced for airbag recalls however the light stays on constantly. Not long after buying the vehicle, I would put use the turn signal and the windshield wipers would come on, they still do from time to time. I took it in for service at the dealer and they could not figure out the problem. Also, from time to time, the air conditioner button will not work. The only way to get it to work is to rapidly turn the knob from side to side. It has sometimes taken up to 5 minutes to get it to work.
Air bag light was coming on and off for drivers head rest air bag was taken in for that recall now same problem is happening again also have that awesome Dodge defect were the heater blows hot on drivers side and ice ice cold on passenger side these are pretty major defects witch Dodge has known about and should be held accountable
In January-February 2018, my 2012 Avenger rt began to experience insufficient/non-existent airflow and lack of heat to the right-side window defrosters and all passenger vents (except the front-left driver vents), creating visibility hazards and an uncomfortable driving environment for both the driver and passengers. During the following 2018 summer, the air cooling effect and window-defogging was also diminished, especially from the inexplicable reduced airflow coming from passenger vents. The heater/defroster had major difficulty defrosting the windshield and right-side front window. In early 2019, I brought my Avenger to a repair shop recommended by several friends and associates, and the shop recommended a coolant system flush and inspected air blend door actuators, but those were fine. The engine also occasionally ran warmer than usual, however that may have been due to a stuck thermostat which was found during the shop's diagnostics and was replaced. The repair shop stated that the coolant/radiator/heater core flush did remove a considerable amount of sludge. The system flush also seems to be a recommended dealership service action as a "remedy." However, the coolant/heating system flush had little effect on the heating issue and the right window defroster and passenger vents still had drastically reduced airflow despite the blower and all blend doors/actuators functioning properly.
When heater activated, only drivers side blows heat while passenger side blows cold. Vehicle does not have dual air controls. Causing a safety issue because windshield only defrosts one side and other side fogs up.
The passenger side only blows cold air when the heat/defrost is on. This causes my passenger window to not defrost. This happens no matter if the car is at idle or while driving. The passenger side will only blow cold air. The driver side heat/defrost works fine. I have been told it's anything from an actuator to the heater core. I live in a state where we have cold winters and frequent snow. This is a safety issue as it impairs my ability to see my passenger side mirror, etc.
Ac starts to only blow cold air on one side of the car, then no heat at all. Defrost stops working at this point. Very dangerous with snow/icy conditions where windshield frosts over. May be the door actuator or heater core.
Takata recall I have a 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T. like many other Avengers, the heat on the passenger side of my vehicle stopped working. I get nothing but cold air on the passenger side. I've done my research, and this is a manafacturer defect that results from bad casting that causes metal flakes to break off and fill up the heater core until it becomes so clogged that it stops working properly. A simple flush will not do the job, and the heater core must be replaced. This is an expensive repair. I highly believe that this should be a recall, due to the fact that visibility is severely decreased in winter on the right side of the car. This not only puts the driver and passengers in danger, but other vehices and pedestrians as well.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While operating the vehicle, the heater would not operate and the windows could not be defrosted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who flushed the heater core, but the failure continued. In addition, while driving various speeds, the vehicle shut off. During the failure, the electronic throttle and esp activation malfunction indicators illuminated. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 107,000.. consumer stated manufacturer was notified on the same day.
I have a 2012 Dodge Avenger V6 with only the driver side heat working. Upon further investigation as to what caused it there is sand partials in the cooling system from the sand forging of the motor and where there was not proper flushing of the cooling system before the assembly of the motor. It is a closed system so there is no way that sand partials can enter the system and cause that issue. Dodge believes there is no safety issue with it and it is a "creature comfort", but when in face the heat defrosts the windows to enable visibility. With no heat on the passenger side of vehicle the passenger side and some of the driver side is unable to defog, defrost, or melt any ice obstructing the view of the driver. This is not a driver issue, this is a manufacturing issue that needs to be resolved.
I purchased this car brand new in 2012. I have been driving it for about 3 years with no heat on passenger side. This causes no to little visibility on front passenger side window and the front windshield. I have paid to have some of the vendor doors replaced to no fix to this issue.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the vents inside the vehicle blew out cold air when the heat was activated. An independent mechanic flushed the radiator, but the failure recurred. The contact had an extended warranty for the vehicle and was uncertain if it would cover the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
My 2012 Dodge Avenger has heating issue. Heat comes out of the vent on the driver side of the car but cold air on passenger side. I have looked the issue up and alot of people are having the same problem. Why is the issue with 2012 Avenger not being addressed. I can't drive this car in upstate New York in the winter because it is unsafe. I camt see out any of my passenger side windows or right side of dash because it all fogged up and frosted due to no heat in that side of car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Florissant, MO, USA