Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Dodge Avenger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This is a HUGE SAFETY issue!!!!!! The engine randomly shuts off, which also causes the brakes to stop working and to have no power steering. Anything connected to the battery is fine (lights, radio, dashboard, etc.). myself, any passenger, and those around me are put at risk by the car shutting off in the middle of the road. Someone could hit me because I am not moving, or I am trying to get out of the way. or I might end up hitting someone else because the brakes don't work. this is a huge risk to life and limb. Noone other than myself has tried to see what is going on with my car, specifically. i have already put out a lot of money on parts that research says it COULD be. other people have had the same complaint about their Dodge vehicles. they have even taken them to many repair shops, with no one finding a real answer as to why this is happening. …
While driving for about 50miles, the electrical system failed, I lost power to the entire vehicle, steering was hard, brakes hard as well. as I pulled over, the car started back up. Next day car drove fine. Few days later the car cut off at red light in the middle of the intersection while other cars almost hitting me. Changed the fuel pump out because fuel pump would work at times. No one hurt, no incident report made. Car been intermittently cutting off after I think the car is running fine. No fault codes, no loose connections, no warning the car just cut off. I is becoming very dangerous and scary to drive but its the only vehicle i have and I have been spending money trying to figure this ghost out.
The vehicle has intermittent (brake) (ABS) and (Traction control) lights. I took the vehicle to Airport dodge in Orlando Florida. They advised the ABS module and pump are faulty however there are no repairs available at this time. The most concerning was they advised to continue to drive the vehicle without ABS.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Dodge Avenger. While driving unknown speeds, the brake pedal was applied, but failed to respond. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard. The vehicle crashed into a tree and a telephone pole. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and deemed a total loss by the insurance agency. The contact called hill-kelly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (6171 pensacola blvd, pensacola, fl 32505, [phone]) and was informed that the vehicle was beyond repair. The cause of the brake failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.
Driving home from work at 5:40 pm, 3 deer ran out and after slamming on brakes the last one was struck, head on. The hood buckled and the entire engine of the car imploded in flames. No airbags went off and the car immediately died. I was able to pull car over to the side of the road and get out of car however, the car burned completely. The car engulfed in flames and the engine, windows, entire inside, everything burned. There is no dash, no steering wheel, seats, front tires, etc are gone. There is very little left and the manufacturer had an investigation done and will not tell me why this happened. My husband has a 2014 Avenger and we want to know if it is safe. But were told my manufacturer representative they would not tell me because they would not want it out in the public.
I was in accident the brakes failed during hard braking. I hit the brake pedal so hard I bent the pedal assembly. The seatbelt restraints didn't lockup and threw me forward so I hit my head on the roof line the point of impact was the sun visor. The airbags did not deploy and I hit the steering wheel with my chest. I hit the car in front of me when the brakes failed the car keep rolling to the point of impact with the Cadillac escalade my car went under his bumper so the car had to dive down just to roll under his car. The driver in the vehicle was not hurt. I would up with a small concussion and my right foot is still in pain.
We hit a patch of slush and ice, the rear tires locked and the car slammed head-on into a concrete pillar. The car's bumper, grille, support bar etc were severely damaged and the car was deemed a total loss. The radiator was folded into a "v". The driver's head hit the steering wheel resulting in a concussion. The airbag never deployed. Before the accident, the instrument panel was flashing on/off when we used the turn signal. The car didn't start or shut off at times. There is something seriously wrong with the electrical system/airbag. (recall related incident) ts
1st complaint is the seatbelt will randomly lock and restrain you and and take several seconds to release. 2nd complaint is my driver side floor is constantly drenched with a fluid when it rains. 3rd complaint is the car shudders and vibrates when driving above 40mph. 4th complaint I was involved in a car accident and my air bags failed to deploy.
While driving down the interstate this vehicle's power steering and anti lock brakes stopped working and the vehicles rpms were as high as could be measured by the vehicle. This issues made it very difficult to navigate the vehicle off the roadway safely. The vehicle had to be towed to the nearest dealership and the alternator was diagnosed as the primary issue. The concern with this vehicle is that it has the same size engine and amp alternator as the Chrysler vehicles that are already under recall for alternator failure 3.6l engine with a 160 amp alternator and the dealership repairing this vehicle states it is the same type of failure. I am concerned that this vehicles alternator should also be recalled as it poses a danger to the people driving it and any other vehicles on the road near this vehicle when this failure occurs.
My 2012 Dodge Avenger caught fire under the hood while I was driving on the fwy. I could not stop the car because the brake became locked in place and I couldnt press it down with my foot. The emergency brake did not work. It was unsafe to get out of the moving car, so I was trapped in the car as the fire under the hood grew rapidly. I was able to get off at the next exit and with quick thinking, I used the curb at the end of the fwy off ramp to help me stop the car. When firefighters arrived, the entire front end of my car was fully engulfed. From my understanding, Chrysler/Dodge has had reapeated complaints regarding similar incidents.
Brake complaints in other Avenger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2012 Dodge Avenger?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Dodge Avenger, 4% of the model year's 554 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Dodge Avenger brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2012 Dodge Avenger, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Dodge Avenger brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 5 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.