general problems of the 2012 Dodge Avenger

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 will shut off in the middle of driving and you lose complete power to the vehicle. Then after it sits for a few hours it will start back up with no issue. I had my vehicle at the Dodge dealership 2 times for them to tell me they can't figure it out and that they get alot of Avengers with the same issue. But since it's not throwing a code they aren't able to fix it. I also explained that when it shuts off when you are trying to start the car it sounds like it is going to start but it just keeps turning over but won't start and the lightening bolt light comes on at that time. The dealership said they checked everything to see if it was my battery or alternator but everything they checked was good. They said this is a known problem with these cars and the only thing they can advise is to get rid if the vehicle because there isn't a fix for it. Someone is going to get hurt from this issue I have almost been hit numerous times when the vehicle shuts off with no warning. This has been happening a few times a year the whole time I have had this vehicle.

Heater is blowing warm/hot air on driver side and on passenger side is cold air. Tried different parts that effects heater and still does not work.

The car randomly dies and just shuts off. Vehicle has shut off both while being stationary and on the road.

On April 7th 2020 I was driving up a hill in a residential area. When I got to the peak of the hill and I went to turn left, the car shut off and there was no power. I had to put the car in neutral and restart the engine. It started immediately. This is the third time it has happened on this hill, at almost the same time in the morning. It's always when it's cold and has been raining. In total my car has stalled over 6 times, always early morning, on a hill, and it's cold and/or raining.

The car would intermittently accelerate with out me using the gas pedal. I learned there was a throttle control system issue. The flap inside the throttle body would not close causing the car to want to move forward quickly even in stopped traffic. Nearly caused me to rear end a car in front of me. I have learned this is a known issue in the design and has been redone. Very expensive repair and dangerous if Chrysler knows this is a problem why not recall it?.

My Dodge Avenger has started to cut off while I am driving down the highway or while sitting in a line waiting on food. I also experience the right side of my vehicle not heating at all. There is also a clicking noise in my car that has worsened over time. There are a lot off issues with this car and to many people are experiencing the same thing. I am so afraid to drive my car because I don't know when its going to cut off. I have taken my car to the shop but still experience these issues. If someone could please contact me because something needs to be done about our unsafe vehicles.

Two separate incidents have happened. First was in November 2018. I was driving home on a city street when the vehicle flashed the throttle body sensor light along with the check engine light and the car lost power and would not accelerate past 25mph. Brought to Dodge dealership for diagnosis and they couldn't check the etc light due to it shutting off with restart of the vehicle but was told I needed a new alternator. Fixed the alternator and no problems again until January 2019. This time I was driving home from work on a very busy highway and the car flashed the check engine light and died while in motion. Power steering was very tight but I was able to get to the side of the road safely and put the car in park. After 4 tries of restarting the vehicle, it started back up but the check engine light is still on. I will be taking it back to the Dodge dealership in hopes of finding out what is wrong, but am nervous because of what I have read amongst other Avenger owners.

The car would just shut off while on the freeway and would take long time to power back on. Head rest air bag deployed while driving causing to lose control of car. Windows unlocks while driving. Dealership using the same totally integrated power module that are on recall Chrysler 2000.

Brake recall: the brakes grab or slow to stop causing it to not stop in a straight line or jump, flutter or hesitate to brake. Engine recall: got car 6/2017 clinging noise, after 70,000 miles, all oil changes 1000 miles before its due, started after the 2 oil change. Small of burning wire smell. (oil change 4 days go now engine light on) fuel propusion system recall: car seems to shift funny when pushing gas, struggling for gas to flow when pushing the gas.

The air bag warning light illuminated. Few days later began hearing a clicking under the dashboard behind the glove box. Received notice for recall. Due to location nearest Dodge dealership is 2 hours away. Decided to wait. A short time later, the car began to lose power briefly intermittently. Once again, due to location decided to wait. Two days ago the car stalled completely while traveling at 45 miles per hour. No steering, no brakes, nothing. Scared me. Trying to find someone locally to look at it. Today it died in the middle of a very busy intersection. Once again, coming to the intersection the car dropped below 1,000 rpms and then dies.

The throttle body on my car has to be replaced. My son has had numerous incidents of the car running rough, seemingly not getting enough gas, and the final straw before taking to the shop was when it the engine died as he was driving. This car is only three years old with approximately 62,000 miles on it. It is not at all acceptable for this part to go bad given the age / miles of the car. After speaking with several shop owners and technicians, I've found that this has been a common failure on late model Dodge vehicles. In addition the the throttle failure, he has no heat coming in the passenger side of the car. Only cold air as if something is stuck open. This began the later part of last winter when the car was just two years old. He just dealt with it at the time due to lack of money. With winter coming, this will need to be addressed right away as well. Then we have the power mirror not working on one side. Which also began last year. And last but not least, the airbag light is on. I did see that there is a recall having to do with one of the airbags. I will schedule that right away, but it remains to be seen if that is why the airbag light is on.

The seats move around as if they are not bolted down properly. Any speed if you hit a small bump or so much as move other then straight it’s extremely noticeable. I don’t think it is safe and my kids are in this car daily and I was hoping a recall would have already been called on this because I know I’m mot the only one with this issue with both front seats moving around as if it’s a carnival ride. And the cruise control stopped working in 2016. Also has always made a weird sound under the hood and come to find out I have had a bad transmission the whole time I have owned this car, also a common issue I have heard from many people. Also these cars have several different censor problems that keep having to be replaced as well as energy draining batteries more than they should. The hoses and injectors also have been a major problem. I thought I just got unlucky with my car but everyone I know has soooo many problems with these cars it’s actually crazy they didn’t stop making them sooner. I’m the only driver and owner of this car and drive like a grandma I have been told so I do know it’s not how I have been with the car, also regular oil changes and maintenance as needed on top of thousands to keep her running as I bought it brand new and refuse to let it die on me after it’s paid off.

I have had several problems with the acceleration of this vehicle the dealership replaced the transmission and several sensors due to bucking and hesitations. This never resolved the situation it still bucks when its moist or rains I was told by the dealership that this is a characteristic of this particular model.