Dodge Avenger Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 564 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Dodge Avenger across 12 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (154). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (30% of reports).
- 564air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 145mention a crash
- 104mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $830typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 170 of 564 complaints (30%)
- Seat belts: mentioned in 97 of 564 complaints (17%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 36 of 564 complaints (6%)
- Chrysler jeep: mentioned in 29 of 564 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Dodge Avenger at $830, and half of them between $510 and $1,350.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 305 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 564 complaints, 145 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 104 an injury.
Dodge Avenger air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Avenger | 69 | 34% | 50,000 |
| 2013 Avenger | 154 | 28% | 64,000 |
| 2012 Avenger | 109 | 20% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Avenger | 35 | 17% | 97,000 |
| 2010 Avenger | 37 | 23% | 95,000 |
| 2009 Avenger | 11 | 16% | 63,500 |
| 2008 Avenger | 96 | 12% | 75,000 |
| 1999 Avenger | 7 | 11% | 85,600 |
| 1998 Avenger | 8 | 14% | — |
| 1997 Avenger | 13 | 16% | 116,403 |
| 1996 Avenger | 10 | 6% | — |
| 1995 Avenger | 15 | 8% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Seats:front assembly:head restraint; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags; seat belts:pretensioner; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags; electrical system
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2008
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly.
Risk: This could increase the risk of injury to front seat occupants during certain crash conditions.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front seat track position sensors and replace them free of charge. The recallbegan on june 18, 2007. Owners may contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Both head rest which is attached to airbags or have airbags in them I donât know but the exploded open. Headrest could have exploded while someone was in the seat and got head injuries. No problem has not been confirmed by anyone but myself,husband and self employed mechanic, I didnât know what…
My 2008 Dodge Avenger airbag light has been on for a while, I believe thatâs something that is defective and should be fixed by the manufacture. Iâd called a dealership and was told it was not a recall and therefore not covered. When the wipers are turned on in the morning and then turned off…
Powertrain fail , airbag failed to deploy
I was driving and I stopped at a stop sign. When I got ready to go, the car stalled and stopped and wouldn't start. After 30 minutes, it started but I ended up having it towed. My mechanic was able to replicate it after putting the car in the sun, running it for 10 minutes and then driving it. When…
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH, the occupant restraint controller in the driver's seat activated inadvertently, and the head restraint deployed. The contact stated that her daughter was struck in the back…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Avengers have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 564 owner complaints about air bags for the Dodge Avenger. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Avenger air bags?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Dodge Avenger?
Owners report a typical cost of $830 (half paid between $510 and $1,350), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Dodge Avenger?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 170 of 564 complaints, followed by “seat belts” (97).
Other Dodge Avenger problems
- Electrical System problems (596)
- Engine problems (437)
- Power Train problems (417)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (268)
- Suspension problems (229)
- Seat Belts problems (206)
- Visibility/wiper problems (187)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (144)
See all Dodge Avenger problems.