NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A part in the occupant restraint controller may fail, preventing active headrests from deploying during a rear-end crash.
This page covers 6 recalls, 547 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Dodge Avenger.
22–23 mpg combined
10.2–10.7 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2013 Dodge Avenger draws complaints across three main systems: airbags, the engine, and seats. On the airbag side, owners most commonly describe headrest-mounted side airbags deploying unexpectedly, in some cases while the vehicle was parked, along with reports of airbags failing to deploy when expected. Engine complaints center on sudden power loss while driving, often accompanied by the check engine and oil warning lights coming on; some owners describe the engine stalling at highway speed with no ability to restart. The seat complaints largely involve those same headrest units, with owners reporting the headrests popping loose or activating without any collision. A recurring thread across these reports is that the airbag and headrest issues occur without warning and, in several accounts, without any preceding impact.
547
Total Complaints
26
Crash-Related
10
Fire-Related
30
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Dodge Avenger has 6 recalls, the most serious involving the fuel tank assembly, where a broken control valve can cause fuel to leak near ignition sources or stall the engine unexpectedly, raising the risk of a crash or fire.
On the engine side, vehicles with the 2.4L gasoline engine may lose oil pressure, which can lead to sudden engine failure and a complete loss of drive power while the vehicle is in motion. Like the fuel tank issue, this leaves the driver without propulsion at highway speeds.
Three recalls involve the restraint systems that protect occupants in a crash. The occupant restraint control module can short circuit, disabling the front and side airbags as well as the seatbelt pretensioners all at once, meaning none of those systems would tighten or deploy when needed. Separately, a component within the same restraint controller can fail in a different way, specifically preventing the active head restraints from snapping forward in a rear-end collision. Because the head restraints are designed to limit how far the head and neck snap backward, their failure raises the risk of neck injury. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this head restraint issue, which is why it appears across more than one recall campaign for this vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
A part in the occupant restraint controller may fail, preventing active headrests from deploying during a rear-end crash.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the occupant restraint controller at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Occupant Restraint Control module can short circuit, which prevents the front air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the Occupant Restraint Control module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine's balance shaft module can wear or fail, causing a sudden loss of oil pressure. This leads to engine failure and loss of power while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the balance shaft module to restore proper oil pressure and engine function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A resistor in the restraint control module can fail from electrical stress, preventing the active head restraints from deploying during rear-impact crashes.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the power module software or replace the restraint control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank control valve may be broken, which could cause fuel system malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly and replace any faulty control valves at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A broken control valve in the fuel tank can cause fuel to leak or the engine to stall without warning, which may lead to loss of power while driving.
What the fix does
Your dealer will inspect the control valve. If damaged, they will replace the fuel tank assembly and vapor canister.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
