2011 Dodge Avenger: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2011 Dodge Avenger
On the 2011 Dodge Avenger, the failure owners report most often is other engine problem, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is control arm, ball joint or bushing failure, reported by a median of 25,000 miles. Overall it scores 67 out of 100, high risk for a 2011.
High risk for a 2011 — 219th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. 311 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 44 named failure modes on the 2011 Dodge Avenger, and the three most-reported carry 21% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other engine problem leads with 24 reports, about 0.4 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 32k to 115,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 22 reports, usually reported between 26k to 95,000 miles.
Heater core failure follows with 18 reports, usually reported between 77k to 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (46), airbag (37) and electrical (32).
When these failures get reported
230 of the reports on the 2011 Dodge Avenger came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 80,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 29% by 50,000 miles, 67% by 100,000 miles and 92% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 4 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 11% of the dated reports.
23% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: control arm, ball joint or bushing failure around 24k, stalling while driving around 26k, other electrical problem around 40k and other speed control problem around 70k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 44. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 4 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 21 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 5 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.86, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, heater core failure at $700–$2,400 and seat belt or retractor failure at $200–$900. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
28% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 24 | 18 | 32k | 75k | 117k | 0.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 22 | 15 | 26k | 40k | 97k | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 18 | 16 | 77k | 92k | 100k | 0.3 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 18 | 13 | 89k | 100k | 111k | 0.3 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 15 | 8 | 39k | 86k | 107k | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 13 | 12 | 11k | 70k | 106k | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 12 | 9 | 8k | 26k | 69k | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 10 | 10 | 15k | 24k | 33k | 0.2 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 7 | 7 | — | 79k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 7 | 4 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 7 | 6 | — | 29k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 6 | 4 | — | 10k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 6 | 4 | — | 136k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 6 | 3 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 6 | 4 | — | 89k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 6 | 5 | — | 135k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 150k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 5 | 5 | — | 80k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 5 | 4 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 4 | — | 79k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 136k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 72k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 125k | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 3 | 3 | — | 94k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 80k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 3 | 3 | — | 172k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 90k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 3 | 3 | — | 87k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 64k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 3 | 2 | — | 48k | — | 0.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 37k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 2 | 1 | — | 129k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 9k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 2 | 2 | — | 109k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 41k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 58k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 88k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Window regulator or power window failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 5k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 95k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 59 | 28 | 58k | 79k | 121k | 0.9 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2011 Dodge Avenger draws about 5.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 87th percentile of complaint rates among 2011 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 62,418 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2011 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly stalled while stopped at a stop light. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer five different times. The technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while sitting at a traffic stop. The failure recurred four times and would only occur once the vehicle was at a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but the dealer advised the contact that they were unable to determine a failure within the vehicle. The contact made several attempts to speak with the manufacturer but only received a recorded message. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11 and the current mileage was 7399.
Other electrical problem
The car has a tremendous delay when you press the gas pedal from any speed. This has almost caused me a few accidents already when crossing intersections that have no traffic signals. The vehicle finally reacts after a second or two of having pressed the gas pedal but the pedal is pressed so far by me already that it ends up accelerating incredibly abruptly that is also dangerous. Seems to be a computer issue because the horn also has the same 1-2 second delay before it finally beeps after you press the horn pad on the steering wheel. Also when you go to turn the car on it suffers from a 1-2 second delay before the starter begins to crank the engine over. Its like the computer is soooo slow to react to commands by the driver and this is dangerous when it affects the gas pedal acceleration reaction time and the horn pad reaction time. Please address this since I own this vehicle and will end up selling it if the dealer cant repair this excessive computer reaction issue. When I spoke to a dealer about this they said it was normal to have this long reaction time and it was done by chrysler for "safety reasons" which made no sense to…
There is a sizable water leak entering the trunk lid inner panels, originating from the lack of a proper seal around the third high brake lite assembly( chmsl). The problem has been reported to chrysler since the 2008 model year of the avenger, stratus, sebring and pt cruiser. They are currently using the same trunk lid and light assy, and the problems persist. Chrysler has admitted knowledge of the problem and assigned a tsb # 23-016-12 in this service bulletin it states the corrective measure for dealers is to remove 2 rubber drain plugs, and nothing else. So the water still enters between the outer and inner trunk lid assy, exits through the latch assy, and now the removed drain plugs also. Unfortunately, the simple fix chrysler has assigned is a hazard for 2 reasons. 1/ water is in contact with power terminals on the trunk lid latch assy, 2/ water is not completely removed, and residual plus water coming out of latch assy sits and stagnates, and promotes the growth of mold spores. I have contacted chrysler, there is an open case history, and they choose to do nothing. I informed them I would take this action. *tr
Heater core failure
My car blows cold air on the passenger side of the car. I took it in january of 2016 and spent almost $1k to replace heater core and took it in again october 2016 for same issue. The repair shop told me that they would flush it really well and spoke to a dodge dealer and it is a known design flaw but there is no fix. The best they could do was flush with mopar cleaner and replace coolant (another $200) and hope for the best. This was a fix but will not resolve the issue. I've owned the car for 3yrs and make car payments and have spent $1200 in last 9mos. Got the car back a week ago and already blowing lukewarm on passenger side and will no doubt be blowing cold by winter. Looking online it is a known issue and complaint of 2010-2012 avengers. Why is the issue not being handled and how much do us consumers have to spend?? Dodge should stand behind their products. It's not a "safety" issue but when weather drops to 10 below and I'm literally freezing... How is this not a safety issue? How much more am I going to have to spend? I can't afford constant repairs for same issue. Fix the issue so I can love my car again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 dodge avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to emit heat on the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to baxter chrysler (17950 burt st, suite a, omaha, ne 68118, phone: (402) 493-7800) where it was diagnosed that the heater core failed and need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. The manufacturer stated that there were no other complaints on the failure and did not offer assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
Recalls on the 2011 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2011 Dodge Avenger, affecting an estimated 97,366 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags, electrical system and steering:column. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
AIR BAGS
1,435,625 vehicles 2016-09-15- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
442,320 vehicles 2013-07-02- Defect
- 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…
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the active head restraints , their non-deployment could increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
STEERING:COLUMN
11,096 vehicles 2011-06-08- Defect
- Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2011dodge journey, jeep wrangler, chrysler 200, chrysler 200 convertible, dodge avenger, dodge nitro, jeep liberty, dodge caliber, jeep compass, jeep patriot, dodge grand caravan and chrysler town & country vehicles. Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet.
- Consequence
- A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system. As a result, the condition may increase the potential for injury in a frontal crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for rivet presence and alignment and repair the steering column pivot as required, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 4, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2011 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2011 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2011 — 219th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 12 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2000 comes out best at 56 and 2008 worst at 74, with 2011 itself at 67.
If the model year is negotiable, 2000, 1999 and 1996 score lower than 2011 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2010–2015 generation specifically, 2011 is the strongest year at 67 and 2013 the weakest at 72.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2010-2015 generation, 2011 Dodge Avenger scores best at 67 and 2013 Dodge Avenger worst at 72.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: stalling while driving from about 8k, other speed control problem from about 11k, control arm, ball joint or bushing failure from about 15k and other electrical problem from about 26k.
On a 2011 Dodge Avenger with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether stalling while driving has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
311 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 311 reports, 230 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 74% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Avenger?
The most-reported failures are other engine problem (24 reports, median 75,000 miles), other electrical problem (22 reports, median 40,000 miles) and heater core failure (18 reports, median 90,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Avenger problems start?
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 25,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 15,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 80,000 miles.
Is the 2011 Dodge Avenger reliable?
It scores 67 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 219th riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2011 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Avenger is best?
Within the 2010–2015 generation, 2011 scores best at 67 out of 100 and 2013 worst at 72. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed