RoadVitals

2012 Dodge Avenger Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 14, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 553 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Dodge Avenger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalSuspension
Filed Apr 14, 2019

WHEN OPENING THE DOOR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH. CLOSED THE DOOR AND STAYED INSIDE A FEW MINUTES & IT STARTED CLICKING AGAIN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AT 63,000 AND THE SWAY BAR CLIP IS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
11196134
Incident
Apr 19, 1970
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 19, 2016

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2012 AVENGER SE WITH A 3.6L. THE CAR HAS SHAKEN VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 6 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE, AND NO FAULTS WE'RE FOUND. THE CAR IS PAST IT'S WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER NOW WANTS AN ARM AND A LEG TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE VIBRATION IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE, THE REAR STRUTS WE'RE JUST REPLACED, WHICH HELPED THE VIBRATION UNDER 60 MPH, HOWEVER IT STILL VIBRATES. CAR WENT TO THE DEALER WITH 8000 MILES ON IT DUE TO PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ISSUES, WHERE THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN FOUND NOTHING WRONG. LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR AN O2 SENSOR. THE WIRES HAD BEEN PINCHED SO BAD, THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH 6 SETS OF TIRES IN 4 YEARS. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT, AND VIBRATION GETS WORSE EVERY DAY.

NHTSA ID
10897271
Incident
Aug 17, 2015
Suspension
Filed Jan 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, AND IF THERE WAS ANY WEIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD START SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID
10562416
Incident
Jul 16, 2013
Mileage
26,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 9, 2014

IT HAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT IN THE REAR END IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DODGE AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM DODGE HAS SENT A TECHNICIAN TO CHAMPAIGN TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AND HE TOLD THE MECHANICS IT WAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT WITH THE REAR END AND THEIR WAS NO FIX KNOWN. WE HAVE HAS TO HAVE THE UNDERCARRIAGE TIGHTENED ON THE CAR FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE CAR HANDLED AND VIBRATED IT ACTUALLY LOOSENS THE UNDERCARRIAGE WE HAVE PUT ROUGHLY 10 TO 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN WE GOT THE CAR IT HAD NEW TIRES ON IT WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ALREADY BECAUSE THEY GO OUT OF ROUND BECAUSE OF THE CAR AND OF THE WAY IT HANDLES THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT AT HAS A NEW OWNER NOW AND HE WONT RETURN MY CALLS AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO BRING THE CAR BACK THERE ANYMORE I AM A 100 % DISABLED VETERAN AND I NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS I WANT THE CAR FIXED THE CAR COULD BE A DEATH TRAP THE WAY THAT IS NOW I KNOW DODGE DOESN'T CARE BUT I HOPE U DO MY CASE NUMBER WITH DODGE IS 24303490 I DO CALL THEM I WANT THE CAR FIXED THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT IN THE REAR END AND DODGE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT SO THEIR HOPING I WILL GO AWAY AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT I TALKED TO MR. LONG YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD HAVE THIS SENT TO YOU TODAY IF YOU NEED TO REACH ME PLEASE CALL ME ANYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559134
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 6, 2013

IN LATE JUNE GOT A FLAT TIRE. WHEN I WENT TO PUT ON THE SPARE NOTICED BOTH REAR TIRES HAD WORN THRU THE STEEL ON THE INSIDE SHOULDER. TOOK TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MUST BE THE ALIGNMENT. CAR WAS JUST UNDER THE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DATE BUT JUST OVER THE MILEAGE FOR THE WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. ALIGNMENT SHOWED THREE OF THE WHEELS IN SPEC AND THE FOURTH .03 DEGREES OUT OF SPEC WHICH THE DEALER SAID WASN'T ENOUGH OUT TO CAUSE THAT BAD OF WEAR ON THE TIRES. CONTACTED CHRYSLER BUT NO HELP. WENT TO OREGON IN NOVEMBER AND GOT JUST NORTH OF WHERE I WAS GOING AND STOPPED FOR A BREAK AND NOTICED BOTH REAR TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE SHOULDERS LIKE BEFORE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ANOTHER ALIGNMENT AND SET OF TIRES THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR. ALIGNMENT WAS OUT AND HAD TO HAVE CAMBER KITS INSTALLED TO GET ALIGNMENT FIXED. ONCE AGAIN NO HELP FROM CHRYSLER YET. ON MY WAY HOME FROM OREGON WENT THRU A SNOW STORM, NOT A LOT OF SNOW MOSTLY BLOWING SNOW ACROSS ROAD. COULDN'T GO OVER 32 MPH BECAUSE THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS SWAYING SO BAD. COULD HARDLY KEEP CAR ON ROAD. TOOK IN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO DO ANOTHER ALIGNMENT AT MY COST. CONTACTED CHRYSLER ONCE AGAIN NO HELP. FIRST SET OF TIRES 13400 MILES, SECOND SET 21400 MILES NOW ON THIRD. WAITING FOR 12/9/13 TO GET CAR INTO SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555108
Incident
Jun 24, 2013
Mileage
13,400 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 23, 2013

THERE ARE 3 MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY, USUALLY ONLY 2 ARE IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES. THIS TIME, WE HAD 2 EXTRA PASSENGERS IN THE BACK PLUS THEIR CAR TIRE THAT NEEDED REPAIR IN THE TRUNK. WE WERE DRIVING AND HIT A DIP IN THE ROAD, NOT A BIG ONE, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RUBBED AGAINST THE CAR. IT IS NOT THE SHOCKS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THERE TO HOLD UP THE CAR, ONLY TO ABSORB THE SHOCK. THE TIRE HAS MARKINGS LEFT BEHIND WHERE IT RUBBED. THAT IS A SUSPENSION ISSUE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 4 WEEKS. THE SALESMAN TRIED TO CONVINCE ME IT IS A NORMAL THING ON ALL VEHICLES. I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10526355
Incident
Jul 19, 2013
Mileage
69,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jul 4, 2013

13400 MILES ON CAR WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHEN I TOOK OFF FLAT INSIDE SHOULDER OF TIRE HAD WORN THRU CORDS. TOOK TO DODGE DEALER IN COVINGTON, TN AND THEY SAID ALIGNMENT MUST BE OUT. NOTICED LEFT REAR TIRE ALSO SHOWING STEEL CORDS ON INNER SHOULDER. TECH SAID DIDN'T LOOK LIKE CAR HAD ALIGNMENT AT FACTORY. DID ALIGNMENT AND ALIGNMENT WAS .03 DEGREASE OFF ON ONE TIRE THE REST WERE WITHIN SPEC. DEALERSHIP CANT EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED, NO ONE IVE TALKED TO CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. 2000 MILES FROM HOME IN A NEW CAR AND HAVE TO SPEND 400.00 ON TIRES AND ALIGNMENT.....NOT HAPPY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523200
Incident
Jun 24, 2013
Mileage
13,400 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 2, 2013

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON JANUARY 28,2012. THE VEHICLES TIRES WORE VERY FAST AND THE FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 15,000 MILES. ON MAY 6,2013, BOTH TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 25,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS AT 30,000 MILES AND WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP DUE TO STRANGE NOISE WHILE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522899
Incident
May 10, 2013
Mileage
25,987 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 2, 2013

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON JANUARY 28, 2012. THE TIRES WENT COMPLETELY BALD BY 12,000 MILES. ON MAY 28,2013 AT 33,000 MILES, BOTH TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WRAPPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WILL WEAR VERY FAST AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10522896
Incident
Apr 23, 2013
Mileage
32,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 29, 2012

07/07/12, 16,214 MILES: VEHICLE WENT INTO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 16000 MILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, TO INCLUDE: LUBE, OIL, FILTER; TIRE ROTATION; AIR FILTER; INSPECT BRAKE LININGS; INSPECT EXHAUST SYSTEM; AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUSPENSION, TIE ROD ENDS AND BOOT SEALS FOR CRACKS OR LEAKS AND ALL PARTS FOR DAMAGE, WEAR, IMPROPER LOOSENESS OR END PLAY. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING THAT ROUTINE SERVICE THAT THE GOODYEAR EAGLE LSII TIRES ON MY CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF SIDEWALL SEPARATION. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE, 07/10/12 AT 16,463 MILEAGE. FOLLOWING THE TIRE REPLACEMENT (ONE WEEK LATER) HEARD A POPPING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION (THAT WAS JUST INSPECTED ON 07/07/12), CALLED DEALERSHIP TO TAKE IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR (WENT IN 07/19/12 AT 1:30PM). WAS SENT HOME, IN AFFECTED VEHICLE, STATING THAT THE MECHANISMS IN THE STEERING BOX WAS THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, NO LOANER WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER, AND AN APPOINTMENT MADE FOR 07/30/12. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 07/28/12 TO CONFIRM PARTS ARRIVAL AND SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR 07/30/12: DURING PHONE CALL, MATT FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT ARRIVED YET, THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. CANCELLED THE PRE-SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE STATED "WE WOULD PREFER YOU NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL WE CAN GET IT FIXED". AGAIN, ASKED THE DEALERSHIP FOR A LOANER/RENTAL, AS THIS IS A WARRANTY COVERED REPAIR AND WAS REFUSED. IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE 7/19 APPOINTMENT TO PRESENT DAY, THE POPPING ON THE FRONT END CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSER AND LESS RESPONSIVE. NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL OF DAMAGE ON BRAND NEW TIRES FROM HAVING THE SUSPENSION MESSED UP. *JS

NHTSA ID
10468144
Incident
Jul 19, 2012
Mileage
16,213 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .