2012 Dodge Avenger Visibility Problems

Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).

NHTSA ID

11699661

Incident

Nov 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and various other speeds, the passenger’s side of the windshield defroster blower was only blowing cold air. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the HVAC system and blower needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 66,122.

NHTSA ID

11499920

Incident

Dec 10, 2022

Mileage

66,122 mi

Little to no heat coming from vent on passenger side of cabin. Good hot heat coming from vents on driver side of cabin. Over the last 3 yrs the heater core has been replace 3 times once each year. Hot air came from all vents when replaced but as another comes around, no heat again on passenger side. Good heat on drivers side. Charlies dodge doesn't want to work on it any longer even though there is a valid warranty on the latest heater core replacement. Charlies dodge is claiming something inside the engine is coming apart and clogging the heater core. This makes no sense.

NHTSA ID

11497500

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Window Defrost and Passenger Side Heat/Air. Either while in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. This results in the passenger side of the front windshield being fogged up and low visibility. Problem persists through all cabin air modes and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin). I've looked online and there are many reports of this problem, including Dealer Star Case - S1207000008, and multiple dialogs on various forums (like https://www.avengerforumz.com/threads/passenger-side-no-heat-from-vents.60250/). There's a picture showing the sludge within the heater core - I'll copy and include that picture below. This is completely a manufacturing defect, and it affects the safety and drivability of the vehicle. Please feel free to contact me, if you need additional information. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11496356

Incident

Oct 19, 2022

Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin).

NHTSA ID

11494208

Incident

Nov 19, 2022

Window Defrost and Passenger Heat /Air. While either in motion or while driving, no heated air exits the passenger side of the windshield defroster, nor the passenger window defrost, lower and center console vents. Heated air only exits the driver's side windshield and driver's side dash vents. Problem persists through all cabin air modes, and circulations. This safety issue effects visibility and passenger safety by failing to defrost/defog windows and keeping cabin tempuratures near or below freezing during cold weather (blowing cold air into the cabin)."

NHTSA ID

11445708

Incident

Dec 30, 2021

It seems to be a common issue that I'm experiencing as well. When I turn the heat on it only blows hot on the driver side. So depending on the weather conditions, it may completely fog up the passenger side of my window. Making it dangerous for driving when you're trying to defrost a window with cold air.

NHTSA ID

11441534

Incident

Aug 19, 2021

My wipers stop in the middle of the windshield when it’s pouring outside. Now my horn won’t turn off! I was told that it’s the TIPM and it’s a known issue with my car.

NHTSA ID

11435070

Incident

Sep 30, 2021

"WINDOW DEFROST AND PASSENGER HEAT /AIR. WHILE EITHER IN MOTION OR WHILE DRIVING, NO HEATED AIR EXITS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, NOR THE PASSENGER WINDOW DEFROST, LOWER AND CENTER CONSOLE VENTS. HEATED AIR ONLY EXITS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER'S SIDE DASH VENTS. PROBLEM PERSISTS THROUGH ALL CABIN AIR MODES, AND CIRCULATIONS. THIS SAFETY ISSUE EFFECTS VISIBILITY AND PASSENGER SAFETY BY FAILING TO DEFROST/DEFOG WINDOWS AND KEEPING CABIN TEMPURATURES NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING DURING COLD WEATHER (BLOWING COLD AIR INTO THE CABIN)."

NHTSA ID

11396733

Incident

Feb 17, 2021

Mileage

108,442 mi

WINDOW DEFROST AND PASSENGER HEAT /AIR. WHILE EITHER IN MOTION OR WHILE DRIVING, NO HEATED AIR EXITS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, NOR THE PASSENGER WINDOW DEFROST, LOWER AND CENTER CONSOLE VENTS. HEATED AIR ONLY EXITS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER'S SIDE DASH VENTS. PROBLEM PERSISTS THROUGH ALL CABIN AIR MODES, AND CIRCULATIONS. THIS SAFETY ISSUE EFFECTS VISIBILITY AND PASSENGER SAFETY BY FAILING TO DEFROST/DEFOG WINDOWS AND KEEPING CABIN TEMPURATURES NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING DURING COLD WEATHER (BLOWING COLD AIR INTO THE CABIN).

NHTSA ID

11384115

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

NO HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. AFFECTS DEFROSTING AND CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11383248

Incident

Nov 19, 2018

Mileage

43,000 mi

HAD CAR WORKED ON ONCE AT DEALER FOR SAME ISSUE IN 2013. HOT AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE COLD AIR ON PASSENGER. WINDOW DEFROST AND PASSENGER HEAT /AIR. WHILE EITHER IN MOTION OR WHILE DRIVING, NO HEATED AIR EXITS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, NOR THE PASSENGER WINDOW DEFROST, LOWER AND CENTER CONSOLE VENTS. HEATED AIR ONLY EXITS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD AND DRIVER'S SIDE DASH VENTS. PROBLEM PERSISTS THROUGH ALL CABIN AIR MODES, AND CIRCULATIONS. THIS SAFETY ISSUE EFFECTS VISIBILITY AND PASSENGER SAFETY BY FAILING TO DEFROST/DEFOG WINDOWS AND KEEPING CABIN TEMPURATURES NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING DURING COLD WEATHER (BLOWING COLD AIR INTO THE CABIN). THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW.

NHTSA ID

11383156

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE HEATING WAS ACTIVATED, THERE WAS COOL AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE VENTS. THE WINDOWS FAILED TO DEFROST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VISIBILITY OUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT OR REAR WINDOW WAS GREATLY REDUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. BUTTON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE (1220 E. BOULEVARD, KOKOMO, IN 46902, (765) 234-0066) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11378467

Incident

Dec 7, 2020

Mileage

91,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE VENT BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN HEAT IS ON, BUT CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE BLOW COLD AIR. THIS CAUSES FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH MEANS I CAN'T SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I'VE READ THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 2013-2013 AVENGER.

NHTSA ID

11377776

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE HEATER WORKS OKAY BUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE IS VERY COLD... I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE AREA AND THE WINDOWS ARE ALWAYS FROZEN 😩 IT'S SO HARD TO KEEP THE CAR WHEN THIS DOESN'T WORK IT'S VERY UNSAFE

NHTSA ID

11374510

Incident

Oct 10, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

HEAT AND DEFROST FOR WINDSHIELD DOES NOT WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. EVEN IF I SCRAPE THAT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IT STILL FROST OVER AS I DRIVE CAUSING VISIBILITY TO BE DIFFICULT ON THAT SIDE. I'VE READ A LOT OF REVIEWS AND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE V6 VERSIONS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE A LONG WITH BEING A SAFETY CONCERN. BEING ABLE TO SAFELY SEE IS NOT ACCESSORY IT IS ESSENTIAL. SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS EXACT ISSUE ONLY LEADS BACK TO THE MANUFACTURE. HAS NOTING TO DO WITH VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!

NHTSA ID

11366685

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

DEFROSTERS DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T WORK. I'VE HAD THE ACTUATOR REPLACED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY THERMOSTAT, AFTER I'VE GOTTEN THAT REPLACED I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY HEATER CORE! I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR DURING RAINY DAYS BECAUSE DEFROSTERS DOESN'T WORK DUE TO NO HOT AIR.

NHTSA ID

11366130

Incident

Oct 24, 2020

HEAT ONLY ONLY ON DRIVER SIDE. PASSENGER SIDE HAS NO HEAT AND WILL NOT DEFROST IN THE WINTER TIME WHILE STANDING OR DRIVING. WINDSHIELD WILL FREEZE UP AS YOU'RE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS. VERY UNSAFE!!!!!! WILL NOT RECOMMEND DODGE TO ANYONE NOR WILL I BUY ANOTHER DODGE IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM!

NHTSA ID

11338690

Incident

Feb 5, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

WITH HEAT ON COLD AIR BLOWS ON PASSENGER SIDE NOT KEEPING THE WIDOW FROM FOGGING OVER

NHTSA ID

11307680

Incident

May 18, 2018

THE HEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT WHILE THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL HAD HEAT. WE WERE DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE AND HAD VERY LIMITED VISIBILITY OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL AS THE SIDE WINDOWS WHEN CHECKING FOR TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN DODGE AVENGERS. THE ACTUATOR WAS CHANGED WHICH DID NOT HELP. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAT IS NOW VERY REDUCED WHICH IS CAUSING MORE VISIBILITY ISSUES IN DRIVING IN SNOW AND RAIN

NHTSA ID

11307532

Incident

Jan 22, 2020

Mileage

230,000 mi

THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF MY HEATER INCLUDING DEFROSTERS'S BLOWS COLD AIR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50,500 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE PASSENGERS SIDE TO NOT PROPERLY DEFROST AND FOR ANY PASSENGER IN THE CAR TO BE COLD AS COLD AIR IS BLOWING AT THEIR FEET OR FACE DEPENDING ON WHERE THE CONTROL IS SET. THIS IS A CONTINUED ISSUE UNTIL I FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

NHTSA ID

11306690

Incident

Jan 9, 2020

Mileage

50,500 mi

CONTINUOUSLY NO HEAT FROM ANY OF PASSENGER VENTS, INCLUDING THE REAR VENT BELOW THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR PASSENGERS IN BACK SEAT & A STRONG SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON TO THE POINT OF NAUSEA, X2 WINTERS NOW, EST. 62,000 MILES, MAY HAVE BEEN THAT WAY AT 50,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT DIDN'T NEED HEAT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR OF EARLY SPRING.

NHTSA ID

11296727

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE HAS ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER. DRIVER'S SIDE IS HOT AND WORKING PROPERLY. THIS CONDITION APPLIES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULLY WARMED UP, DRIVING, ACCELERATING OR STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11292461

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE VEHICLE BLOWS HOT AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SINCE IT IS BLOWING ONLY COLD AIR ON ONE HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD THE WINDOWS ICE UP, FREEZE UP AND FOG UP. THIS IS A DRIVING HAZARD, SINCE THIS IMPAIRS VISIBILTY.

NHTSA ID

11292233

Incident

Dec 16, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER PUTS OUT COLD AIR EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WARMED UP AND DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. THIS OFTEN MAKES MY CAR DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFROST OR DEFOG IN A TIMELY MANNER OR AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11290276

Incident

Dec 20, 2019