CarBrief

The 2013 Dodge Avenger has 548 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1], and the largest group of them is about air bags[2]. It also has 5 recalls, so checking that every recall repair is done matters before you buy[3].

548owner complaints[1]
5recalls[3]
22–23MPG combined (EPA)[4]
4★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 548 owner complaints on file for this model year[1]. Of those, 26 mention a crash and 10 a fire, and 42 injuries are reported[1].. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified reports from owners, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

The groups with the most complaints are:

Component group Complaints Median mileage at failure
Air bags[2] 154 62,000
Engine[6] 126 90,000
Unknown or other[7] 102 87,000
Electrical system[8] 98 70,000
Seats[9] 60 87,000
Seat belts[10] 52 50,500
Visibility/wiper[11] 42 87,000
Brakes[12] 38 41,941

Air bags. This group has 19 crashes, 3 fires and 28 injuries attached to its complaints[2]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash, or only some of them deploying. Others describe the air bag warning light coming on, staying on or coming back after a repair[2].

Seats. In the sample we read, owners describe the front head restraint popping open, deploying or coming loose without a crash. Some also say they were told parts for a recall repair were not available[9]. This group has 7 injuries[9].

Electrical system. In the sample, some owners describe trouble starting the engine, and some describe the car stalling or shutting down while driving[8]. The group has 3 fires[8].

Engine. The engine complaints we read were a mix of warning lights, loss of power and shifting or high-rev problems. We did not see one clear pattern[6]. The group has 4 crashes and 4 fires[6].

The other groups have fewer complaints. Brakes have 38, but 7 of them mention a crash[12]. Seat belts have 52, with 5 crashes[10].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year[3], newest first. Whether a specific car is covered can depend on its build date or engine, so check the VIN with a dealer.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three ratings for this model year[18][4][19].

Engine and transmission City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85[18] 19 / 28 / 22 $3,050
2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular[4] 20 / 30 / 23 $2,900
2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular[19] 21 / 28 / 23 $2,900

All three are front-wheel drive. The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

In NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings, the 4-door front-wheel-drive Avenger gets 4 stars overall[5]. It also gets 4 stars for frontal, side and rollover protection[5]. NHTSA puts its rollover risk at 11.8%[5].

Engine and size

The EPA Test Car List rates the 3.6L 6-cylinder at 283 hp[20]. The 2.4L 4-cylinder appears in the fuel economy ratings above[4][19], but we have no horsepower figure for it.

The sizes below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so they can differ slightly from US models. We converted them to inches and pounds.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
4DR Sedan R/T[21] 193 in 73 in 58 in 109 in 3,607 lb
4DR Sedan SX Canada Value Package/SXT[22] 193 in 73 in 58 in 109 in 3,393 lb

How 2013 compares with other years

1995: 196 complaints, 2 recalls19951996: 157 complaints, 2 recalls19961997: 83 complaints, 2 recalls19971998: 58 complaints, 2 recalls19981999: 62 complaints, 1 recalls19992000: 22 complaints, 1 recalls20002008: 844 complaints, 6 recalls20082009: 67 complaints, 2 recalls20092010: 163 complaints, 3 recalls20102011: 209 complaints, 3 recalls20112012: 554 complaints, 3 recalls20122013: 548 complaints, 5 recalls54820132014: 205 complaints, 1 recalls2014
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Avenger model year. The 2013 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951962
19961572
1997832
1998582
1999621
2000221
20088446
2009672
20101633
20112093
20125543
20135485
20142051

NHTSA lists complaints and recalls for 13 Avenger model years[3]. The 2013 model year has 548 complaints and 5 recalls[3].

Only two years have more complaints: 2008 with 844 and 2012 with 554[3]. That puts 2013 third highest. For recalls, 2008 has 6, which is more than the 5 for 2013[3]. The 2014 model year has 205 complaints and 1 recall[3].

These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so they show where reports cluster, not how likely a problem is for any one car.

Should you buy a used 2013 Avenger?

The record is weighted toward safety systems. Air bags have the most complaints[2], and three of the five recalls involve the restraint control module or active head restraints[13][14][16]. Before buying, ask a dealer to confirm with the VIN that every recall repair has been done. Owners in the complaint sample we read said parts for some recall repairs were not available at the time[9], and the 2016 interim letters said the same[14]. The 4-star crash ratings[5] and the 22 to 23 combined MPG[18][4][19] are middle-of-the-road facts, neither a reason to buy nor to walk away. If a car you are looking at has open recalls or an air bag warning light that is on, treat that as the first thing to sort out.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Avenger?
Air bags have the most NHTSA complaints at 154, followed by the engine at 126 and unknown or other at 102[2][6][7]. In a sample we read, air bag complaints describe bags not deploying and the warning light coming on[2].
How many recalls does the 2013 Dodge Avenger have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 model year[3]. They cover head restraints, the restraint control module, engine balance shaft bearings and a fuel tank control valve[13][14][15][16][17].
What MPG does the 2013 Dodge Avenger get?
EPA rates the 3.6L at 19 city, 28 highway and 22 combined[18]. The 2.4L ratings are 23 combined with the 6-speed automatic[4] and 23 combined with the 4-speed automatic[19].
Is the 2013 Dodge Avenger safe?
NHTSA gives the 4-door front-wheel-drive model 4 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal, side and rollover tests[5]. The model year also has recalls involving air bags and head restraints[14][16].
Is 2013 a good year for the Dodge Avenger?
It has 548 complaints and 5 recalls[3]. 2012 has 554 complaints with 3 recalls, and 2014 has 205 complaints with 1 recall[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 548 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Dodge Avenger (26 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 42 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 154 complaints name the air bags component group (19 crashes, 3 fires, 28 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Avenger model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Avenger, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 30 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 4 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.8%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 126 complaints name the engine component group (4 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 102 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 98 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 60 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 52 complaints name the seat belts component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 42 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 38 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,941). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 17V640, filed October 10, 2017: Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 16V668, filed September 15, 2016: Seat Belts › Pretensioner. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 13V552, filed November 6, 2013: Engine. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 13V282, filed July 2, 2013: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 13V043, filed February 6, 2013: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly. NHTSA recall database
  18. EPA rating for Avenger, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Avenger, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA Test Car List, 2013 Dodge Avenger with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 283 hp. www.epa.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, AVENGER 4DR SEDAN R/T: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,607 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, AVENGER 4DR SEDAN SX CANADA VALUE PACKAGE/SXT: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,393 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.