Dodge Avenger Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2000 to 2014, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Dodge Avenger model years through 2024, 2000 and 2014 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2008 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Dodge Avenger: Key Facts

Model years with data
9 (2000–2014)
Distinct recall campaigns
17
Fewest recalls
2000 and 2014 (1)
Most recalls
2008 (6)
Most recalled system
Seat belts (5)

Dodge Avenger Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Dodge Avenger — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2000–2014
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2014 1 4 stars Seat belts
2013 5 4 stars Air bags, Engine, Fuel system, gasoline
2012 3 4 stars Air bags, Seat belts, Seats
2011 3 Not rated Air bags, Seat belts, Steering
2010 3 Not rated Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering
2009 2 Not rated Fuel system, other, Power train
2008 6 Not rated Latches/locks/linkages, Air bags, Electrical system
2007 4 Not rated Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling
2000 1 Not rated Suspension

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20141 recall
  2. 20135 recalls
  3. 20123 recalls
  4. 20113 recalls
  5. 20103 recalls
  6. 20092 recalls
  7. 20086 recalls
  8. 20074 recalls
  9. 20001 recall

Dodge Avenger: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Dodge Avenger recalls are seat belts (5), air bags (4), latches/locks/linkages (4), electrical system (2) and engine and engine cooling (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 3 of these 9 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Dodge Avenger Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Dodge Avenger?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2000 and 2014 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.

Which Dodge Avenger model years have the most recalls?

2008 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Avenger", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy