2014 Dodge Avenger

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

66/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Dodge Avenger, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	27	13%
Air bags	26	13%
Engine	19	9%
Seats	15	7%
Electrical system	12	6%
Unknown or other	9	4%
Service brakes	6	3%
Air bags	5	2%
Power train	4	2%
Suspension	4	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

My driver side head rest was fine the night before. When I came out to my car the next morning, the AHR had defected and the padded part had "popped". No damage had occurred on the exterior of my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint: Seats

I was stopped at a red light, when the airbag in the headrest deployed on the driver side.
NHTSA complaint: Seats

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH, the occupant restraint controller in the driver's seat activated inadvertently, and the head
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V668000 (Seat Belts, Air Bags) and the recall repair was performed; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated t
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I know the noise is coming from the lifters in the engine that has been nicknamed the hemi tick
NHTSA complaint: Engine

horn not working, i move steering wheel to left side and it works, problem with horn and wheel radio controls. Clock spring failure
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the driver’s side headrest deployed and pushed her head forward. The contact stated that the impact wa
NHTSA complaint: Seats

Driving and car cuts off without warning. Could be going 35 mph could be going 65 mph. Have to shift to N to cut car back on. Sometimes it won't cut back on. I pressed gas after light turned green in a busy intersection
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2014 Dodge Avenger. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:pretensioner 16V668000

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 pret

Risk: 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 deploy

Fix: 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

The seven scores

Reliability raw	65	good
Longevity est.	70	good
Maintenance	80	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	49	below average
Efficiency	45	below average
Safety	80	excellent

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 18% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 19% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 72% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 57% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 65: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 70: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2014 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 80: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety 80: NHTSA crash testing blended with IIHS awards.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2014 Dodge Avenger?

Owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 27 of them (13%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2014 Dodge Avenger reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 65/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2014 Dodge Avenger last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2014 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2014 Dodge Avenger?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.