YearToAvoid

2011 Dodge Avenger Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 24% of all 209 complaints filed for the 2011 Dodge Avenger (50 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 74,552.5 miles. NHTSA lists no recall tied to this engine issue.

Engine complaints
50
24% of 209
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
74,553 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls unexpectedly while stopped at traffic lights or stop signs, sometimes requiring the vehicle to be shifted to park or neutral before it will restart.
  • Unintended acceleration is reported, including a case where the vehicle sped up on its own from 20 mph to 40 mph and the brakes failed to stop it, resulting in a crash.
  • Owners describe the engine surging or increasing RPM on its own at idle, with the issue temporarily resolving after restarting the engine.
  • Electronic throttle control warning light illuminates along with a loss of power or a limit on speed, in one case tied to a dealer diagnosis of a failed throttle control box.
  • Some owners report stuttering or jerking at highway speeds around 60 mph that smooths out under acceleration, later progressing to stalling at low speeds.
  • Dealers in several cases were unable to duplicate or diagnose the stalling or acceleration problems despite multiple visits.

When 2011 Dodge Avenger engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 31, 2011, latest Aug 22, 2022.

2011 Dodge Avenger engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2011Nov 2012Oct 2014Jan 2016Mar 2018Feb 2019Apr 2020Apr 2021
50 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Aug 2022; peak May 2012 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Dodge Avenger

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Avenger model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201051 (31%)
  2. 201150 (24%)
  3. 2012103 (19%)
  4. 2013146 (27%)
  5. 201452 (25%)
  6. 20150 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2011 Dodge Avenger?
NHTSA lists 50 engine complaints for the 2011 Avenger, which is 24% of the 209 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Dodge Avenger engine problems?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do these engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 Avenger is 74,552.5 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.
What kind of engine issues do owners report on the 2011 Avenger?
Owners describe unexpected stalling at stops, engine surging or unintended acceleration, and electronic throttle control warnings paired with power loss.
Did any 2011 Avenger engine complaints involve a crash or fire?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 fire among the complaints filed in this area for the 2011 Avenger.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.