YearToAvoid

2013 Dodge Avenger Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 73 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Dodge Avenger, 13% of all 548 complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 78,500. There are 3 crashes and 14 injuries tied to this area, plus a related recall covering the occupant restraint controller.

Structure & Body complaints
73
13% of 548
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
14
Median mileage
78,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Active headrests unexpectedly deploy or pop out while driving, sometimes striking the driver or passenger in the back of the head.
  • Head rests detach or open up on their own after hitting a speed bump or during hard braking.
  • The hood release mechanism near the driver's footwell gets accidentally activated when exiting the vehicle, and in one case the hood flew open while driving at 35 mph.
  • Chrome interior door handle covering peels and has razor-thin edges that can cut occupants when opening the door.
  • A head rest sensor issue can trigger the air bag warning light and instrument panel flicker while driving.

When 2013 Dodge Avenger body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 26, 2013, latest Aug 6, 2026.

2013 Dodge Avenger structure & body complaints: complaints filed per quarter62013 Q42016 Q42018 Q32019 Q42021 Q22023 Q12025 Q4
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q2 (6).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2013 Dodge Avenger

  1. NHTSA 17V640000Oct 10, 2017Structure & Body363,930 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:head restraint

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012 Jeep Liberty and 2012-2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles. A component within the occupant restraint controller (ORC) may fail and prevent the active headrests from deploying in the event of a rear-end crash.

    Risk: If the active headrests do not deploy in certain rear-end crashes, the front seat occupants have an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ORC as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2017. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is T56.

Structure & Body complaints by Avenger model year

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

  1. 20108 (5%)
  2. 20118 (4%)
  3. 201234 (6%)
  4. 201373 (13%)
  5. 201430 (15%)
  6. 20150 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Dodge Avenger?
NHTSA has logged 73 Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Avenger, which is 13% of the 548 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall related to Structure & Body issues on the 2013 Dodge Avenger?
Yes. Recall campaign 17V640000 covers a component within the occupant restraint controller that may fail and prevent active headrests from deploying properly. Dealers replace the ORC free of charge.
At what mileage do these structure and body problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for Structure & Body complaints on the 2013 Avenger is 78,500 miles.
Were there any injuries linked to these complaints?
NHTSA records show 14 injuries and 3 crashes associated with Structure & Body complaints for the 2013 Dodge Avenger.
Does the 2013 Avenger have more Structure & Body complaints than other years?
Yes, relative to other Avenger years in this dataset, 2013 has the highest share at 13%, compared to 6% in 2012 and 5% in 2010.

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.