YearToAvoid

2014 Dodge Avenger Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#3 most-complained of 6 Avenger years

The 2014 Dodge Avenger has 205 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 60, and ranks 3rd worst out of 6 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags are the top problem area, with 69 complaints and 34% share, tied to one recall.

Complaints
205
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
20 / 3
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2014 Dodge Avenger problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags69 (34%)
  2. Engine52 (25%)
  3. Seat Belts39 (19%)
  4. Electrical System34 (17%)
  5. Brakes30 (15%)
  6. Structure & Body30 (15%)
  7. Other19 (9%)
  8. Steering14 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain12 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal or head-on crashes, sometimes even at highway speeds with severe front-end damage.
  • Seat belts reportedly fail to restrain occupants properly during collisions, in some cases alongside non-deploying airbags.
  • Owners describe the vehicle stalling or hesitating at various speeds, with the instrument cluster flickering and warning lights illuminating.
  • The brake pedal has reportedly become difficult to locate or press after the rubber pedal cover detached, leading to crashes.
  • Some owners report the steering wheel seizing while driving at low speed, accompanied by check engine and ABS warning lights.
  • Electrical issues include battery warning lights illuminating and, in one case, a jump box catching fire during use.
2014 Dodge Avenger complaints: complaints filed per quarter282014 Q12015 Q32017 Q12018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12025 Q2
319 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q3 (28).

2014 Dodge Avenger recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V668000Sep 15, 2016Airbags1,435,625 vehicles

    Air bags

    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 pretensioners, and side air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    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 deployment of these safety systems.

    Remedy: 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 August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S61.

2014 Dodge Avenger fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2014 compared with other Avenger years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid80553323
2013Avoid100548523
2014Caution60205123
2015No verdict010—

All Dodge Avenger years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Dodge Avenger reliable?
NHTSA lists 205 complaints for the 2014 Avenger with a complaint index of 60, placing it 3rd worst among 6 model years of the Avenger. It carries a Caution verdict relative to other Avenger years.
What is the top problem area for the 2014 Dodge Avenger?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 69 complaints, or 34% of all reports, with 13 crashes linked to this area.
Does the 2014 Dodge Avenger have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (16V668000) covers the Occupant Restraint Control airbag system, affecting model year 2011-2014 Avengers among other Chrysler models. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2014 Avenger compare to other model years?
The 2014 model (complaint index 60) ranks better than 2012 and 2013, both rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 80 and 100, but worse than 2010, 2011, and 2015.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Dodge Avenger?
The 2014 Avenger gets 23 mpg combined (20 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.

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.