The Dodge Avenger is a midsize car built from 1995 to 2014 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 1995 and 2014 it grew 9 cm longer and gained 202 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Avenger is
The Dodge Avenger is a midsize car that Dodge built from 1995 to 2014 — 20 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2008. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Dodge range: Challenger, Dart, Stratus.
Where the Avenger is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,623 Avengers on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1C3, 1B3, 4B3 | 1995-2014 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Dodge VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Avenger belongs to. What every character in a Avenger VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Dodge Avenger adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Avenger generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Avenger's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Avenger that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-1996 | 476 cm | 264 cm | 1340 kg | - | - |
| 1997-1999 | 484 cm | 264 cm | 1364 kg | +8 cm | +24 kg |
| 2008-2014 | 485 cm | 277 cm | 1542 kg | +1 cm | +178 kg |
Between 1995 and 2014 the Avenger gained 9 cm in length (+1.9%) and 202 kg in weight (+15.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Avenger that is 202 kg against 9 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Dodge Avenger tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Avenger owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Dodge Avenger have? Power & range
The Dodge Avenger is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Dodge Avenger, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | FWD | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Avenger by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Dodge Avenger. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Avenger | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 55 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,271 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,056/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 360 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Dodge Avenger?
The Avenger is a midsize car, built from 1995 to 2014 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Dodge Avenger made?
Across 2,623 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Avenger have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2008. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Avenger grew 9 cm longer and gained 202 kg.
What is the Dodge Avenger warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Avenger reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Avenger?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Dodge
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 1983–2026 | 133 | 98 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Ram | 1994–2012 | 188 | 17 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Challenger | 1981–2026 | 77 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Dodge Durango | 1995–2026 | 160 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Dodge Viper | 1992–2017 | 45 | 16 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1984–2008 | 208 | 35 mpg | 3.5/5 |
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