NHTSA Complaint #11228731 — 2012 DODGE AVENGER

IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018, MY 2012 AVENGER RT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE INSUFFICIENT/NON-EXISTENT AIRFLOW AND LACK OF HEAT TO THE RIGHT-SIDE WINDOW DEFROSTERS AND ALL PASSENGER VENTS (EXCEPT THE FRONT-LEFT DRIVER VENTS), CREATING VISIBILITY HAZARDS AND AN UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. DURING THE FOLLOWING 2018 SUMMER, THE AIR COOLING EFFECT AND WINDOW-DEFOGGING WAS ALSO DIMINISHED, ESPECIALLY FROM THE INEXPLICABLE REDUCED AIRFLOW COMING FROM PASSENGER VENTS. THE HEATER/DEFROSTER HAD MAJOR DIFFICULTY DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD AND RIGHT-SIDE FRONT WINDOW. IN EARLY 2019, I BROUGHT MY AVENGER TO A REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED BY SEVERAL FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES, AND THE SHOP RECOMMENDED A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH AND INSPECTED AIR BLEND DOOR ACTUATORS, BUT THOSE WERE FINE. THE ENGINE ALSO OCCASIONALLY RAN WARMER THAN USUAL, HOWEVER THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A STUCK THERMOSTAT WHICH WAS FOUND DURING THE SHOP'S DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE COOLANT/RADIATOR/HEATER CORE FLUSH DID REMOVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE. THE SYSTEM FLUSH ALSO SEEMS TO BE A RECOMMENDED DEALERSHIP SERVICE ACTION AS A "REMEDY." HOWEVER, THE COOLANT/HEATING SYSTEM FLUSH HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE HEATING ISSUE AND THE RIGHT WINDOW DEFROSTER AND PASSENGER VENTS STILL HAD DRASTICALLY REDUCED AIRFLOW DESPITE THE BLOWER AND ALL BLEND DOORS/ACTUATORS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.