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2008 Dodge Avenger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Avenger years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Dodge Avenger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 157.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

722 reports with mileage · 109 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 236 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 219 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 138 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports26 fire reports24 injury reports

Power Train complaints

236 reports
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140,000 miles · Nov 7, 2022
Electrical SystemPower Train

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the key. T…

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The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the key. The key was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #11492578

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2022
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

While driving my airbag light came on I checked for recalls it tells me there is no unrepaired recalls on my car but something’s not right

NHTSA ODI #11490446

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

Hi my name is [XXX] and I’m 28 years old and a full time single mom of 2 girls 24/7 and in February I bought a 2008 Dodge Avenger 2.7 and the day I drove it home the check engine light came on and well long story short there it took them a month to “fix” the issue and 3 days later after getting my car back after NOT having it fo…

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Hi my name is [XXX] and I’m 28 years old and a full time single mom of 2 girls 24/7 and in February I bought a 2008 Dodge Avenger 2.7 and the day I drove it home the check engine light came on and well long story short there it took them a month to “fix” the issue and 3 days later after getting my car back after NOT having it for a month the check engine light came on again…needless to say here it is almost September 7 months later and there has many endless problems and the car dealership will not return my phone calls or texts or emails about my car and wanting to trade it in for another one on there lot !!! They are crooked people and shouldn’t be a business I have so much proof INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11431658

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2021
Power Train

The gear shift locked in park.

NHTSA ODI #11417361

159,000 miles · Mar 29, 2021
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND MANUALLY SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND MANUALLY SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,000.

NHTSA ODI #11405336

120 miles · Nov 29, 2020
Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY GOT INTO LIMP MODE. INTO A COMPUTER PROTECTION TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER IS ALSO FRESHLY BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11376962

122,000 miles · Jul 12, 2020
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY DODGER AVENGER AND THE AXIAL BROKE UNDERNEATH. IT WAS AN ORIGINAL PART AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANOTHER ORIGINAL PART TO REPLACE IT FROM MOPAR WITHOUT IT BEING ABLE TO FIT.

NHTSA ODI #11338901

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RUSS DARROW CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM OF WEST BEND AT 262-808-2700 (LOCATED AT 3210 W WASHINGTON ST, WEST BEND, WI 53095) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED RUSS DARROW CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM OF WEST BEND AT 262-808-2700 (LOCATED AT 3210 W WASHINGTON ST, WEST BEND, WI 53095) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI #11281408

36,000 miles · Aug 23, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THEN DRAGGED. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THEN DRAGGED. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT, CLOCKSPRING, ECM MANIFOLD, THROTTLE BODY, STARTER, BATTERY, AIR FAN, INTEGRATED POWER MODULE, AIR CONDITIONER, COMPRESSOR, INTAKE RUNNER, STEERING WHEEL, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROCKTON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (241020 BELMONT ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301, (781) 961-1550), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI #11246036

121,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Electrical SystemPower TrainVisibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I CHANGE THE OIL I FLUSH EVERYTHING THEN WHEN I WENT ON TO THE KELLY BOOK BLUE BOOK TO TRY TO SELL IT AS SAYING THAT IT HAD A BUNCH OF RECALLS WELCOME TO FIND OUT CHRYSLER SAYING IT DOESN'T SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CAR AND NEITHER …

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I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I CHANGE THE OIL I FLUSH EVERYTHING THEN WHEN I WENT ON TO THE KELLY BOOK BLUE BOOK TO TRY TO SELL IT AS SAYING THAT IT HAD A BUNCH OF RECALLS WELCOME TO FIND OUT CHRYSLER SAYING IT DOESN'T SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CAR AND NEITHER DO MECHANICS.

NHTSA ODI #11243688

Official recalls

6

08V152000 · Electrical System:wiring

Apr 2, 2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 180,963 MY 2007-2008 SEBRING AND DODGE AVENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A STANDARD TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS). UNUSED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR THE TPMS MAY BECOME CORRODED AND COULD SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS INCLUDING ENGINE NO-START, DEAD BATTERY, AN INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL OR REMOTE START SYSTEM, AND/OR ENGINE STALLING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ENGINE STALLING COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SEAL THE WIRES FOR THE TPMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V473000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:radiator Assembly

Oct 10, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4 LITER ENGINES, THE ENGINE COOLANT MAY BE DRAWN INTO THE LEFT RADIATOR COOLING FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONNECTOR FOR CONTAMINATION OR DAMAGE, INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY, AND REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR FREE OR CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V426000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 13, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND COULD SEPARATE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO LOOSEN AND LEAK FUEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERBODY FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK RETENTION STRAPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V414000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Sep 12, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE FRONT DOOR LATCH CABLE MAY BECOME PARTIALLY UNSEATED FROM THE INTERIOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING POSSIBLY CAUSING THE LATCH TO STICK IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION OR THE LOCK FUNCTION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH AN UNLATCHED DOOR CAN RESULT IN AN UNBELTED FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE OR BEING EJECTED IN A CRASH, CAUSING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A SECONDARY RETENTION FEATURE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS. THIS ACTION WILL SUPERSEDE AND EXPAND A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL (PLEASE SEE 07V-104). THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V240000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jun 13, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSORS UTILIZED FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT SEAT TRACK POSITION SENSORS AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V104000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Mar 15, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT DOOR LATCH CABLE MAY BECOME PARTIALLY UNSEATED FROM THE INTERIOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING CAUSING THE DOOR LATCH TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOT BE SECURED TO THE STRIKER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE POSSIBILITY OF A DOOR OPENING COULD CAUSE AN UNBELTED PASSENGER TO BE EJECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy: THIS ACTION IS SUPERSEDED (PLEASE SEE 07-V414.) DEALERS WILL ADD FREE OF CHARGE A SECONDARY FEATURE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS TO PREVENT THE DOOR LATCH CABLE FERRULE FROM BECOMING UNSEATED AT THE INTERIOR FRONT DOOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.