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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

831 reports
75,104 miles · Jan 26, 2014
Air Bags

BACKING CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE ,AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561510

60,011 miles · Jan 18, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

AS VEHICLE WAS BEING FILLED WITH FUEL AFTER 1.7 GAL, FUEL VIOLENTLY SPRAYED OUT OF FUEL FILL AND SATURATED MY ENTIRE UPPER TORSO AND SPLASHED INTO LEFT EYE. (EYE WAS FLUSHED WITH WATER UPON RETURNING HOME AND A HOSPITAL VISIT WAS AVOIDED) EVERY TIME THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER AVENGERS HAVE FUEL ADDED TO THE TANK, IT IS REPORTE…

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AS VEHICLE WAS BEING FILLED WITH FUEL AFTER 1.7 GAL, FUEL VIOLENTLY SPRAYED OUT OF FUEL FILL AND SATURATED MY ENTIRE UPPER TORSO AND SPLASHED INTO LEFT EYE. (EYE WAS FLUSHED WITH WATER UPON RETURNING HOME AND A HOSPITAL VISIT WAS AVOIDED) EVERY TIME THIS VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER AVENGERS HAVE FUEL ADDED TO THE TANK, IT IS REPORTED THAT THERE IS A SEVERE SPLASH BACK OR SPIT BACK THAT OCCURS CAUSING A SEVERE POTENTIAL OF SEVERE RISK TO LIFE, HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT VIA FLAME, FIRE, EXPLOSION OR CONTAMINATION. DEALER CLAIMS THAT PER CHRYSLER THE FUEL FILLER NECK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. AFTER VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS ON MY OWN, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALERS ARE REPLACING FUEL FILLER NECKS AND COMPLETE FUEL TANKS WHERE THE WHOLE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY A FUEL SAFETY ROLLOVER VALVE LOCATED WITHIN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS IS NO JOKING MATTER. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS SHOULD HOLD THE OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS OF THE FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM WITH SUCH NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560471

110,000 miles · Jan 14, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10559816

82,000 miles · Jan 10, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECTIVE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. EST. $1300. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559319

75,000 miles · Jan 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS A LIGHTING BOLT ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY. THE CONTACT DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS A LIGHTING BOLT ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10559038

116,000 miles · Jan 7, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I WAS DRIVING APPROX 50 MPH AND I LOSE POWER AND MY ELECTRONIC CONTROL THROTTLE LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T GO FASTER THEN 5 MPH AND MY RPM WOULDN'T PASS 2,000 I PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRY TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD ONLY RUN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND CUT OUT AGAIN. MY HOME TO…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I WAS DRIVING APPROX 50 MPH AND I LOSE POWER AND MY ELECTRONIC CONTROL THROTTLE LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T GO FASTER THEN 5 MPH AND MY RPM WOULDN'T PASS 2,000 I PULLED OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRY TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD ONLY RUN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND CUT OUT AGAIN. MY HOME TOWN MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. THE TOTAL COST IN REPAIR IS ROUGHLY 500 DOLLARS, AND READING ONLINE THERE ARE MORE DRIVERS OUT THERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I THINK DODGE SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THERE 2008 DODGE AVENGERS AND UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558938

112,000 miles · Jan 7, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL THROTTLE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL THROTTLE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10558934

100,000 miles · Jan 6, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY MALFUNCTIONED, PREVENTING RPM IN EXCESS OF 2500RPM AND CAPPING SPEED AT 5MPH UPHILL OR 30MPH DOWNHILL (INCLINE DEPENDENT). AT THIS TIME, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH. SINCE THIS TIME (3 DAYS SO FAR), THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE. ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS …

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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY MALFUNCTIONED, PREVENTING RPM IN EXCESS OF 2500RPM AND CAPPING SPEED AT 5MPH UPHILL OR 30MPH DOWNHILL (INCLINE DEPENDENT). AT THIS TIME, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH. SINCE THIS TIME (3 DAYS SO FAR), THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE. ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION BY SEARCHING THE INTERNET HAVE SHOWN NUMEROUS OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL (2008 DODGE AVENGER), AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY - EITHER THROTTLE BODY ITSELF, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, WIRES LEADING TO THROTTLE BODY, ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF THROTTLE BODY, I.E. WHETHER MALFUNCTION IS BATTERY-LIFE-DEPENDENT, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558729

79,000 miles · Jan 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER ID NUMBER: 07V240000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT ALSO STA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER ID NUMBER: 07V240000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE DEFECTS INVOLVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING AN INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION, A SPORADIC LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE STALLING WHEN THE REMOTE KEY WAS USED TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 08V152000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECTS AS LISTED IN BOTH RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10558631

123,000 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI #10557968

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.