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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

Electrical System complaints

219 reports
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80,000 miles · Jan 19, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN MOVING SEAT UP OR BACK WHICH MAKES THE SENSOR COME ON, HAVE TO KEEP MOVING THE TRACK UNTIL IT TURNS OFF. IS THIS RELATED TO RECALL G14? FAN IN RADIATOR CONSTANTLY TURNS OFF AND ON, AND NOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN …

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AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN MOVING SEAT UP OR BACK WHICH MAKES THE SENSOR COME ON, HAVE TO KEEP MOVING THE TRACK UNTIL IT TURNS OFF. IS THIS RELATED TO RECALL G14? FAN IN RADIATOR CONSTANTLY TURNS OFF AND ON, AND NOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHEN THE AIR/HEATER IS TURNED OFF, ALSO THE LEFT SIDE OF CAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. MOST RECENT THE LEFT DRIVER SEAT BELT ALL OF A SUDDEN IS NOT RETRACTING, THIS IS NOT SAFE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, DEALER IS CHARGING AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676420

148,000 miles · Jan 4, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A SYMBOL ON MY DASHBOARD APPEARED. THE SYMBOL WAS A LIGHTENING BOLT IN PARENTHESIS WHICH I'VE FOUND OUT IS THE ETC SYMBOL. THAT ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOGETHER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF THE ETC SYMBOL DID NOT REAPPEAR BUT THE CHECK ENGINE SYMBOL DID. FROM LOOKING THROUGH FORUMS I'VE SEEN T…

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STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND A SYMBOL ON MY DASHBOARD APPEARED. THE SYMBOL WAS A LIGHTENING BOLT IN PARENTHESIS WHICH I'VE FOUND OUT IS THE ETC SYMBOL. THAT ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOGETHER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF THE ETC SYMBOL DID NOT REAPPEAR BUT THE CHECK ENGINE SYMBOL DID. FROM LOOKING THROUGH FORUMS I'VE SEEN THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS DODGE AVENGERS AND TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS COST LARGE SUMS WITH NO REAL CONCLUSION OF THE REASON FOR THE SYMBOLS APPEARING IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THIS PROBLEM BE NOTED IN THE AVENGER LINE AND RECALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670003

35,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON & OF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP FOR GAS, THE DASH LIGHTS WONT COME ON WHEN I RESTART THE ENGINE. SOMETIMES THE WILL GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND I HIT A BUMP. I AM UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662360

105,000 miles · Nov 21, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10660015

91,000 miles · Nov 6, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10653109

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2014
Electrical System

THE DODGE CHARGER HAD A RECALL WHERE THE KEY WOULD HANG WHEN CRANKING THE CAR.. MY DODGE AVENGER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651179

30,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Electrical System

MY 08 DODGE PURCHASED AT MONROE MI, DODGE SUPERSTORE. I HAVE AN FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING. MY VEHICLE STALLS IN WET WEATHER, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONS, THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY. I UNDERSTAND 08 DODGE AVENGER HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE MONROE DODGE FAILED TO FIX OR NOTIFY ME …

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MY 08 DODGE PURCHASED AT MONROE MI, DODGE SUPERSTORE. I HAVE AN FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING. MY VEHICLE STALLS IN WET WEATHER, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONS, THEY COME ON AUTOMATICALLY. I UNDERSTAND 08 DODGE AVENGER HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE MONROE DODGE FAILED TO FIX OR NOTIFY ME OF RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR HIGH RATE OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AS I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER , BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HURT SOMEONE. I NEED CAR FIXED ASAP AS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. 10/14/2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644506

40,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATORS HAD SQUARES AROUND THEM AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATORS HAD SQUARES AROUND THEM AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10644439

59,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
Electrical System

I TOOK IN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP DODGE/CHRYSLER JEEP AUTO CENTER IN AUGUST 2014 TO A/C RECHARGE THEN I DROVE OUT IT START HUMMING CALLED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE TO SEE IF IT GOES AWAY IT DID THEN IT STARTED AGAIN AN NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE ALTERNATOR; IMPOSSIBLE BUT YES ALTERNATOR SO WHEN I HAD IN TO RECH…

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I TOOK IN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP DODGE/CHRYSLER JEEP AUTO CENTER IN AUGUST 2014 TO A/C RECHARGE THEN I DROVE OUT IT START HUMMING CALLED DEALERSHIP THEY SAID TO DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE TO SEE IF IT GOES AWAY IT DID THEN IT STARTED AGAIN AN NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE ALTERNATOR; IMPOSSIBLE BUT YES ALTERNATOR SO WHEN I HAD IN TO RECHARGE THE AIR CONDITIONER AN DROVE IT THE HUMMING WAS COMING FROM MY ALTERNATOR UNBELIEVABLE MY CAR ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES ON IT. NOW IF I DON'T REPLACE IT MY CAR COULD STALL WHERE EVER IM DRIVING FREEWAY OR CITY STREETS. THE PRICE IS 482.00 AT DEALERSHIP OR 570.00 AT A AUTO SHOP. I'VE CALLED CORPORATES OF DODGE/CHRYSLER AN FILED A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644265

80,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY '08 DODGE AVENGER I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE W/THE ETC. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS JOLTING ON ACCELERATION OR IF I WAS AT A STEADY HIGH RATE OF SPEED (75-80 MPH). THE ETC INDICATOR CAME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE & MY CONCERN ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS I…

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SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY '08 DODGE AVENGER I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE W/THE ETC. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS JOLTING ON ACCELERATION OR IF I WAS AT A STEADY HIGH RATE OF SPEED (75-80 MPH). THE ETC INDICATOR CAME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & INFORMED THEM OF THE ISSUE & MY CONCERN ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS IN & OUT OF THE SHOP 3 TIMES IN THE 1ST MONTH OF PURCHASE FOR THE ETC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR YET MY ETC LIGHT WAS ON AFTER REPLACEMENT. AFTER HAVING ETC SENSOR CLEANED & ETC SOFTWARE FLASHED THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO GO AWAY. ALMOST 2 YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM IS BACK & WORSE. MY ETC INDICATOR CAME ON, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING, STARTED JOLTING WHILE ACCELERATING & WHILE MAINTAINING A STEADY SPEED. IT BEGAN REVVING AT A COMPLETE STOP W/FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BREAK (VEHICLE WOULD JUMP FORWARD; I FEARED IT WOULD RUN ITSELF INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE). WHILE SLOWING DOWN IT WOULD REV & ACCELERATE (CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE) W/OUT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT DIED WHILE DRIVING & WOULDN'T START RESTART. WHEN IT DID START THE ETC WAS ON & IT WOULDN'T GET PAST 1000RPM OR ABOVE 20MPH & HAD A VERY ROUGH IDLE. A TUNE-UP WAS DONE, ETC SENSOR CLEANED, AIR-INTAKE SYSTEM CLEANED, & LOAD TEST DONE TO SEE IF THE BATTERY WAS GOING BAD. THIS VEHICLE IS INCREDIBLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AFTER RESEARCHING IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON W/THIS ISSUE. DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL THIS THROTTLE BODY, IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTENSIVE & THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED. ADVISED REPLACING THROTTLE BODY IS THE NEXT STEP. TOLD IT WOULDN'T BE A GUARANTEED FIXED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR THIS MODEL APPEARS A FAULTY & I WOULD LIKELY BE DEALING W/THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP. RECORDED VEHICLE DURING SOME OF INCIDENTS SINCE I WAS TOLD 1ST TIME I WAS TOLD "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE, FLASHED SOFTWARE." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640565

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.