IllustrationI WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION IN MY SUBDIVISION TO LET SOME KIDS CROSS THE STREET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AND THEN SPED UP. THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD. I PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN THE REST OF THE WAY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM RUNNING OVER THE KIDS.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avenger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
660–25K
14425–50K
17350–75K
12375–100K
155100–150K
61150K+
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 reportsI WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND ALL LIGHTS WHEN OFF AND CAR SHUT OFF AND I HAD NO CONTROL I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE
I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) ONCE JUST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AND MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION AND SITTING AT A MECHANIC'S REPAIR SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW AFTER FIXING OTHER THINGS FIRST BEFORE FINALLY DETERMINING IT WAS THE PCM AGAIN. CAR WILL NOT REV ABO…
Read full complaint
I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) ONCE JUST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AND MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF COMMISSION AND SITTING AT A MECHANIC'S REPAIR SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW AFTER FIXING OTHER THINGS FIRST BEFORE FINALLY DETERMINING IT WAS THE PCM AGAIN. CAR WILL NOT REV ABOVE 2.0 RPM AND IS IN "LIMP MODE" WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH THE LIGHTNING BOLT SYMBOL PRESENT ON THE DASHBOARD.
CAR HAS BEEN RANDOMLY STALLING FOR NO REASON. AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR WILL RESTART AND DRIVE OK UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE HORN RANDOMLY WORKS AND SOMETIMES GOES OFF BY ITSELF. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIPM CAUSING THE HORN ISSUE BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT IS STALLING. POSSIBLY COULD BE TH…
Read full complaint
CAR HAS BEEN RANDOMLY STALLING FOR NO REASON. AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR WILL RESTART AND DRIVE OK UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE HORN RANDOMLY WORKS AND SOMETIMES GOES OFF BY ITSELF. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIPM CAUSING THE HORN ISSUE BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT IS STALLING. POSSIBLY COULD BE THE TIPM AS WELL.
LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR REAR OF CAR HIT A GUARD RAIL SPUN AROUND A COUPLE TIMES AND FRONT OF CAR HIT AN EMBANKMENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR OF THE CAR AND TRUNK LID AND FULL FRONTAL DAMAGE INCLUDING BENDING THE FRAME HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY FROM STEERING WHEEL, CURTAIN AIRBAGS ABS SEAT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON DRIVER SIDE , SHOULDER STRAP OF SEAT BELT LOCKED OUT. RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES TO ME WHICH I WAS DRIVER- NOT SURE HOW ACCIDENT HAPPENED. 95% FACIAL FRACTURES , NEEDED PLASTIC SURGERY , INJURY TO S1 JOINTS, RIGHT HIP SOCKET ,…
Read full complaint
AIRBAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY FROM STEERING WHEEL, CURTAIN AIRBAGS ABS SEAT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON DRIVER SIDE , SHOULDER STRAP OF SEAT BELT LOCKED OUT. RESULTING IN MULTIPLE INJURIES TO ME WHICH I WAS DRIVER- NOT SURE HOW ACCIDENT HAPPENED. 95% FACIAL FRACTURES , NEEDED PLASTIC SURGERY , INJURY TO S1 JOINTS, RIGHT HIP SOCKET , INJURY IN L4& L5 KNEES , RIBS BRUISED BADLY, SEVERE CONCUSSION..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED LATER THAT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE RECURRED DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MOTOR MILE DODGE (2395 ROANOKE ST, CHRISTIANSBURG, VA 24073) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TPMS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INLCUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V152000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,500. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
THE GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK. SHIFT STUCK IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
THROTTLE BODY CONTROL----CAR WILL JERK AND BEGIN TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, YOU WILL BE STRANDED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREEN DODGE IN SPRINGFIELD, IL WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,300.
Official recalls
608V152000 · 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
1AQ10001 · 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.