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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
110,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10948740

100,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

ETC FAILURE ( ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ) APPROX. 100,00O ON VEHICLE, HIGHWAY GOING STEADY 65MPH AND LIGHT CAME ON NEAR TOTAL POWER FAILURE. RESTARTED VEHICLE SEEMED TO CLEAR ITSELF. TOOK TO DODGE MECHANIC THE COMPUTER SAYS IT DID NOT HAPPEN.. REPLACED THE (ETC) AND CAR IS STILL NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY..I HAVE ZERO FAITH THAT…

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ETC FAILURE ( ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ) APPROX. 100,00O ON VEHICLE, HIGHWAY GOING STEADY 65MPH AND LIGHT CAME ON NEAR TOTAL POWER FAILURE. RESTARTED VEHICLE SEEMED TO CLEAR ITSELF. TOOK TO DODGE MECHANIC THE COMPUTER SAYS IT DID NOT HAPPEN.. REPLACED THE (ETC) AND CAR IS STILL NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY..I HAVE ZERO FAITH THAT THE CAR IS SAFE. RESEARCHED THIS ETC ISSUE WHICH SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD.

NHTSA ODI #10937791

133,000 miles · Dec 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING A LIGHTNING BOLT IN PARENTHESES SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH. CAR BEGAN IDLING AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 10 MILES PER HOUR. THEN THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM. SO I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I GOT IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BA…

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WHILE DRIVING A LIGHTNING BOLT IN PARENTHESES SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH. CAR BEGAN IDLING AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 10 MILES PER HOUR. THEN THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM. SO I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I GOT IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. SO I GOT IT REPLACED, THAT SAME DAY ABOUT 6 HOURS LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I RESEARCHED THE SYMBOL AND A LOT OF RELATED STORIES WERE DISCUSSED. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME NEED FOR A RECALL BECAUSE OTHERS WEREN'T AS FORTUNATE AS US. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE LIVES ARE AT STAKE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10934336

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2016
EnginePower Train

WHEN DRIVING CAR WILL SUDDENLY STALL. THIS HAS HAPPEN GOING UNDER AND OVER 30MPH. HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHERE IT WON'T RESTART. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC, THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933798

178,000 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

NHTSA ODI #10926152

126,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROL, FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

NHTSA ODI #10925356

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2016
Seat Belts

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE I HAD ONLY HA DIT FOR A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE POWERSTEERING WENT OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SECOND REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOL DIT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A COMPLETE RUN AROUND.ALL I NEED IS ASSISTANCE IN FINDING A DECENT MECHANIC. THIS CAR DEALERSHIP KNEW THE VEHICLE W…

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I PURCHASED A VEHICLE I HAD ONLY HA DIT FOR A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE POWERSTEERING WENT OUT. AFTER TAKING IT TO A SECOND REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOL DIT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN A COMPLETE RUN AROUND.ALL I NEED IS ASSISTANCE IN FINDING A DECENT MECHANIC. THIS CAR DEALERSHIP KNEW THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY AND SOLD IT TO ME ANY WAY

NHTSA ODI #10917430

155,000 miles · Oct 18, 2016
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT LATCH IN ORDER TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI #10916817

100,000 miles · Oct 6, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10914179

150,000 miles · Oct 5, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

I WAS DRIVING DOWN 480 HIGHWAY MY CAR STARTED SMOKING AND SHUT OFF I HAD IT TOWED MY COMPUTER MOTHERBOARD CAUGHT FIRE! THANK GOD IT DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO WRECK AND GET KILLED

NHTSA ODI #10913877

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.