DODGE AVENGER AWD · model year

2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD

19 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008DODGEAVENGER AWD carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 AVENGER AWD is air bags with 4 filings, followed by power train (2) and fuel/propulsion system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2008 AVENGER AWD, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

19
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS4
POWER TRAIN2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
EQUIPMENT1
ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SEAT BELTS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20181011UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FLOOR HEATING ISSUE. WARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, COLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE WINTER. THE OPPOSITE IN THE SUMMER. ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING. SUMMER WITH WINDOWS DOWN HEAT IS DRAWN OUT ON THE DRIVERS FEET. WINTER WITH THE HEAT ON DRIVING HIGHWAY, COLD AIR RUSHES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR.

Mileage: 1

20180913AIR BAGS

LA BOMBA DE GASOLINA SE HA DAADA 2 VECES, YA QUE SE QUIEBRA EL TUBITO DONDE SE CONECTA LA MAGUERA DE GASOLINA. SE ENCIENDE Y SE APAGA LA IMAGEN DE LA BOLSA DE AIRE DE ACUERDO AL CLIMA Y MAS CUANDO HACE CALOR. EL SISTEMA ELECTRICO POR CAMBIO DE BUJIAS SE TIENE QUE RESETEAR LA COMPUTADORA YA ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ QUE PASA Y ME ESTA CONSTANDO, GRACIAS.

Mileage: 2

20180913ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LA BOMBA DE GASOLINA SE HA DAADA 2 VECES, YA QUE SE QUIEBRA EL TUBITO DONDE SE CONECTA LA MAGUERA DE GASOLINA. SE ENCIENDE Y SE APAGA LA IMAGEN DE LA BOLSA DE AIRE DE ACUERDO AL CLIMA Y MAS CUANDO HACE CALOR. EL SISTEMA ELECTRICO POR CAMBIO DE BUJIAS SE TIENE QUE RESETEAR LA COMPUTADORA YA ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ QUE PASA Y ME ESTA CONSTANDO, GRACIAS.

Mileage: 2

20180913FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

LA BOMBA DE GASOLINA SE HA DAADA 2 VECES, YA QUE SE QUIEBRA EL TUBITO DONDE SE CONECTA LA MAGUERA DE GASOLINA. SE ENCIENDE Y SE APAGA LA IMAGEN DE LA BOLSA DE AIRE DE ACUERDO AL CLIMA Y MAS CUANDO HACE CALOR. EL SISTEMA ELECTRICO POR CAMBIO DE BUJIAS SE TIENE QUE RESETEAR LA COMPUTADORA YA ES LA SEGUNDA VEZ QUE PASA Y ME ESTA CONSTANDO, GRACIAS.

Mileage: 2

20180531CrashAIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND AND A CAR CROSSED INTO MY LANE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN RT INTO MY VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ADMITS TO LOOKING AT HIS PHONE PRIOR TO TURNING. HE HIT MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TRAVELING HEAD ON WITH A TURNING MOTION WITH BOTH OF US TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 M.P.H. MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELT UNLOCKED ALLOWING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE CEILING/ROOF OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 130,000

20180531CrashSEAT BELTS

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND AND A CAR CROSSED INTO MY LANE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN RT INTO MY VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ADMITS TO LOOKING AT HIS PHONE PRIOR TO TURNING. HE HIT MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TRAVELING HEAD ON WITH A TURNING MOTION WITH BOTH OF US TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 M.P.H. MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELT UNLOCKED ALLOWING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE CEILING/ROOF OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 130,000

20151121VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ONLY UP TO 40 MPH. ANY ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BEYOND 40 MPH IS FUTILE. IT DOES NOTHING.

Mileage: 163,300

20150204FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FILE SHOWS THAT THIS CARS HAS HAD THE FUEL TANK STRAP WE'RE REPLACE AS THE RECALL STIPULATED BUT ON OCTOBER 2013 THE FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. AFTER INSPECTION, THERE WAS A LOT OF WEAR BETWEEN THE FUEL STRAP AND THE TANK ITSELF, ENOUGH WEAR TO START LEAKING. WHEN REMOVING THE STRAP, THE FUEL STARTED LEAKING A LOT MORE. THERE WAS ENOUGH MOVEMENT THAT THE STEEL ON THE TANK WHERE THE TANK PASSES WAS SHINY. HAD TO REPLACE THE TANK AND PAY FOR IT MYSELF. *TR

Mileage: 80,245

20140524CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN THE ROAD A LITTLE TOO FAST AND THE CAR SLID ON LOOSE GRAVEL. IT SPUN AROUND ONCE AND HIT A TELEPHONE BOX, SPUN AROUND A SECOND TIME AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE INSIDE OF A DITCH. IT CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT THE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE TURNED ALL THE WAY OUT AND MY KNEES KNOCKED OUT THE DASHBOARD. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVEN'T FELT OKAY SINCE THIS HAPPENED AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS IN A WRECK IN A HONDA ACCORD BEFORE THAT WASN'T HALF THIS BAD AND THE AIR BAG SAVED ME FROM BEING INJURED. IT DEFINITELY SHOULD'VE DEPLOYED IN THIS INCIDENT! *TR

Mileage: 119,000

20121126ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, MY ETC LIGHT CAME ON. IT STAYED ON. NO ISSUE WITH DRIVING. I JUST HAD $900 WORTH OF WORK ON THIS CAR DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER. I NOW AM FINDING THE ETC LIGHT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND NO SOLUTION. *TR

Mileage: 141,300

20120307AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT, HARNESS AND SENSORS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,323.

Mileage: 20,000

20111116POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE TO THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE BRIEFLY FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE POWERING DOWN AND STALLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 109,000

20110228LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2008 DODGE AVENGER R/T. AWD. THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED NOR WILL IT LOCK. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT ONCE FOR $100.00. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. DOOR FLIES OPEN, WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, NOW THEY WANT $211.00 TO TRY AND FIX IT A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE THE FACTORY CLIPS (REQUIRED) AREN'T WORKING. THEY HOPE (BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE) THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. CALLED DODGE, THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT, (SO RUDELY PUT)! NOT CONCERNED WITH THE DOOR FLYING OPEN. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE MY CHILDREN WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS SO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY WON'T FALL OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 62,225

20110228EQUIPMENT

2008 DODGE AVENGER R/T. AWD. THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED NOR WILL IT LOCK. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT ONCE FOR $100.00. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. DOOR FLIES OPEN, WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, NOW THEY WANT $211.00 TO TRY AND FIX IT A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE THE FACTORY CLIPS (REQUIRED) AREN'T WORKING. THEY HOPE (BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE) THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. CALLED DODGE, THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT, (SO RUDELY PUT)! NOT CONCERNED WITH THE DOOR FLYING OPEN. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE MY CHILDREN WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS SO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY WON'T FALL OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 62,225

20100720POWER TRAIN

CAR WAS FINE AND ONE DAY WENT TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. TRIED FIR DAYS AND STILL IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. CALLED DODGE TO SEND OUT A FLAT BED TRUCK AND THE DRIVER SAID THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AVENGER SO HE KNEW TO TAKE OFF THE SILVER SHIFT RIM AND RELEASE THE CAR FROM PARK TO AT LEAST GET US TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 2 DAYS TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 50,100

20100512TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE AVENGER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALES GUY WHO SOLD ME MY CAR TOLD ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING WRONG, ABOUT AN 15MINS LATER THE CAR WENT IN TO DRIVE, AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TODAY I TRIED TO UP MY CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T GOING IN TO DRIVE AT ALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH DODGE BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE 30DAYS. I THEN CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $1300 TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

20100512POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE AVENGER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALES GUY WHO SOLD ME MY CAR TOLD ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING WRONG, ABOUT AN 15MINS LATER THE CAR WENT IN TO DRIVE, AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TODAY I TRIED TO UP MY CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T GOING IN TO DRIVE AT ALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH DODGE BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE 30DAYS. I THEN CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $1300 TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

20100512EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS

I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE AVENGER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK AND I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SALES GUY WHO SOLD ME MY CAR TOLD ME THAT I WAS PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING WRONG, ABOUT AN 15MINS LATER THE CAR WENT IN TO DRIVE, AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TODAY I TRIED TO UP MY CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T GOING IN TO DRIVE AT ALL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH DODGE BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF THE 30DAYS. I THEN CALLED THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $1300 TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

20090803POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2008 DODGE AVENGER: SHIFTER ASSEMBLY PRONE TO BREAK. CHRYSLER IS AWARE, BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART. WHEN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY BREAKS, SHIFTING BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN AND THE USE OF A BRITTLE PLASTIC COMPONENT WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY. *TR

Compare 2008DODGEAVENGER AWD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD have?
The 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD has 19 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD?
The most-complained component for the 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD is AIR BAGS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2008 DODGE AVENGER AWD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.