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2008 Dodge Avenger Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Dodge Avenger has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission shifter stuck in or unable to exit park.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Dodge Avenger.

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission shifter stuck in or unable to exit park

POWER TRAIN

8 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2021-03

“THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REMOVED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND MANUALLY SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11405336
“WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT BECAME STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. EAST CAROLINA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (3401 S MEMORIAL DR, GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 27834, (888) 848-5262) REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11131688
“GEAR SHIFT GOT STUCK IN PARK AND COULD NOT MOVE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A CUSTOMER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION K16”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10901975

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Wipers, windows, and horn malfunction intermittently

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER

13 NHTSA complaints · 2016-03 → 2025-11

“HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK FOR DAYS. WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND STUTTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11015565
“THE WINDOW REGULATORS AND MOTORS CONTINUOUSLY GO OUT CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BE UNABLE TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THEM AT LEAST TWICE SINCE 2010 AND THEY NOW NEED TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN, FOR A THIRD TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10905176
“THE HORN WILL RANDOMLY SOUND. IT MAY BE OPERATING ON CITY STREETS, ON THE HIGHWAY, PARKED, AND EVEN WHEN NOT RUNNING. THE HORN DOES NOT SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL PAD WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND CAUSES A SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11171736

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden stalling or loss of power while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

57 NHTSA complaints · 2016-02 → 2025-04

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE ABS, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10985916
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11073135
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10914179

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illuminates intermittently

AIR BAGS

17 NHTSA complaints · 2016-04 → 2025-11

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11265972
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10870759
“AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE MY CAR ALSO HAS THE SAME AIR BAG LIGHT PROBLEM THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED NUMEROUS TIME (BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON MY VIN ISN'T ONE OF THE RECALLED CARS) ONLINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10991545

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags or seat belts failed to deploy in a crash

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2018-11

“WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11149522
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11053620
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11098934

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel overflows from filler tube during refueling

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-02 → 2019-02

“FUEL OVERFLOWS WHILE FILLING TANK REGARDLESS OF REFUELING RATE, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, OR SERVICE STATION. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERY REFUEL CAUSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESS AND WASTING MONEY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11176003
“WHEN FILLING THE TANK ALL THE WAY TO FULL FROM EMPTY GAS PUMP WILL SHUT OFF AND YOU WILL HEAR THE "CLICK" NOZZLE IS STILL IN FUEL HOLE AND FUEL SPRAYS EVERYWHERE. RUNS DOWN VEHICLE ONTO BRAKE SYSTEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10956566
“GAS SPILLS OUT WHEN PUMPING GAS EVEN AFTER THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. DODGE SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10836283

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

157 crashes 1990–2024

How the 157 occupant deaths break down

104

driver deaths

51

passenger deaths

2

not recorded by seat

157

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

38

complaints mentioning a crash

26

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Dodge Avenger reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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