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2008 Dodge Magnum Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Dodge Magnum has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Recall repair delayed by parts unavailability.” 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.

Save this car as:

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 Magnum.

Reported to NHTSA

Recall repair delayed by parts unavailability

AIR BAGS

18 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2017-02

“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10957179
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V567000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10845737
“WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ABOUT THE AIR BAGS ON MAY 30TH, 2015. TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL ABOUT SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE WORK DONE. HAVE NOT RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL ABOUT THIS YET”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10725308

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

TIPM-related electrical component failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2015-07 → 2016-12

“I TOOK MY CAR TO PRESTAGE DODGE CAUSE THE CAR HAD PROBLEM STARTING SO THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMPS, I ASKED WILL THAT TAKE CARE OF IT THEY SAID YES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10888466
“TIPM PROBLEM. NOT WORKING LIGHT LOW BEAM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10937299
“I, DEBORAH CROSS, WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THE DASH GAGES DROPPED TO ZERO AND JUST AS QUICKLY THE LIGHTS AND GAGES WENT BACK TO NORMAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10744041

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine cooling fan and radiator failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2010-06 → 2016-07

“AS I REMOVED THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY, I NOTICED THE FAN BLADES HAD BROKE OFF (ROOT CAUSE OF MY COOLANT LEAK) AND DAMAGED THE RADIATOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10885353
“WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2008 DODGE MAGNUM R/T ONE OF THE COOLING FANS DISINTEGRATED AND DAMAGED MY RADIATOR PUNCHING HOLES AND CAUSING COOLANT TO BEGIN RAPIDLY LEAKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10615913
“IN MAY ON 2010, I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LEAKING DUE TO WATER PUMP WENT OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10335216

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission and power train shifting failure

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2014-01

“RIGHT WHEN MY 2008 DODGE MAGNUM HIT 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING ROUGHTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10424521
“THERE IS A PIECE IN THE DRIVING GEAR SHIFT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE. WHEN THIS PIECE BREAKS IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE OUT OF PARK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10359533
“NOW 8 MONTH LATER MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE DODGE DEALER IN NEW YORK, SAYING THEY IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT I HAVE TO PAY OUT 2,700.00 AGAIN THE CAR IS NOR 2 YEARS OLD YET IT HAVE NOT REACH 60 MONTHS NOR 60,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10216558

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering tie rod and column failure

STEERING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2010-06 → 2015-02

“AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10683295
“WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10345285
“NOW WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70MPH ON HIGHWAY ON 6/04/2010, RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD END "EXPLODES"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10335478

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch failure causing stall or no-start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

51 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2023-08

“I have had vehicle back at dealer now 3 times for continued problem of ignition sticking in the start mode as it keeps turning over & you have to physically turn ignition off or cycle it to stop the sticking problem”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11538375
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE START POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE RUN POSITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10995812
“SUDDENLY 3/2016 MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY DID THE P57, R25 RECALLS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10897340

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall, seizure, or oil pump failure

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2009-06 → 2015-07

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 DODGE MAGNUM ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE OIL LIGHT BLINKED ON SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN TO THE GAS STATION,AND CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS A LITTLE LOW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10714291
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10658930
“WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FLUCTUATED RIGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10274147

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)

17 crashes 1990–2024

How the 17 occupant deaths break down

14

driver deaths

3

passenger deaths

17

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 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.

2

complaints mentioning a crash

0

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 Magnum 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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