10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,380 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Dodge Avenger:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #105

Apr 242015

Avenger

  • 115,512 miles
I went to put my car in park and when I took my foot off the brake the car continued forward. I looked to see if I didn't put the car in park fully and the gear shift is in park however, the gear indicator says the car is still in drive.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #104

Dec 152012

Avenger

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the brake pedal was depressed. The electronic throttle control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.

- Cole Springs, KY, USA

problem #103

Feb 012010

Avenger

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Upon starting the vehicle, all the gear shifter indicators had squares around them and the transmission had difficulty shifting into the correct gear. In addition, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #102

Aug 232014

Avenger

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the transmission shifted into reverse independently and failed to shift back in drive. The shift control cable failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the brake light switch failed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #101

Jun 102014

Avenger

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle's speed decreased to 10 mph and the power indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact turned off the vehicle for 10 minutes, but the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who stated that the electric throttle needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #100

Apr 212014

Avenger

  • 93,000 miles
Intermittent loss of power on acceleration and under load. Suspected throttle body issues with throttle positioner code showing up.

- Fayetteville, WV, USA

problem #99

Nov 072008

Avenger

  • 20,000 miles
Car running sluggish no power, taken to dealer nothing wrong, clicking in engine compartment when air conditioner on, dealer, nothing wrong, transmission pulling. Soon after electrical, loud popping noise coming from passenger side everytime the air conditioner/heater turned on then off, defroster out on passenger side, and rear window, not working at all, air bag light turns on wont turn off, have to move front seat back then forward till light turns off, so irritated and disappointed expected better from Dodge, american made?? wow lost for words. Car is falling apart, I need my heater and defroster someone please help.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #98

Feb 172009

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
On or about Feb. 17, 2009 and continuing to present, my 2008 Avenger has had numerous problems shifting. The problem started with hard shifting and transmission slippage. Now, when driving at 45mph when the car goes to shift into overdrive, and misses 4th gear. There is a sudden loss of gears and the tachometer climbs rapidly because the overdrive gear will not engage. When engine RPM is lowered, car downshifts into 2nd gear (limp mode) and will not shift normally until the vehicle is turned off and re-started. The sudden loss of speed may result in a crash and personal injury to the occupants of the vehicle. I have seen numerous complaints on this problem and have noticed a lot of service bulletins related to improper shifting of the 2008 Avenger. Even though Dodge is aware of the problems with the powertrain control module, they have refused to issue a recall on the module placing the safety of its customers below the importance of their profits.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #97

Mar 142014

Avenger

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000. Updated 4/28/14

- Twinsburg, OH, USA

problem #96

Jan 292014

Avenger

  • 110,000 miles
We have experienced a drop in RPM's in wet weather, mainly at lower speeds during a deceleration mode that felt like the vehicle would die. A slow response to a panicked foot was always what happened. This began at approx. 25,000-30,000 miles. Never while in the dealer repair shop. While driving our 2008 Avenger, there was a rapid deceleration that occurred accompanied by the etc light coming on and flashing. I applied gas and nothing happened, then a split second later, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, etc light went out. I slowly accelerated to 55 mph and noticed that the rpms were higher than usual (3200) for the speed and also felt a hiccup or cutting out feel. I thought that I had lost 4th gear? my husband and I are seasoned auto service advisors & are very much in tune with our vehicles. Along with the aforementioned issues, now at freeway speeds, RPM's will drop; while the engine feels as if it will cut off & etc light comes on, then goes out. I have done extensive research & found on this NHTSA website, approx. 90% of complaints for like vehicles to be exact or similar to what we are experiencing. I stopped looking after 5 pages.(95% of 1st 5 pages are filled with like concerns). I will be contacting the Chrysler corporation as well. Why an official recall has not been announced, befuddles me. I hope this obvious safety issue does not get ignored any longer. 110,000 is on the vehicle odometer now. The mileage we have on our vehicle is a similar common denominator that is easily seen on the other etc related complaints for 2008 Avengers. *note-stop light sw. & accelerator position sensor have been replaced per recommendation of Chrysler technician. This made no difference. (except in our bank account).

- Fife, WA, USA

problem #95

Feb 102014

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
Electronic throttle control warning light comes on after the car is started. It will go off if the car is turned off and back on but the car then does not restart smoothly, turns over for quite a while be starting. Also, the malfunction indicator light is on and does not go off. Notice intermittent power loss when accelerating at low speeds.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #94

Apr 272013

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the vehicle would jerk and lose acceleration power sporadically. In addition, the gear shifter had to be engaged with abnormal force. The failure was recurring and the check engine warning light would illuminate when the failure occurred. The dealer performed a diagnostic and replaced an unknown part, however the repair did not correct the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure mileage was 25,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 04/22/14

- Fredericksburg , VA, USA

problem #93

Jul 182012

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the electronic throttle control failed without warning. The failure recurred three times over a period of eighteen months. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 03/31/14 the consumer stated on 3/9/14, while driving, the etc light illuminated again. All power to vehicle was lost. The consumer pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The consumer was then able to continue home. Updated 04/01/2014

- Petersburg, WV, USA

problem #92

Sep 302013

Avenger 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. While driving 65 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The contact was advised that the entire throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 89000....updated 03/07/14 also, the transmission did not shift properly.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #91

Aug 252013

Avenger

  • 152,100 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 70 mph, the vehicle downshifted erroneously. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder and was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 152,100.

- Whitney Point, NY, USA

problem #90

Jul 032013

Avenger 6-cyl

  • 62,595 miles
The car would not shift out of park. It was stuck. The tow truck driver took the shifter apart, a pink piece of plastic flew off, then it worked, so no tow. I had to wait til Monday to bring it to the dealer, and was sure K16 recall, from 6/2011 was the problem. But was told it was not a recall, or covered under my warranty. $292.33. I've seen hundreds of complaints on-line for the same thing. Some were considered a recall, most were not.

- South Park, PA, USA

problem #89

May 272013

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
I got into my car to leave and the gear shift would not come out of park. I tried several times and it was just stuck. My daughter went online and found that this had been a recall issue an I have never received any type of notification at all. My son found a work around on the internet that allowed me to get to work, however this is a issue that needs to be fixed.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #88

Feb 082013

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 125,975 miles
While driving along freeway at 55 mph throttle light illuminated and engine was non reactive to gas pedal. After a few moment systems went away, but the starting the next day after that the engine was slow to respond to sccelerator and would hesitate and jump to accelerations. Vehicle was taken to shop where throttle body and fuel system was cleaned. It worked fine till April 22, 2013 when vehicle was being driven the throttle light came back on and there was no acceleration at all to the car. Car towed to garage where the throttle body had to be replaced to due failure. The milage was 130,153 and cost over $800.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #87

May 062013

Avenger 6-cyl

  • 61,000 miles
The shifter was stuck in park and wouldn't budge.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #86

Apr 282013

Avenger

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while parked, the gear shifter seized and could not be moved from park. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated that the gear shift module would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Succasunna, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »