2008 Dodge Avenger: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2008 Dodge Avenger
On the 2008 Dodge Avenger, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 51,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other wheel or tire problem, reported by a median of 30,000 miles. Overall it scores 74 out of 100, high risk for a 2008.
High risk for a 2008 — 51st riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. 1,238 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 66 named failure modes on the 2008 Dodge Avenger, and the three most-reported carry 31% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other powertrain problem leads with 158 reports, about 3.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 40k to 72,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 123 reports, usually reported between 52k to 115,000 miles. 6 of those reports mention a fire.
Other speed control problem follows with 105 reports, usually reported between 57k to 103,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (221), electrical (198) and engine (169).
When these failures get reported
1,047 of the reports on the 2008 Dodge Avenger came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 76,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 28% by 50,000 miles, 67% by 100,000 miles and 91% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 12 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 10% of the dated reports.
14% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other wheel or tire problem around 32k, steering column or shaft failure around 38k, other powertrain problem around 51k and shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure around 54k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 66. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 12 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 53 mention a crash, 38 a fire, 30 an injury and 1 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.52, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other speed control problem at $250–$2,000 and other engine problem at $300–$4,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
34% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 158 | 147 | 40k | 51k | 72k | 3.5 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 123 | 105 | 52k | 87k | 115k | 2.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 105 | 100 | 57k | 88k | 103k | 2.3 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 99 | 85 | 50k | 82k | 107k | 2.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 74 | 57 | 40k | 75k | 114k | 1.6 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 55 | 46 | 42k | 54k | 62k | 1.2 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 36 | 28 | 60k | 101k | 150k | 0.8 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 32 | 29 | 45k | 68k | 90k | 0.7 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 29 | 23 | 72k | 85k | 109k | 0.6 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 29 | 25 | 52k | 88k | 120k | 0.6 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 26 | 25 | 47k | 79k | 126k | 0.6 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 24 | 19 | 51k | 80k | 102k | 0.5 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 21 | 18 | 80k | 110k | 127k | 0.5 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 21 | 17 | 55k | 55k | 133k | 0.5 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 20 | 17 | 70k | 126k | 157k | 0.4 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 18 | 16 | 78k | 88k | 93k | 0.4 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 18 | 14 | 31k | 79k | 95k | 0.4 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 17 | 13 | 91k | 108k | 152k | 0.4 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 17 | 11 | 73k | 91k | 124k | 0.4 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 14 | 8 | 98k | 145k | 185k | 0.3 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 14 | 11 | 39k | 88k | 107k | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 14 | 11 | 18k | 32k | 36k | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 13 | 13 | 56k | 70k | 80k | 0.3 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 13 | 9 | 95k | 95k | 126k | 0.3 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 12 | 12 | 500 | 38k | 92k | 0.3 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 9 | 8 | 92k | 96k | 137k | 0.2 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 9 | 7 | — | 146k | — | 0.2 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 9 | 5 | — | 92k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 8 | 8 | 42k | 66k | 169k | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other steering problem | steering | 8 | 4 | — | 52k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 7 | 4 | — | 120k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 7 | 7 | — | 88k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 7 | 7 | — | 18k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 7 | 7 | — | 106k | — | 0.2 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 7 | 5 | — | 50k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 7 | 7 | — | 85k | — | 0.2 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 6 | 6 | — | 123k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 5 | 5 | — | 105k | — | 0.1 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 5 | 4 | — | 7 | — | 0.1 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 5 | 5 | — | 109k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 5 | 5 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 5 | 5 | — | 23k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 4 | 3 | — | 63k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 4 | 4 | — | 85k | — | 0.1 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 46k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 3 | 2 | — | 63k | — | 0.1 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 3 | 3 | — | 160k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 3 | 3 | — | 73k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 24k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Cooling fan failure | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 93k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 2 | 2 | — | 98k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 56k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Alignment fault and uneven tire wear | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 19k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 123k | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 18k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Seat, track or recliner failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 112k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 58 | 44 | 65k | 99k | 135k | 1.3 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2008 Dodge Avenger draws about 27 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 94th percentile of complaint rates among 2008 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 45,240 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2008 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
Vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal, automatic in drive, when signal changed, removed foot from brake and car reversed while still in drive hitting the vehicle behind me. This event happened after 5 days of having possession of the car. Second event happened 20 days of ownership. Again stopped at a traffic light, car in drive, would not move. Car has to be shut off and restarted to correct problem. This has happened 2 more times to date. Car has been taken back to dealership each time and problem has not been corrected. They can find nothing wrong with the car. I feel this a very dangerous problem, especially with the car going into reverse, while in drive. *jb
I recently purchased a 2008 avenger with the 2.4l vvt 4cylinder and traded in my 2001 dakota with a 4.7l v8 magnum for it. I regret it. I would have don't better off buying a ford. Yes, this car gets good highway gas mileage but it has caused nothing but headaches beyond that point. If I drive around town it sucks the gas like no tomorrow. The RPM's are way to high. The car shifts around 3,000 or higher RPM's whether it is warm or cold. When the shifts, it is not smooth. There hard shifts. My fiance's 1999 durango with 135,000 miles on it shifts better than this car does. Randomly the car will die when I come to a complete stop for a stop light/sign. There was one occasion where I was driving down one of the busiest roads in our town and it died while I was doing about 40mph. Before it dies, it shakes real bad for about 3 seconds then I lose everything. The drivers side rear door handle will not move. It is like it is frozen in place. The handle will not pull out at all. It will open just fine from the inside but I can't do anything from standing outside the car. My doors squeak when I open and close them. Whenever I turn the…
Other electrical problem
We own a 2008 dodge avenger. We received a recall letter (h07)concerning an electrical wiring problem that could cause the car to cut off without notice. We called the local dealership when we received the letter but they didn't have any information about it and said they would notify us when they received information. We never got a call from them. We experienced the car cutting off on several occasions but never when it was a dangerous situation. On saturday, may 3rd, 2008 at 7pm in the evening my son was driving the car and was braking to stop at an intersection and the car cut off causing him to lose all power steering and power brakes. He attempted to swerve to avoid hitting the car in front of him but was unable to totally miss the car. He hit the car in front of him because the car was too hard to steer and brake due to loss of power. After the accident we contacted dodge and our local dealership only to be told that our car is not involved in the recall. Some 2008 avengers are involved but according to our VIN they tell us our car is not involved. This could have been a very serious accident. I don't know why our car is…
Ignition sticking in the on position, jerking movements while in drive with some hold back. This vehicle was purchased june 13th, 2008, were any of the recalls corrected on this vehicle before purchase? *tr
Other speed control problem
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 dodge avenger. The vehicle accelerated on its own twice while stopped at a red light. When he parked the vehicle in the garage, it accelerated to 45 RPM's and decrease on its own. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The failure could not be duplicated. The failure mileage was 10,000 and current mileage was 10,350. Updated 11/6/08 *cn updated 11/10/08. *jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge avenger sxt. The contact stated that when the vehicle was coasting, it would jerk forward, abnormally accelerate and then stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times yet they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 17,000 and the current mileage 31,763. Updated 4/1/11 *cn updated 1/13/2012 *ln *tr
Recalls on the 2008 model year
NHTSA has issued 6 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Dodge Avenger, affecting an estimated 95,852 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover electrical system:wiring, engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly, fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
180,963 vehicles 2008-04-02- Defect
- 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
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
102,042 vehicles 2007-10-10- Defect
- On certain vehicles equipped with 2.4 liter engines, the engine coolant may be drawn into the left radiator cooling fan motor connector.
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1,158 vehicles 2007-09-13- Defect
- 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
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
72,333 vehicles 2007-09-12- Defect
- 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
- 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
798 vehicles 2007-06-13- Defect
- On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly.
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
11,191 vehicles 2007-03-15- Defect
- 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
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2008 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2008 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2008 — 51st riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 12 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2000 comes out best at 56 and 2008 worst at 74, with 2008 itself at 74.
If the model year is negotiable, 2000, 1999, 1996, 1998, 1997, 2011, 2014, 2010 and 2012 score lower than 2008 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2007–2009 generation specifically, 2009 is the strongest year at 71 and 2008 the weakest at 74.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2009 generation, 2009 Dodge Avenger scores best at 71 and 2008 Dodge Avenger worst at 74.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: steering column or shaft failure from about 500, other wheel or tire problem from about 18k, seat belt or retractor failure from about 31k and other brake problem from about 39k.
On a 2008 Dodge Avenger with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether steering column or shaft failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
1,238 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,238 reports, 1,047 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 85% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Avenger?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (158 reports, median 51,000 miles), other electrical problem (123 reports, median 87,000 miles) and other speed control problem (105 reports, median 88,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Avenger problems start?
Other wheel or tire problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 30,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 20,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 76,000 miles.
Is the 2008 Dodge Avenger reliable?
It scores 74 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 51st riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2008 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Avenger is best?
Within the 2007–2009 generation, 2009 scores best at 71 out of 100 and 2008 worst at 74. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed