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The 2008 Dodge Avenger has 844 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 6 active recall campaigns.
The 2008 Dodge Avenger has 844 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 224 complaints, typically surfacing around 65,918 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Avenger | 2 | 4 |
| 2008 Avenger (this page) | 844 | 6 |
| 2009 Avenger | 67 | 2 |
| 2010 Avenger | 163 | 3 |
| 2011 Avenger | 209 | 3 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 96,991 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 6 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge avenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the electronic throttle control warning light illuminated and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact mentioned that on some occasions, the vehicle had to be towed to his…
I've already had to replace the power control module (PCM) once just a year and a half ago, and now I have to replace it again and my car has been out of commission and sitting at a mechanic's repair shop for almost 2 months now after fixing other things first before finally…
Etc failure ( electronic throttle control ) approx. 100,00o on vehicle, highway going steady 65mph and light came on near total power failure. Restarted vehicle seemed to clear itself. Took to Dodge mechanic the computer says it did not happen.. Replaced the (etc) and car is…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge avenger. The contact's husband pulled the vehicle over and the driver's air bag deployed. There was no impact to the vehicle. The vehicle was declared inoperable to drive by the insurance company. The contact notified the manufacturer who stated…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Engine stalling could cause a crash without warning.
This can cause an electrical short circuit and result in an engine compartment fire.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an underbody fire.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 844 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Dodge Avenger has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 Dodge Avenger is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 10 fire-related complaints and 3 crash-related complaints on the electrical system; Engine: 91 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 45,000–106,000 mi; Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 224 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,918 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 844 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 65,918 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 224 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,918 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 82,659 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 844 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.