"takata recall"
2008 Dodge Charger airbags problems
severe 57 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
57
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
12crashes
13injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 57 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Dodge Charger airbag complaints break into two distinct problems.
Crash non-deployment: Nine owners describe crashes at 20–60 mph where airbags failed to deploy—impacts into poles, trees, other vehicles, and roadside objects that should have triggered them. No warning lights preceded these failures. Injuries ranged from back and neck trauma to head and shoulder injuries; two occupants were unconscious and hospitalized. One driver sustained a partial deployment with a burn. No diagnostic codes or repair attempts were documented in the crash cases; vehicles were either totaled or abandoned.
Takata recall parts shortage: Over 30 narratives report the same bottleneck: owners received recall notices (campaigns 14V567000, 15V313000, 16V352000) but dealers could not obtain replacement parts. Owners contacted dealerships multiple times between 2014 and 2017. Dealers consistently said parts were unavailable with no delivery estimate. One owner waited months and remained 322nd on a backorder list. Manufacturers acknowledged the issue but could not commit to timelines. Dealer responsiveness was poor—three dealers in the Dallas area never scheduled appointments despite repeated contact. One dealer later demanded $540 out-of-pocket to fix post-recall issues (airbag light and horn). No field repairs were documented across the parts-shortage complaints.
Same Dodge Charger airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Complete airbag non-deployment in crashes
Owners report multiple crashes where airbags failed to deploy despite impact severity that would normally trigger them. Crashes occurred at speeds ranging from 20 to 60 mph into poles, trees, other vehicles, and roadside hazards. No warning lights or diagnostic indicators preceded these failures.
When: At impact during crash events; mileage range 50,000 to 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy on impact; No prior warning indicators illuminated; Vehicle damage consistent with deployment-worthy collision severity
Codes mentioned: 15V313000, 16V352000, 14V567000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles typically totaled or deemed not worth repairing; no repairs performed in crash cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 15V313000, 16V352000, and 14V567000 (Air Bags) — Takata recall campaigns issued; no field repairs documented in crash narratives
Partial airbag deployment with burn injury
One owner reported driver-side airbag deployed only partially during a 30 mph crash, causing a burn injury to the driver's left leg requiring medical attention. The partial deployment indicates potential inflator or restraint system malfunction.
When: At impact during 30 mph crash; mileage 200,000
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag deployed partially instead of fully; Burn injury to driver's left leg
Codes mentioned: 15V313000, 16V352000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; cause of failure not diagnosed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 15V313000, 16V352000; no manufacturer notification or field service documented
Airbag warning light illumination
Owners report airbag warning light coming on without prior crash or impact. In one case, the warning light appeared immediately after Takata recall repair was completed. In another, light illuminated at 110,000 miles without known cause.
When: At 110,000 miles; post-recall repair in one case (2016)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated on dashboard; Light appeared post-recall repair in one case; No crash or impact preceding light activation
Codes mentioned: 14V567000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer wanted $540 in one case to diagnose/repair airbag light and horn issue post-recall; vehicles not repaired in other cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V567000 for electrical system; post-recall service issues not resolved
Delayed/unavailable recall parts
The dominant complaint across 30+ narratives: recall parts for Takata airbag replacements were chronically unavailable, with no estimate for when they would arrive. Owners called multiple dealers over months to years and were consistently told parts were on backorder. One owner remained 322nd on a waiting list as of August 2015. Dealers cited high repair volume and lack of parts availability as reasons they could not schedule appointments.
When: Recall notifications received 2014–2016; parts unavailable throughout 2015–2017
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received (campaigns 14V567000, 15V313000, 16V352000); Parts unavailable at multiple dealers; No estimated delivery date given; Dealers unable or unwilling to schedule repair
Codes mentioned: 14V567000, 15V313000, 16V352000
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs performed; owners stated manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframe. One dealer demanded $540 out-of-pocket after owner complained about post-recall service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recalls 14V567000, 15V313000, 16V352000 issued; manufacturer acknowledged parts shortage but could not confirm delivery dates; dealer service delays and lack of communication
Synthesized from 57 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Dodge charger. 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Dodge Charger?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Dodge Charger?
It's a meaningful issue. 57 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 80,000 and 186,000 miles, with the median around 109,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 80,000; a quarter make it past 186,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Dodge/Charger.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.