Owner report · 2008 model year

2008 Dodge Avenger

Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Transmission & Drivetrain

Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 236 of 832 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Data last changed Nov 7, 2026. Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints: 832
Recall campaigns: 6
EPA fuel cost per year: $2,600–$3,450
Combined MPG: 18–24

Complaints by model year

8322008
672009
1632010

Where owners report problems

Transmission & Drivetrain236 (28%)
Electrical219 (26%)
Engine177 (21%)
Driver Assistance & Speed Control138 (17%)
Airbags & Restraints100 (12%)
Fuel System70 (8%)

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	2008	2009	2010	vs. 2008 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,600–3,450	2,600–3,100	2,600–3,100
Combined MPG	18–24	20–24	20–24
City / Highway MPG	15–21 / 24–30	16–21 / 27–30	16–21 / 27–30
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	370–494	370–444	370–444
Complaints filed	832	67	163	Not compared
Recalls issued	6	2	3	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	36	3	16	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	26	0	8	Not compared
Injuries reported	34	6	13	Not compared
Deaths reported	1	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	5	3	3

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Avenger have?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Dodge Avenger?

Transmission & Drivetrain: 236 of 832 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Dodge Avenger get?

EPA rates it 18–24 MPG combined across 5 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Dodge Avenger?

EPA estimates $2,600–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (5)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 4-spd	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	21 mpg (high)	30 mpg (high)	24 mpg (high)	$2,600 (low)	370 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2	Automatic 6-spd	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	16 mpg	26 mpg	19 mpg	$3,300	468 g/mi
Configuration 3	Automatic 6-spd	6	3.5L	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	15 mpg (low)	24 mpg (low)	18 mpg (low)	$3,450 (high)	494 g/mi (high)
Configuration 4	Automatic 4-spd	6	2.7L	Front-Wheel Drive	Gasoline or E85	Midsize Cars	19 mpg	27 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850	404 g/mi
Configuration 5	Automatic 4-spd	6	2.7L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	19 mpg	27 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850	404 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries	Deaths
Engine	177	6	12	4	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	236	2	0	1	0
Fuel System	70	1	6	1	0
Electrical	219	3	13	1	0
Brakes	66	9	3	2	0
Steering	21	3	0	2	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	41	1	0	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	100	22	0	24	1
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	138	1	0	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	49	5	1	7	0
Visibility & Lighting	43	2	2	2	0
Other	58	4	3	6	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Campaign 08V152000 · Apr 2, 2008
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
Campaign 07V473000 · Oct 10, 2007
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
Campaign 07V426000 · Sep 13, 2007
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
Campaign 07V414000 · Sep 12, 2007
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
Campaign 07V240000 · Jun 13, 2007
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
Campaign 07V104000 · Mar 15, 2007
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.