2008 Dodge AVENGER: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER SXT. ON MAY 31, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS TOSSED AROUND IN THE VEHICLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE ON JUNE 2, 2007. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE WAS RESET. ON JUNE 5, 2007, THE ENGINE'S RPM'S MAXED OUT AND BEGAN TO REV. THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. …

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192638 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER R/T. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR OVER A MONTH FOR REPAIRS. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAS NOISY LIFTERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LIFTERS ONCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MANUFACTURED DUE TO THE THERMAL EXPANDER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES IN AN AUTOMATIC NEUTRAL DROP. THE ENGINE RACES ABOVE 5,000 RPMS, WHICH IS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE. …

Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197028 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS VISIBLE DENTING/BUCKLING TO THE UNDERBELLY OF MY 2008 DODGE AVENGER. I SENT A FORMAL LETTER TO CHRYSLER HQTRS BACK IN LATE JULY AND THEY TOOK MORE THAN A MONTH TO RESPOND TO MY LETTER. I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS SECTION OF CHRYSLER ON THE 28TH OF AUGUST AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD BE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALERSHIP. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME ME THAT IT WAS A NATURAL CURVE IN THE SUBFRAME? WHILE OUT ON THEIR LOT I NOTICED 10 OTHER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10205313 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205845 at NHTSA ↗

2008 DODGE AVENGER WITH 2 RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TIME TO ORDER THE PARTS. DEALER TOLD THEM WHEN THEY GOT THERE THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN YET. *KB THE CONSUMER DIDN'T STATE WHICH 2 RECALLS OUT OF THE 4 SHE WAS TRYING TO GET REMEDIED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213886 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,295 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214317 at NHTSA ↗

2008 DODGE AVENGER WITH A FEW DEFECTIVE PARTS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE FRONT DOOR LATCH, RADIATOR FAN MOTOR CONNECTOR. WHEN ARRIVING FOR THE REPAIR SHE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *KB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED 2 RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. RECALL NUMBERS 01V104000 AND 07V473000. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215011 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. WHEN THE CONTACT MANUALLY LOCKED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, BOTH FRONT WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. THE KEY WAS NOT USED AT ALL. THE FAILURE HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216473 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-03-15 (March 15, 2007)

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.

Reported: 2007-06-13 (June 13, 2007)

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.

Reported: 2007-09-12 (September 12, 2007)

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.

Reported: 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)

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.

Reported: 2007-10-10 (October 10, 2007)

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.

Reported: 2008-04-02 (April 2, 2008)

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.