Skip to content
Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2008 Dodge Avenger Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
236about this part
Share
28%of 832 total for the year
Median mileage
54,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 236 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Dodge Avenger, 28% of the 832 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 54,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving along the freeway and the car just automatically went into limp mode. I change the oil I flush everything then when I went on to the kelly book blue book to try to sell it as saying that it had a bunch of recalls welcome to find out chrysler saying it doesn't so I don't know what's going on with my car and neither do mechanics.”

NHTSA complaint #11243688, filed 2019-08, 121,000 miles

“I was stopped at an intersection in my subdivision to let some kids cross the street. All of a sudden, the engine slowed down like it was going to die and then sped up. The car started to lurch forward. I pushed the brake down the rest of the way to keep the car from running over the kids.”

NHTSA complaint #11073135, filed 2018-02, 36,000 miles

“Came home from work one day parked car and when came out later that day to leave my car wouldnt shift out of park. Now have to push a pink button in down by left side of shifter to release it to shift. I feel this is dangerous because if bumped wrong accident mat occur if it locks up”

NHTSA complaint #11012712, filed 2017-08, 112,600 miles

“'takata recall I was leaving the hospital on january 1, 2017, I put the vehicle in reverse and as I shifted to drive it was noticeably shifting rough (not the gear, the shift stick)I was proceeding to pay for parking and a lady was waiting behind me frustrated. I made it home with the vehicle. I was unable to start it again. I noticed also that the shifter says the vehicle is in park and the dash reads the vehicle is in reverse.”

NHTSA complaint #10948882, filed 2017-02, 100,000 miles

“I got into my car to leave and the gear shift would not come out of park. I tried several times and it was just stuck. My daughter went online and found that this had been a recall issue an I have never received any type of notification at all. My son found a work around on the internet that allowed me to get to work, however this is a issue that needs to be fixed.”

NHTSA complaint #10513802, filed 2013-05, 123,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2014126%
2013326%
2012316%
2011147%
20102012%
20091015%
200823628%
2000627%
19991016%
199847%
199745%
19962113%
1995168%

Other parts of the 2008 Dodge Avenger

Electrical system
219 complaintsVehicle speed control
138 complaintsEngine
116 complaintsAir bags
96 complaintsFuel system
70 complaintsEngine cooling
61 complaintsOther or unknown
47 complaintsBrakes
35 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaintsElectronic stability control
31 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
22 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Dodge Avenger

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology