2008 Dodge Magnum Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2008 Dodge Magnum report a wide range of mileage when problems appear, from very low to well past 150,000 miles, with the median near 89,000. The dominant theme in the sampled complaints is electrical trouble: stalls, no-starts, gauge and lighting glitches, and recurring ignition-switch problems, often mentioned alongside recall 14V567000. A smaller but consistent group of complaints covers engine stalling or seizure, squealing or seized steering, and Takata airbag inflator recalls still awaiting parts.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling or no-start tied to the ignition switch

   • 59 complaints (63%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway and city speeds, or the car refusing to start, sometimes with the key sticking in the start position or needing to be jiggled. Several say a dealer replaced the ignition switch or ignition module, in some cases more than once, and the problem came back. Many mention being told the vehicle is covered by campaign 14V567000 but that the parts were not available, leaving the repair undone for months. Reported from roughly 16,000 to 300,000 miles across the sample, with many between 60,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 14V567000

   What to check: Ask for proof that campaign 14V567000 was completed and whether the ignition switch or module has been replaced since. Test several cold starts and try wiggling the key while turning it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a recall p57 and the vehicle will not start. Took it to the dealer but the part is not available. They have indicated that we would have to pay to have the car fixed at $800 and when the manufacture has the part available they would reimburse us the cost. We do not have $800 and since they know it is a recall the manufacture should pay up front.”

   NHTSA complaint #10671167, filed 2015-01, 119,109 miles

   “I bought a car and after a month the car was parked after I cut the car off and after I came back it would not start, and the battery was fine every else comes on. I replaced relay switch but still the same problem. Its been a few months and car is still not fixed. The dealer said last week, and said they checked VIN number and say they are doing a recall but waiting for the part did not say what it is. I am still waiting...........”

   NHTSA complaint #10899739, filed 2016-08, 107,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Gauges, lights and accessories cutting out or acting oddly

   Mentioned in 11 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe dash gauges dropping to zero, warning indicators all lighting at once, headlights or taillights quitting, door locks and horn cycling on their own, and windows operating by themselves. Some owners say the dealer could not find a fault; others report diagnosis of the total integrated power module, wireless ignition node or wiring under the dash. Power steering and brake assist are sometimes described as fading during the same events. Spread fairly evenly from about 1,600 to 190,000 miles, with clustering in the 45,000-100,000 mile range.

   Recall 14V5670003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, watch the gauges and try the lights, horn, windows and door locks one by one. Ask whether the power module or any wiring repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I, deborah cross, was driving on the highway when all of a sudden the lights turned off, the dash gages dropped to zero and just as quickly the lights and gages went back to normal. This has happened on numerous occasions. I took it to the dealership and they couldn't find anything wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #10744041, filed 2015-07, 1,604 miles

   “I took my car to prestige Dodge cause the car had problem starting so they tested it and said it was the fuel pumps , I asked will that take care of it they said yes . I had to barrow 600.00 to pay for it, 2 days latter it started again. Took it back tested it again and they said it was the tipm and that my extended warranty would not cover it. I did some checking on the enter net on the tipm and that has been problems with and deaths. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885612, filed 2016-07, 98,563 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling, warning lights or seizure

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 95,917 mi at 7.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report the engine dying at speed or at idle, the check engine light coming on with no clear cause, and in some cases the engine locking up or seizing after an oil-pressure warning. Diagnoses mentioned in complaints include a failed catalytic converter and, in one case, an intake manifold; others say multiple dealers could not determine the cause. Some describe rough running or power loss before the stall. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 170,000 miles, including a handful over 130,000.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for stored trouble codes, ask about oil level and oil-change history, and listen for knocking or ticking on a cold start. Confirm whether the check engine light resets after a drive cycle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While sitting at red light (foot on brakes w engine idling) city street waiting for a green light, I heard a loud noise (sound like a loud clunk; belt or something breaking apart) coming from the engine compartment. I quickly looked at the dashboard for some indication (no warning/red lights/high temp/ low oil pressure) that something was wrong. No sure of what just happened, I decided to make a u-turn into parking lot to investigate. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885353, filed 2016-07, 300,000 miles

   “I was driving my 2008 Dodge Magnum one day as I was driving getting off the freeway the oil light blinked on so I immediately pulled in to the gas station,and checked the oil it was a little low. I buy a quart of oil and put about half in just to be sure that the engine had enough oil. So I began on the road again about 20 miles of driving the oil light come back on, so I immediately get off the next exit. As im going up the off ramp the engine start knocking so I through it in to neutral and the engine........ Never to run again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10714291, filed 2015-05, 100,675 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Hard or seized steering and front-end play

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 71,080 mi at 7.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the steering wheel becoming suddenly hard to turn after starting or while driving, with one owner reporting a bent steering column and another a loud screech on start-up. Other reports involve a front tie rod replaced at the owner's expense and a tie rod end failing on the highway. These are individual accounts rather than a single repeated diagnosis. Reported from about 46,000 to 166,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock at a standstill and at low speed, listen for noises, and have the tie rods and steering column inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was taking my family (wife, 18 month old, 2 yr old, and 4 yr old) to get some ice cream after a home depot trip. As I turned left across a busy street the stereo suddenly blinked out, and the engine died, along with power steering, brakes, and every electrical function. It simply blinked like all power was lost for a moment, and was enough to kill the engine, and loose all power assist functions of the vehicle. Thankfully I had momentum and was able to coast into the side street with out being t-boned by on coming traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10714697, filed 2015-05, 91,160 miles

   “My car will exceed over 60 MPH and keeps flashing lights on the dash the steering wheel is hard to turn at times and makes a loud screech when I try starting the car”

   NHTSA complaint #11373955, filed 2020-11, 166,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2008 Magnum inspected for ignition-switch and electrical faults and confirm in writing that all open recalls, including the airbag inflator campaigns, have been completed. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a steering and front-end check are worth the cost, since several complaints involve intermittent faults that do not show up on a short test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.