Most common 2008 Dodge Charger problems
Share of the 624 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Charger complaints by model year
Best Charger years: 2022, 2021, 2015. Years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2008, 2006. Compare all years →
2008 Dodge Charger recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners.
Electrical system › Ignition
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008 Chrysler 300 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Magnum vehicles manufactured May 23, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured May 24, 2007, to May 12, 2008, Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured April 3, 2007, to May 12,…
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Chrysler is recalling 20,283 my 2006-2009 charger and magnum vehicles built with the police package and equipped with a column shifter. The gearshift cable May become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display.
Remedy: Dealers will add a redundant locking mechanism to the gearshift cable at the mounting bracket to ensure proper retention and shift linkage function. The recall began on November 10, 2008.
Power train › Axle hubs
Chrysler is recalling 5,509 my 2008 300, Dodge magnum, and charger vehicles. The torque retention crimp feature was missed during the manufacture of one lot of rear axle hub nuts. This could cause the nuts to loosen and allow the halfshaft to disengage from the wheel hub.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear axle hub nuts. The recall began on July 21, 2008. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Dodge Charger:
PRNDL misalignment
In a November 5, 2008 letter, Chrysler submitted a defect information report describing a defect condition that could result in PRNDL misalignment (I.e., incorrect gear indication) in approximately 20,300 model year (my) 2006 through 2009 Dodge charger and magnum police vehicles built from May 17, 2005 through October 21, 2008 (NHTSA recall no.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2008 Dodge Charger owners say
Electrical system all 397 →
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, but was able to coast off the roadway. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle temporarily returned to normal functionality but was running abnormally. The contact stated that the failure recurred. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the PCM and the ignition switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V567000 (Electrical System) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 208,500.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle remained running temporarily. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would no longer start. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V567000 (Electrical System). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under the recall as the vehicle was over 10 years old; however, the vehicle was not more than 10 years old on the date the defect was determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,846.
Air bags all 124 →
The contact owned a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while a female was driving the vehicle at an unknown speed with the contact's boyfriend and his older cousin as passengers in the vehicle, the driver crashed the vehicle into a wall. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed upon impact. The contact's boyfriend and his cousin were unconscious and were transported to two separate hospitals by ambulance. The contact's boyfriend sustained injuries to his neck, hip, and back. The contact was not aware of the injuries sustained by her boyfriend's cousin but stated that prior to the collision, his cousin had surgery regarding a pacemaker. The female driver did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. While driving approximately 50 MPH, another vehicle swerved in front of the contact's vehicle and caused the contact's vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained an injury that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. An unknown dealer was contacted in los angeles, california and wanted the vehicle to be brought in for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V352000 (air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 109,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine & cooling all 110 →
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine, traction control, and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove to his residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay out of pocket for the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 270,917.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. While driving there was a loud noise coming from the engine compartment with evidence of smoke the vehicle had to be towed the cause was damage from a melted radiator the contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle and there was smoke coming through the air condition vents. The contact stated that the hood was raised and the contact became aware that antifreeze was pouring out of the back of the radiator. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the radiator fan melted and punctured the radiator. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the radiator fan and the radiator had been previously replaced due to the same failure. …
2008 Dodge Charger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 6.1L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Dodge Charger a good car?
Based on 624 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Charger rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Charger at the same age. It is one of the Charger years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Dodge Charger?
The electrical system — 397 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the air bags (124) and engine & cooling (110).
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Charger have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2008 Dodge Charger, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Charger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2012, 2008 and 2006. See the full Dodge Charger years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Dodge Charger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 92,000 miles; 19% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.