RoadVitals

2008 Dodge Avenger Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Feb 25, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 831 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Dodge Avenger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Feb 25, 2020

WATER BEHIND DRIVER SEAT ON FLOOR BOARD, LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PASSENGER DOOR STOPPED WORKING, REAR TAIL LIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
11311512
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
70,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Feb 21, 2019

TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL HOWEVER MY VIN DID NOT COME UP. I'M NOT SURE WHY WHEN THE RECALL INCLUDED MY YEAR MAKE. BRAKE LIGHT REVERSE AND SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING . I HAVE 2 CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OLD I TAKE TO SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL FUNCTIONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THE ISSUES WITH THE 2008 DODGE AVENGER ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL RECALL. WHEN DRIVING CREATES DANGEROUS CONDITIONS DUE TO NO FUNCTIONING SIGNALS OR WARNINGS. THE DEALER DID STATE IT WAS THE WHOLE BOX TIMP. THIS IS WHAT WAS RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11181725
Incident
Feb 12, 2019
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2019

ELECTRICAL ISSUE. ODOMETER DROPS FROM 65 MPH TO 10 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. LIGHTS FLICKER . ABS LIGHT COMES ON DURING ALL THIS ALSO. ENIGINE STALLS ON OCCASSION. LOSS OF POWER TO ENGINE. ALL THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!!!!

NHTSA ID
11175947
Incident
Feb 9, 2019
Mileage
195,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 15, 2017

HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK FOR DAYS. WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND STUTTER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ROTATE WIPER SWITCH THEY MAY MOVE A LITTLE AND IF YOU TURN THEM OFF THEY WILL CONTINUE TO STUTTER ACROSS WINDSHIELD. SOMETIMES THEY WORK NORMAL. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. CHRYSLER APPARENTLY REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY TIPM. TODAY I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING....NO WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT PANEL. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED WHILE TURNING. TURNED CAR OFF RESTARTED A FEW TIMES AND THEN EVERYTHING STARTED WORKING EXCEPT WIPERS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED!!

NHTSA ID
11015565
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
91,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 10, 2016

MY AVENGER IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I'M TRYING TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I FEAR FOR MINE AND MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE AT IDLE AND EVEN ONCE WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY- DOING OVER 60 MPH. IT ALSO CONTINUOUSLY HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, EITHER WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR SPEEDING UP IT WILL JUMP RPMS AND TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN. WHILE GOING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING TWO 5 YR OLDS CROSSING THE ROAD. I'VE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN AND JUST RECENTLY THE COMBINATION SWITCH STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED. I'VE CALLED DODGE AND THEY WANT $100 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD AFTER DUMPING MANY DOLLARS INTO TRYING TO FIX THESE LIFE THREATENING ISSUES. I'VE HAD IT SEEN THERE BEFORE AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WHEN I PAID OVER $500 FOR REPAIR WORK. I'M FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE WHILE DRIVING AND ITS CAUSED ME MUCH STRESS AND ANXIETY. I'VE SPOKE TO SEVERAL OTHER AVENGER OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN WHICH THEIR ONLY OPTION WAS TO TRADE IT IN BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE. I PERSONALLY WOULD JUNK IT MYSELF BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER WANT TO JEOPARDIZE ANOTHER PERSON OR THEIR CHILDREN'S LIFE, HOWEVER LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO TRADE THE "PROBLEM" DOWN TO SOME UNKNOWING OF THE RISKS AND DANGERS OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A RELIABLE CAR I AM LEFT DRIVING A LEMON, TAKING PRESCRIBED ATIVAN FOR ANXIETY BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY IN FEAR OF DRIVING THE THING, AND UNABLE TO SELL BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS IT. THIS CAR HAD WRECKED MY LIFE, AND I ONLY WANT DODGE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY. IT'S A SHAME TO KNOW THAT I AM PUTTING EVERYONE'S LIVES IN DANGER & IT'S TAKING A TOLL ON MY HEALTH.

NHTSA ID
10873662
Incident
Mar 12, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 30, 2015

BRAKE LIGHTS OUT DUE TO WIRING PROBLEM PER MECHANIC. BRAKES LOCK UP AND SKID. DASH LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM WHILE DRIVING. TURNING SIGNALS NOT WORKING AND ALL FUSES REPLACED. ALL PROBLEMS WHILE VEHICLE MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
10807517
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
98,880 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 19, 2015

I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND GOING OFF. EVEN AFTER I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT DID THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ID
10765311
Incident
Sep 19, 2015
Mileage
84,767 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2014

THE DASH LIGHTS GO ON & OF INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP FOR GAS, THE DASH LIGHTS WONT COME ON WHEN I RESTART THE ENGINE. SOMETIMES THE WILL GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND I HIT A BUMP. I AM UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662360
Incident
Dec 2, 2013
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 21, 2014

I HAVE HAD MY BATTERY REPLACED (DID NOT HELP MY ISSUES). NEXT I SPENT A COUPLE HUNDRED TO HAVE MY "ELECTRICAL GROUND " REPAIRED (ALSO STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUES). MY ORIGINAL ISSUES (THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN FIXED): CAR STALLING, CAR UNABLE TO START, ALL LIGHTS ON CAR FLICKERING. NOW MY REAR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING (THEREFORE I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS DODGE AVENGER SINCE IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WHEN REAR LIGHTS/BLINKERS DO NOT WORK). . THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE TIPM THAT HAS CAUSED ALL REAR LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION ANYMORE AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL ISSUES I HAD. THIS IS A $1,000 REPAIR THAT I RECENTLY LEARN THOUSANDS OF CHRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLES HAD SAME ISSUE WITH. THIS DOES NOT SEEM FAIR THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY THE EXPENSE, WHEN CLEARLY THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM. DUE TO THIS BEING A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AMONGST DODGE VEHICLES,. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED MY CAR AS A ROAD SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS . *TR

NHTSA ID
10637861
Incident
Sep 10, 2014
Mileage
85,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 14, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED. AS A RESULT, HEAD LIGHT WIRING HARNESS AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID
10569411
Incident
Oct 9, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 19, 2013

I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER WORK AND NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY CAME ON, I DON'T HAVE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I TRIED TO TURN THEM OFF ON THE CONTROL SWITCH, NOTHING HAPPENED. I DIDN'T FIGURE OUT THAT MY TURN SIGNALS DIDN'T WORK TILL I HAD A LINE OF SEMI TRUCKS BEHIND ME AND I WAS NEEDING TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I LIVE IN KY SO WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG TRUCKS ON THE ROAD HAULING COAL AND GRAVEL. I HAD TO PASS MY DRIVEWAY UP CAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT IN THE REAR END ( WHICH I USUALLY HAVE A 5 YR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT) AND HAD TO GO FASTER TO GET WAY AHEAD OF THE TRUCKS SO I COULD GET PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO TURN TO GO BACK HOME. WHEN I GET HOME I KEEP TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHT OFF, SO I TRY ALL THE CONTROLS, THAT'S WHEN I FIND OUT I HAVE NO WIPERS EITHER. SO I HAVE NO HIGH BEAMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS, NO TURN SIGNALS AND NO WIPERS, SO THEREFORE I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR TO WORK WHICH MAKES THE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE OF 2 THINGS, EITHER THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH I DON'T SEE HOW BOTH COULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME SINCE ITS 2 DIFFERENT CONTROLS OR ITS EITHER MY TEMP WHICH COST $600 PLUS LABOR. I DON'T THINK I'LL BE BUYING ANOTHER DODGE PRODUCE, I'LL STICK WITH CHEVY OR GMC. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE THEY GET SOMEONE SERIOUSLY HURT BY GETTING REAR ENDED OR GET CAUGHT OUT IN A RAIN STORM! *TR

NHTSA ID
10525817
Incident
Jul 12, 2013
Mileage
144,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 7, 2013

TURN SIGNALS, DOME LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT OPERATE. STARTED WORKING AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL NOT STOP WORKING DURING A RAIN STORM OR ON A DARK ROAD. SEEMS THIS WOULD WARRANT A SAFETY RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10515640
Incident
Jun 6, 2013
Mileage
76,778 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .