2008 Dodge Challenger Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Challenger, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags423.5%
- Electrical423.5%
- Driver assistance317.6%
- Engine317.6%
- Fuel system211.8%
- Interior & seats15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKING RECALL THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER LESS THAN 100 MILES WAS PUT ON IT RAN HOT THEN DOOR LOCKS WIDOWS STOPPED WORKING AIR BAG AND ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON 3 MECHANICS NO-ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT THEN IT JUST STOPPED WORKING WANT CRANK OR ANYTHING BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS LEAVING FOR COLLEGE AND NO VEHICLE 7000 IN THE WHOLE AND NO-ONE WILL WORK ON IT . SO I NEED INFORMATION ON VEHICLE AND WHAT DO I DO.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V444000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKING RECALL THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER LESS THAN 100 MILES WAS PUT ON IT RAN HOT THEN DOOR LOCKS WIDOWS STOPPED WORKING AIR BAG AND ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON 3 MECHANICS NO-ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT THEN IT JUST STOPPED WORKING WANT CRANK OR ANYTHING BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS LEAVING FOR COLLEGE AND NO VEHICLE 7000 IN THE WHOLE AND NO-ONE WILL WORK ON IT . SO I NEED INFORMATION ON VEHICLE AND WHAT DO I DO.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT-8 IN 2008 AND EVERY SINCE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER WOULD FIX EVERY TIME SOMETHING WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS. AFTER THE FIRST MOTOR WENT OUT (DUE TO ENGINEERING OF THE 6.1L HEMI) CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPAIR. THE 2ND MOTOR THAT WENT OUT IN LESS THE 6K MILES ALSO STARTED AN ELECTRIC FIRE WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE, CHRYSLER REPLACED MOTOR. THE 3RD MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONCE MORE AT ABOUT 9K MILES BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL UP SPEEDS. SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE SMELL OF FUEL IS STILL APPARENT WHEN FULL. CALLED CHRIS AT 855-778-8326 (CHRYSLER CORP) AND ASKED FOR A COMPLETE HISTORY OF REPAIRS AND WAS NOT OFFERED MUCH HELP. HE ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE NHTSA.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
My throttle got stuck open four times and the last time I almost lost my life and was in an accident. This is a known issue on the dodge forums but dodge refuses to call this defective and make it a recall. This is dangerous it could have killed me and others. There were no warning the throttle was going to go on its own.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER, CRANKSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER, CRANKSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
EXITING THE FREEWAY VIA OFF RAMP THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND JUST AS QUICK AS IT STALL IT STARTED BACK UP. THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS IN GEAR AND I NEVER TOUCHED ANYTHING. ABOUT A MILE PRIOR ON THE FREEWAY I SMELT GAS BUT ONLY FOR A MINUTE AND NEVER AGAIN. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM HOME AND DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE PROBLEMS OR THE GAS SMELL. I CHECK MY MENU FOR ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE SYSTEM SAID OK BUT AFTER I GOT HOME AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE SYSTEM SAID WARNING CONTACT DEALER. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CALL STALL SUDDENLY. I DID SEE ON THE WEB THAT NHTSA HAS NOTED THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH SRT8 (V8) AND A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK NEEDING TO BE REPLACE. DOES OUR CAR FALL UNDER THIS?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXITING THE FREEWAY VIA OFF RAMP THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND JUST AS QUICK AS IT STALL IT STARTED BACK UP. THE WHOLE TIME IT WAS IN GEAR AND I NEVER TOUCHED ANYTHING. ABOUT A MILE PRIOR ON THE FREEWAY I SMELT GAS BUT ONLY FOR A MINUTE AND NEVER AGAIN. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES FROM HOME AND DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE PROBLEMS OR THE GAS SMELL. I CHECK MY MENU FOR ANY PROBLEMS BUT THE SYSTEM SAID OK BUT AFTER I GOT HOME AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE SYSTEM SAID WARNING CONTACT DEALER. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CALL STALL SUDDENLY. I DID SEE ON THE WEB THAT NHTSA HAS NOTED THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH SRT8 (V8) AND A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK NEEDING TO BE REPLACE. DOES OUR CAR FALL UNDER THIS?
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT-8 IN 2008 AND EVERY SINCE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER WOULD FIX EVERY TIME SOMETHING WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS. AFTER THE FIRST MOTOR WENT OUT (DUE TO ENGINEERING OF THE 6.1L HEMI) CHRYSLER AGREED TO REPAIR. THE 2ND MOTOR THAT WENT OUT IN LESS THE 6K MILES ALSO STARTED AN ELECTRIC FIRE WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE, CHRYSLER REPLACED MOTOR. THE 3RD MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONCE MORE AT ABOUT 9K MILES BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL UP SPEEDS. SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE SMELL OF FUEL IS STILL APPARENT WHEN FULL. CALLED CHRIS AT 855-778-8326 (CHRYSLER CORP) AND ASKED FOR A COMPLETE HISTORY OF REPAIRS AND WAS NOT OFFERED MUCH HELP. HE ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE NHTSA.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE TO PERFORM RECALL NOTICE BY MY LOCAL DEALER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .