3.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,936 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Dodge Avenger transmission problems

transmission problem

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2008 Dodge Avenger Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Jan 272009

Avenger

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact own a 2008 Dodge Avenger. The vehicle speed control was replaced per the recall and has failed. The gear shift has also failed and will not shift out of the park position which made it impossible to drive the vehicle. The contact has experienced multiple failures with the vehicle and her expense. The failure mileage 68,000.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #18

Jan 022010

Avenger

  • 58,851 miles
I have a 2008 Dodge Avenger and the vehicle is stuck in park and no manual override to correct the problem. I have done some research on the internet as well as spoke with someone with Dodge/Chrysler and they are aware of the problem, but have not placed a recall or tsb on the vehicle. This is a major inconvenience for me. I have researched and their are an enormous amount of concerns and complaints about this issue. Thank you

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #17

Oct 132009

Avenger

  • 39,300 miles
Parked vehicle, tried to move it later, shifter assembly inside console broke and would not come out of park. Disassembled, found cheap plastic parts for interlock had broken. Read online that this is a common failure on 2008 and 2009 Dodge Avenger models.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #16

Oct 122009

Avenger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

'08 Avenger will not shift out of park, I done what the manual said to but no luck. This problem should be on the recall list for Dodge Avenger '08.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #15

Oct 012009

Avenger

  • 46,050 miles
Went to start my car this am shifter would not go into gear, searched online found numerous complaints same issues and people not being covered under warranty, drive train or otherwise, appears Dodge needs a recall on this issue.called dealership was told they are not aware of this particular issue however the 800 Dodge rep told me they would "try to help me out" gave me a case # I need to be assured that this problem can be fixed without me incurring any expense from the towing (as I cannot drive vehicle) to the repair itself if this is a common defect with a part. See this website for complaints www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/Avenger/2008/transmission/gear_shift_module_lock_up.shtml.

- Port St Lucie, FL, USA

problem #14

Sep 172009

Avenger

  • 45,943 miles
On my 2008 Dodge Avenger with less than 26,000 miles on it the shifter is stuck in the park position. Now me and my husband have just found out that this happens on a lot of Dodge vehicles and we are not under warranty. We think that this may be some sort of defect because it happens to others Dodge. We have not had the problem corrected because we have no money to do so.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #13

Sep 092009

Avenger

  • 36,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased a 2008 Dodge Avenger last April, brand new. I have taken care of the vehicle, the lighting on the dash is always coming on, so I am constantly taking it to the shop and they run the diagnostics and they tell me nothing is ever wrong. I had to take the it in for a warranty problem on top of all of that. Then this last time I thought it was making a funny noise with the brakes. I took it in and they said I have a leak in my transmission and oil tank, of course the only thing on the dash lighting this time says "tire problem". it is such an unsafe vehicle, I ran out of gas in the middle of making a turn in an intersection and my gas light wasn't on and the gage showed I had quarter of a tank. The car has caused me nothing but problems. Then to top it off, I got in my car to go home from work and it wouldn't move out of gear and I had to call a tow truck. I have only had the car a year, if I wanted problems with a car I wouldn't have bought it brand new.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #12

Sep 112009

Avenger

  • 44,075 miles
Power train: Automatic transmission. 3rd time since purchased March 2008. Last time a few months ago. Driving on wet road this morning pulled car into parking space, will not come out of park. Car still under warranty last time had to pay. Car only 44,075 miles. Last two times took car Dodge dealer fro service.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #11

Aug 312009

Avenger

  • 56,000 miles
My transmission went out at 56,000 miles. I had taken the car in at 33773 miles because it was not shifting right. They could not find anything wrong with it. I had taken the car in 3 items since purchasing it due to transmission issues. I drive a lot for my job and need a reliable car. I now have to pay for a new transmission. I called Chrysler and they will let me pay only $1380 but I do not feel I should have to pay anything since I had the car in while still under warranty and they could not find or fix the problem. Avengers have transmission problems that no one wants to address. Chrysler needs to be held accountable for poor transmissions.

- Superior, WI, USA

problem #10

Aug 292009

Avenger

  • 52,390 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger. While driving approximately 10 mph on normal road conditions. While proceeding to a traffic light the gear shifted into park without assistance. There were no prior warnings. Roadside assistance was called to the scene. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician stated the failure was contributed to a defective component in the gear box. The repairs were performed on the vehicle for the failure. The failure and current mileages were 52,390. The VIN number was unavailable.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #9

Aug 102009

Avenger

  • 36,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2008 Dodge Avenger R/T with 3.5L engine and 6 speed auto stick will not shift from park.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #8

Jul 262009

Avenger

  • 44,194 miles
Got up this morning to leave for church and the shifter for 2008 Dodge Avenger won't come out of park. Tried the manual override for the internal interlock mechanism to no avail. After much research online I've found this is a recurrent problem in this model within 1-2 years ownership. Car starts fine, brake lights all work, all other electrical works. Car just will not change gears from park.

- Tyler, TX, USA

problem #7

Mar 262009

Avenger

  • 18,870 miles
Driving on wet roads a loss of power occurs. Sometimes to problem can corrected by shifting into 3rd gear.(4spd automatic).dealers-2 cannot find the trouble. I am taking a list of recalls, defects, & complaints to dealer and company rep.

- Romulus, MI, USA

problem #6

Apr 022008

Avenger

  • 18,000 miles
My car stalls in intersection, it doesn, T shift up some times, there has been a clunking noise in front struts sins I bought it, the transmission seems to bang into gear some times when it shifts took to dealer and got bums russ they claimed that it wasn't acting up when I took it to them. I am afraid that its going to leave my wife stranded in traffic.

- Great Valley, NY, USA

problem #5

Aug 142007

Avenger 4-cyl

  • 500 miles
A few days after I purchased the vehicle I began hearing a tapping noise in the engine sounds like knocking (bad gas or rod). Dealer claims to not hear anything. Took to another dealer which heard the noise, kept the car to inspect and repair stating they thought they knew what the problem was. Car wasn't fixed I complained because the second dealer admitted to speaking with the first dealer thus the car wasn't fixed. They lied to me and told me it was a federally regulated emissions system that made the car sound that way. Dealer #1 offered to set up an appointment with a Chrysler rep. Then he called back and stated that the rep wouldn't be local for 4-6 weeks. The rep called me and basically stated that it sounded like I just didn't like the car. The dealer would not take the car back, and were rude about repairs. I never saw the rep. Now the car is making a rubbing noise in the steering column and the power steering pump sounds like it is going out. I have done everything to try to replace the car but the dealers have put me off so long without repairs that I am stuck with the car. Less than 6 months after I owned the car I began seeing commercials for the car only the price was more than $5,000 less than what I was charged. Therefore, the bank wants an enormous amount of money in order to put me in another vehicle. The ignition rolls over several times before starting. Sometimes I have to attempt starting the vehicle three times. The cd player does not work, it over heats and will burn your hand if you touch the digital display. I have had friends in the community to call me and tell me that my car sounded awful when they saw me in town. Additionally I am paying 430 a month for the payment when the girl across the road is having the same problems with her new Avenger yet she only pays 279 a month at 11% interest. With all of the problems and the miserable ride this car offers, I can easily compare it to a bicycle " a used bicycle" at best.

- Marion, KY, USA

problem #4

Mar 102008

Avenger 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,500 miles
On three separate occasions over the last six months I have had my 2008 Dodge Avenger 2.4 liter w/T engine vehicle in the dealerships shop to have the transmission repaired. First, the shifting was very hard and the transmission was bucking and not shifting into gear correctly. The second time, the transmission was not shifting hard anymore but the transmission was losing power and bucking again and the repair shop did a computer upgrade repair and I had a rental truck for two days. Upon return of the rental truck, my car, which had a quarter of a tank of gas in it, was returned to me on empty with the fuel light on. The third time I took the car to the dealership repair shop the transmission was still bucking and losing power. This time I dropped the car off and when I returned to pick it up, not only was the transmission still having the same issue after the mechanics changed the torque conversion operation, but I now have a ding in the left rear door that was not there when I dropped the car off. The ding is not that large, however, it has chipped the paint off and the dealership repair shop told me that they were not responsible for the damage due to the authorization signature area where you authorize the dealership to do the repairs. This is appalling! the car would not have been dinged if it were not for all the transmission problems associated with this vehicle. I also have found that the dealership, who told me they would contact Chrysler and get a rep involved, did not do so after several phone inquiries to their sales department. This transmission is dangerous and the bucking is only doing further damage to the entire part.

- Townsend, DE, USA

problem #3

Nov 122007

Avenger 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,295 miles
I recently purchased a 2008 Avenger with the 2.4L vvt 4cylinder and traded in my 2001 Dakota with a 4.7L V8 magnum for it. I regret it. I would have don't better off buying a Ford. Yes, this car gets good highway gas mileage but it has caused nothing but headaches beyond that point. If I drive around town it sucks the gas like no tomorrow. The RPM's are way to high. The car shifts around 3,000 or higher RPM's whether it is warm or cold. When the shifts, it is not smooth. There hard shifts. My fiance's 1999 durango with 135,000 miles on it shifts better than this car does. Randomly the car will die when I come to a complete stop for a stop light/sign. There was one occasion where I was driving down one of the busiest roads in our town and it died while I was doing about 40mph. Before it dies, it shakes real bad for about 3 seconds then I lose everything. The drivers side rear door handle will not move. It is like it is frozen in place. The handle will not pull out at all. It will open just fine from the inside but I can't do anything from standing outside the car. My doors squeak when I open and close them. Whenever I turn the wheel the car groans at me. I've taken it to my local dealer about 3 times. When I told them about the shifting, RPM's, and randomly dying they just said they couldn't get it to act up. Finally, two other new Avengers came into their service department with the same problems. Now they tell me they will look into it. My 2001 Dakota with 142,000 miles never gave me this much trouble the entire time I owned it. I had it a little over 2 years and put around 50,000 miles on it and only changed the oil and did a tune up.

- Ohio City, OH, USA

problem #2

May 282007

Avenger 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 750 miles
Vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal, automatic in drive, when signal changed, removed foot from brake and car reversed while still in drive hitting the vehicle behind me. This event happened after 5 days of having possession of the car. Second event happened 20 days of ownership. Again stopped at a traffic light, car in drive, would not move. Car has to be shut off and restarted to correct problem. This has happened 2 more times to date. Car has been taken back to dealership each time and problem has not been corrected. They can find nothing wrong with the car. I feel this a very dangerous problem, especially with the car going into reverse, while in drive.

- Calgary, Ab.Canada, 00, USA

problem #1

Mar 152007

Avenger 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Avenger R/T. the contact stated that the vehicle has been at the dealer for over a month for repairs. He stated that the engine has noisy lifters. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times and they only replaced the lifters once. The manufacturer stated that this is how the vehicle had to be manufactured due to the thermal expander. While driving 65 mph, the transmission engages in an automatic neutral drop. The engine races above 5,000 rpms, which is not recommended. The failure has occurred twice. The transmission also jumped into reverse while driving at low speeds. The vehicle has been at the dealer four times for the transmission. The dealer called the contact and stated that they could not find anything wrong with the transmission, however, they do acknowledge the failure. The transmission failure began in April of 2007 and has continued ever since. The current mileage is 2,500 and failure mileage was 7. the check engine light illuminated, there were broken bolts and studs. The shifter would not return to park. The rocker arms, valve cover, lifters and heads were replaced in the engine. Updated 08/08/07.

- Clevland, OH, USA

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