KnownCarProblems2008 Dodge Magnum Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Magnum, most often about the electrical (72% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is 4th of 6 Magnum model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2008 Dodge Magnum problems
Electrical
67 complaints · 72%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Magnum. The contact stated that after starting the engine, the instrument panel gauges and lights would operate and illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number…
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Magnum. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown electrical part needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v567000 (electrical system)…
Engine
18 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
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…
Tl contact owns 2008 Dodge Magnum. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the service engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the catalytic converter failed. The vehicle was repaired and…
Air bags
14 complaints · 15%Transmission
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I brought a 2006 Dodge Magnum 06/28/2006 engine went 04/18/2007 took it to the dealer and they say it was not cover I had to pay out of pocket $4,624.78. Now 8 month later my transmission is gone Dodge dealer in new york, saying they is not going to fix it I have to pay out 2,700.00 again the car is nor 2 years old…
The car wont shift gears easily and start up properly. I was told that it was the intake manifold. And that it has happened on several cars before mine. This sounds like a defect. I can be on the highway and the car want shift from slow to fast properly, which can cause a scary situation if some isn't paying attention.
Steering
5 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: linkages.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Magnum. While having the vehicle serviced for routine maintenance at an authorized dealer, the contact was informed that she would need to replace the front drivers side tie rod. The dealer replaced the tie rod at the contacts expense. The failure and current mileages were 49,915.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Magnum. After starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering column was bent and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…
Lights
3 complaints · 3%I have not fixed any of the problems yet. I have a 2008 Dodge Magnum. The tail lights don't work at all. I've almost been rear-ended at night several times. The cruise control quit working. The car jerks very badly going into 3rd gear from 2nd. The car will not crank once every two days or so. The car cuts off at…
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.
Fuel system
3 complaints · 3%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
Brakes
3 complaints · 3%This is a police package 2008 Dodge Magnum. We have a fleet of them. All have the same issue. While operating the vehicle the officers experience a system shut down. The systems include but are not limited to all dash warning indicators come on suddenly, the alarm system indicator illuminates and begins to flash every…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Dodge Magnum recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on march 27, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s43. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-7700.
Full defect summary
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 chassis, 2004-2009 dodge durango, 2007-2009 chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 jeep wrangler, 2008-2012 dodge challenger, 2005-2008 dodge magnum, 2005-2012 chrysler 300, 2006-2012 dodge charger, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 r
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for chrylser on june 8, 2015. The recall for mitsubishi started on june 24, 2015. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is r25. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v817 in its entirety.
Full defect summary
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 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the ignition stays between "start" and "on" positions it could cause loss of certain electrical functions. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the "off" or "accessory" position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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. Chrysler's number for this recall is p57.
Full defect summary
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, 2008, and jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured march 21, 2007, to may 12, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the ignition key (fobik) may not return to the "on" position after being rotated to the "start" position, instead sticking between the two positions. Potentially, while the vehicle is being driven, the ignition may inadvertently move through the "run" position to the "accessory" or "off" ignition position, turning off the engine.
Transmission: column shift
Risk: This could allow the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction startling the driver, and cause a crash without warning.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: axle hubs
Risk: This could cause the vehicle to lose power and result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear axle hub nuts. The recall began on july 21, 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Prndl misalignment
Summary
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. 08v-583, chrysler recall h37).according to chrysler, the gearshift cable may become disengaged from the steering column mounting bracket and cause an incorrect transmission gearshift position display.this could allow the vehicle to move inadvertently and cause a crash without warning.chrysler dealers will remedy the defect condition by installing a re
Questions about the 2008 Dodge Magnum
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Magnum?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (67 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); engine (18 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); air bags (14 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Magnum have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 24, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Dodge Magnum?
- It is 4th of 6 Magnum model years by number of complaints, with 93 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.