What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Challenger?

NHTSA has only 10 complaints for this year. The electrical system and air bags are named most often, at 4 complaints each, followed by the engine at 3.

How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Challenger have?

It has 3 recalls. Two cover the driver and passenger front air bag inflators, and one covers the Keyless Go engine shutoff.

What MPG does a 2008 Dodge Challenger get?

The EPA rates the 6.1L 8-cylinder automatic at 13 MPG city, 18 highway and 15 combined, on premium fuel.

Is the 2008 Dodge Challenger reliable?

It has the second fewest NHTSA complaints of the Challenger model years from 2008 to 2023, with 10. Counts are not adjusted for sales, and you should confirm the air bag recall repairs were done.

What is the best year for a used Dodge Challenger?

By complaint count, 2022 has the fewest at 9 and 2008 is next at 10. The 2010 model has the most at 299.

Home › Dodge › Challenger › 2008

2008 Dodge Challenger: problems, recalls and fuel economy

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on NHTSA and EPA records. Published by Humblebee.

The 2008 Challenger has very few owner complaints on file with NHTSA, just 10 in total^[1]. The bigger concern is its recalls, especially two air bag inflator recalls that can cause serious injury if the repair was never done^[2]^[3].

10owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[4]

15MPG combined (EPA)^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 10 owner complaints for the 2008 Challenger^[1]. One mentions a crash and one mentions a fire, with no injuries or deaths reported^[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

Component group	Complaints
Electrical system^[6]	4
Air bags^[7]	4
Engine^[8]	3
Fuel/propulsion system^[9]	2
Speed control^[10]	2
Latches/locks/linkages^[11]	1
Electronic stability control^[12]	1

With counts this small, no single group stands out as a common problem. Here is what owners describe in the sample of complaints we read.

Air bags. Owners describe getting an air bag recall notice and then waiting because the replacement part was not available^[7].
Electrical system. Owners describe door locks, windows and lights that work on and off, and a car that sometimes would not start or crank. One of these complaints also mentions a fire^[6].
Engine. Owners describe the engine stalling while driving and then starting again, and a smell of fuel^[8].
Speed control. One owner describes the throttle sticking open. This is the group with the one complaint that mentions a crash^[10].

Recalls

The 2008 Challenger has 3 recalls on file^[4]. Two of them deal with air bag inflators that can burst in a crash^[2]^[3].

Passenger air bag inflator (16V352). The inflator in the passenger front air bag can break down after years of humidity and heat changes, then burst when the air bag deploys. Metal pieces could hit the people inside and cause serious injury or death. The 2008 Challenger is included in every region the recall lists. Owners are told not to drive the car until it is repaired. Dealers replace the passenger inflator for free, and the recall began on March 27, 2017^[2].
Driver air bag inflator (15V444). The driver front air bag on Challengers built from September 19, 2007, to October 29, 2010, may let in moisture over time^[3]. In a crash the inflator could burst and throw metal pieces at the driver or passengers, which can cause serious injury or death. Owners are told not to drive the car until it is repaired. Dealers replace the driver inflator for free, and the recall began on November 17, 2015^[3].
Keyless Go shutoff (08V458). On cars with an automatic transmission and the Keyless Go option, holding the stop/start button could turn the engine off while the shifter was not in Park. The car did not lock into Park, which broke a federal theft prevention rule and raised the chance of the car rolling away. Dealers reprogram the wireless ignition module so the engine only shuts off in Park^[13].

Owners in our complaint sample describe waiting for air bag parts^[7]. If you are buying, ask a Dodge dealer to check the car's VIN for any open recall.

Fuel economy

The EPA rates the 2008 Challenger with the 6.1L 8-cylinder engine, Automatic 5-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive at 13 MPG city, 18 MPG highway and 15 MPG combined^[5]. The EPA rating is for premium fuel^[5].

The EPA estimates the yearly fuel cost at $5,500^[5]. That figure uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

How 2008 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Challenger model year. The 2008 is highlighted^[4].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2008	10	3
2009	133	7
2010	299	7
2011	193	6
2012	253	6
2013	179	5
2014	149	4
2015	126	5
2016	78	1
2017	49	3
2018	75	3
2019	59	3
2020	20	1
2021	19	2
2022	9	2
2023	43	2

Here are NHTSA's complaint and recall counts for Challenger model years^[4].

Year	Complaints	Recalls
2008	10	3
2009	133	7
2010	299	7
2011	193	6
2012	253	6
2013	179	5
2014	149	4
2015	126	5
2016	78	1
2017	49	3
2018	75	3
2019	59	3
2020	20	1
2021	19	2
2022	9	2
2023	43	2

The 2008 model has the second fewest complaints of any year listed, behind only 2022 with 9^[4]. The 2010 model has the most, with 299^[4]. The 2008 model's 3 recalls are fewer than every year from 2009 to 2015, and the same as 2017, 2018 and 2019^[4].

These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold. A low count can partly mean fewer cars on the road.

Should you buy a used 2008 Challenger?

The 2008 Challenger has a short complaint record, with 10 owner reports on file^[1]. The small sample we read describes electrical glitches and stalling^[6]^[8]. The real check is the recalls. Both air bag inflator recalls can lead to serious injury or death, so confirm with a dealer that the driver and passenger inflators were replaced^[2]^[3]. Also plan for fuel costs, since the EPA rates it at 15 MPG combined on premium^[5].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Challenger?: NHTSA has only 10 complaints for this year^[1]. The electrical system and air bags are named most often, at 4 complaints each^[6]^[7], followed by the engine at 3^[8].
How many recalls does the 2008 Dodge Challenger have?: It has 3 recalls^[4]. Two cover the driver and passenger front air bag inflators^[2]^[3], and one covers the Keyless Go engine shutoff^[13].
What MPG does a 2008 Dodge Challenger get?: The EPA rates the 6.1L 8-cylinder automatic at 13 MPG city, 18 highway and 15 combined, on premium fuel^[5].
Is the 2008 Dodge Challenger reliable?: It has the second fewest NHTSA complaints of the Challenger model years from 2008 to 2023, with 10^[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, and you should confirm the air bag recall repairs were done^[2]^[3].
What is the best year for a used Dodge Challenger?: By complaint count, 2022 has the fewest at 9 and 2008 is next at 10^[4]. The 2010 model has the most at 299^[4].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 10 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Dodge Challenger (1 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 16V352, filed May 24, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V444, filed July 10, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Challenger model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Challenger, 6.1L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 18 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
4 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the air bags component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the latches/locks/linkages component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
1 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 08V458, filed September 10, 2008: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park / Neutral Start Interlock Switch. NHTSA recall database

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.