AI Damage2008 Dodge Magnum: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Dodge Magnum filed 93 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 93
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 72% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 3% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 67 complaints (72% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 14 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 13 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (6% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.7 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 6.1 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 93 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 67 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
However when I went to pick the car up it ran really badly, and had all the warning lights in the dash on. I confronted the dealership about this before even leaving the lot. They told me I would have to pay to have it looked at.
Suddenly 3/2016 my car shut off while driving. It was towed to a dealer where they did the p57, r25 recalls. Upon return of car to me I notice dash functions inoperable.
The vehicle stalled while idling at a red light. The contact called evans arena chrysler again, but did not bring in the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 dodge magnum. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v352000 (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.
While sitting at red light (foot on brakes w engine idling) city street waiting for a green light, I heard a loud noise (sound like a loud clunk; belt or something breaking apart) coming from the engine compartment.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge magnum. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 15v313000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
While driving at 50 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Was advised that there is a recall about the air bags on may 30th, 2015. Told that I would receive a call about setting up an appointment to get the work done. Have not received a telephone call about this yet.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,734 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Magnum has 194 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 93, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Dodge Magnum?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, air bags, engine. Total complaints: 93. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (27%), won't start (18%), warning lights, check engine (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Dodge Magnum?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Dodge Magnum from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.