Problems · by component

2008 Dodge Charger electrical system problems

397 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Dodge Charger cite electrical system, 64% of all 624 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
397
64% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
14
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start as intended. An abnormal cranking sound could be heard coming from the engine. The contact stated it would take several attempts to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that last year he received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers : 4V567000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). The vehicle was repaired. The dealer is refusing to repair the vehicle for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2025Electrical systemODI 11669568
“The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, but was able to coast off the roadway. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle temporarily returned to normal functionality but was running abnormally. The contact stated that the failure recurred. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the PCM and the ignition switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V567000 (Electrical System) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 208,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2023Power train, Electrical systemODI 11537420
“The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle remained running temporarily. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would no longer start. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V567000 (Electrical System). The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under the recall as the vehicle was over 10 years old; however, the vehicle was not more than 10 years old on the date the defect was determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,846.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2023Electrical systemODI 11512390
“The esp bass light and traction control lights and the brake light keeps lighting up on the dash of my 2008 Dodge Charger RT took it to a mechanic shop and told them what was going on replace the wheel speed sensor in the back and the rear axle the brake light no longer lights up but the ESP and the traction control light still light up on the car sometimes cannot find the issue or what's going on”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2022Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11489241
“Accelerating on highway at around 45mph my Dodge Charger gave a small spurt of powder then immediately after i lost complete power and shut down. I had to move to shoulder of highway where i turned the key to off position and took key out. I tried to restart the car and it wouldnt even try turning over. The cluster lights of PRND38 (ive never seen an 8 on there before)… showed up with boxes around each letter which was not normal along with the lightning bolt light and battery light. We changed new charged battery still no turn over. Tried to connect a snap on code scanner and it wouldn’t link. I also changed throttle pedal as well as throttle body because the lightning bolb light was on When can shut down while driving it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2022Electrical systemODI 11486337
“The gas gage on the dash is not reading properly my car said I had 1/8 of a tank and then driving down the interstate my car dies in the middle of the road lights went out power steering”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2022Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11483171

Showing 6 of 397 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Sep 17, 2014NHTSA 14V567000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.