2008 Dodge Charger Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 391 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2008 Dodge Charger, 64% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 99,150 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (16% of reports).
- 391electrical system complaints
- 99,150median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 62 of 391 complaints (16%)
- Failed start: mentioned in 51 of 391 complaints (13%)
- Numbers electrical air: mentioned in 44 of 391 complaints (11%)
- Stalled without: mentioned in 37 of 391 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 2008 Dodge Charger at $1,050, and half of them between $620 and $1,450.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 242 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 391 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 5 an injury.
Dodge Charger electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Charger | 1 | 50% | 190 |
| 2024 Charger | 1 | 100% | — |
| 2023 Charger | 10 | 38% | 25,000 |
| 2022 Charger | 4 | 25% | 93,000 |
| 2021 Charger | 2 | 6% | 256 |
| 2020 Charger | 6 | 11% | 2,975 |
| 2019 Charger | 22 | 18% | 16,000 |
| 2018 Charger | 45 | 37% | 38,975 |
| 2017 Charger | 48 | 38% | 38,000 |
| 2016 Charger | 25 | 14% | 62,500 |
| 2015 Charger | 22 | 16% | 52,600 |
| 2014 Charger | 109 | 32% | 52,000 |
| 2013 Charger | 167 | 46% | 58,000 |
| 2012 Charger | 359 | 55% | 64,000 |
| 2011 Charger | 395 | 57% | 57,000 |
| 2010 Charger | 74 | 32% | 100,000 |
| 2009 Charger | 45 | 26% | 95,000 |
| 2008 Charger | 391 | 64% | 99,150 |
| 2007 Charger | 50 | 9% | 87,500 |
| 2006 Charger | 145 | 11% | 91,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Problem: 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.
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
When I turned my ignition key, it would not turn on the car no power
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 Dodge Chargers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 391 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2008 Dodge Charger (64% of the 609 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Dodge Charger electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 99,150 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 2008 Dodge Charger?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $620 and $1,450), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2008 Dodge Charger?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 62 of 391 complaints, followed by “failed start” (51).
Other 2008 Dodge Charger problems
- Air Bags problems (124)
- Engine problems (89)
See all 2008 Dodge Charger problems or electrical system problems across all Charger years.