DodgeAvenger20082.0L L4 Diesel/dodge/avenger/2008/2-0l-l4-diesel/
JS platform

2008 Dodge Avenger — 2.0L L4 Diesel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Avenger 2.0L L4 Diesel. Covers both the standard and High Output 2.0L L4 Diesel.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.0L L4 Diesel

The 2008 Dodge Avenger is a passenger car built on the JS platform and powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder diesel engine. With 844 total owner complaints logged against it, the 2008 model year holds the distinction of being the most problematic across the Avenger's two-decade production span from 1995 to 2015, with power train issues emerging as the primary concern alongside six official recalls. This peak in complaints contrasts sharply with the model's lowest point in 2015, which recorded just one complaint, suggesting that while the platform eventually matured into a more reliable offering, the 2008 model represents a particularly troublesome iteration within the vehicle's history.

Model year200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04884899AC. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP215-60R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04884899AC alt 05281090AB
Engine air filter04891713AB alt 04891926AB
Spark plugSP0ZFR5F11 alt SP00ZFR5AP
BatteryBB34A901AA alt BB86F101AA
Front wiper bladesWBF00022AB alt WBF00024AB
Serpentine belt04891935AC alt 04891721AB
Thermostat68237102AA alt 55111016AC
Cabin air filter05058693AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.9 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height58.7 in
Wheelbase109.1 in
Curb weight3400 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5
Brake FluidDOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts70 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.40 oz

Service checks

Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle52 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in / 0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0024 in / 0.0016 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.386 in / 1.02 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 12,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 12,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 24,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 90,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
Every 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Avenger marks the second model year of the reintroduced nameplate and stands as a pronounced outlier: its 844 complaints dwarf the 2 filed for 2007 and the 67 for 2009, and exceed every other year in the 2007–2015 generation except 2012 (553) and 2013 (547). The complaint surge centers on Power Train (166), Electrical System (81), Vehicle Speed Control (71), and Air Bags (55), with 38 crash and 26 fire complaints recorded; the data does not specify root causes for these concentrations. Recalls hit six for 2008, matching the generation high set again in 2013, and one investigation was opened, while TSBs totaled 59 — moderate relative to later years that climbed to 139 by 2013. The arc shows a sharp launch-year spike in 2008, a steep drop in 2009–2010, then a gradual climb to a sustained plateau in 2012–2013 before tapering. This pattern suggests 2008 vehicles experienced an early-production quality excursion that was largely corrected by the following model year. Given the magnitude of the complaint volume relative to adjacent years, the 2008 Avenger carries elevated risk and is not a recommended purchase year without thorough pre-purchase inspection and verification of recall completion.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
59
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
844
Owner complaints
38 involved a crash · 26 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 844 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train166
Electrical System81
Vehicle Speed Control71
Air Bags55
Engine37
Engine & Engine Cooling28
Fuel/Propulsion System22
Unknown Or Other21

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V152000Electrical System:WiringReported 02/04/2008

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 180,963 MY 2007-2008 SEBRING AND DODGE AVENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A STANDARD TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS). UNUSED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR THE TPMS MAY BECOME CORRODED AND COULD… Remedy: DEALERS WILL SEAL THE WIRES FOR THE TPMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07V104000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 15/03/2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT DOOR LATCH CABLE MAY BECOME PARTIALLY UNSEATED FROM THE INTERIOR RELEASE HANDLE HOUSING CAUSING THE DOOR LATCH TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND NOT BE SECURED TO THE STRIKER. Remedy: THIS ACTION IS SUPERSEDED (PLEASE SEE 07-V414.) DEALERS WILL ADD FREE OF CHARGE A SECONDARY FEATURE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS TO PREVENT THE DOOR LATCH CABLE FERRULE FROM BECOMING…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 59 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1039542025-04-02Unknown Or OtherACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
1040872025-04-02Unknown Or OtherACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
90040092021-04-07Power TrainTransmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P2002
Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0401
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
P20EE
SCR NOx catalyst efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0087
Fuel rail / system pressure too low
P0299
Turbocharger / supercharger underboost condition

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Avenger. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2008 Avenger have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.