2008 Dodge Avenger: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 6, 2019 · 141,210 miles · VA

After heavy raining water gets in the trunk weighing it down making the horn and alarm go off after I open and close the trunk several times and getting lots of water into my trunk itself them I'm usually able to set the alarm and it not go off on its own in the middle of the night or early in the morning as this happens u think someone is trying to break into your vehicle it has happened at least 4 times in the past month and a half pretty annoyed water shouldn't get into the trunk that easy there aren't any holes showing we're it can get into so must run down the seams of the back of the car somehow and entering.also had the transmission fluid checked they put it on a lift and had a special tool they used and had to let it run and get up to a certain temperature to be able to tell me if my fluid was low or not and it wasn't because they said it got to the correct temperature but from time to time while driving the car will just jerk as if the transmission fluid is low or the transmission is going out but it only happens like maybe one or twice over a 3 week period so not sure what is up with that

Filed Jan 23, 2019 · Transmission · 146,000 miles · NJ

Car shuts off when put in drive, if not it will jerk really hard and shut off . It's as if the transmission locks up and it cuts the car off. Almost cause and accident a couple of times . I do not feel safe driving the car

Filed Jul 17, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 82,600 miles · CA

Today is july 17, 2018. I discovered there were 6 recalls on the 2008 dodge avenger I purchased a month and a half ago, but the dealer never bothered to disclose any of this information to me. When I asked why the sensor light was on I was told it was nothing important, just the air pressure on the tires due to leakage, and all it needed was a cap on the valve stem. The caps on the valve stems of two wheels were replaced but the light stayed on. A few days after the purchase, I was driving about 66 MPH when the car started jerking as if the fuel was gasping; it scared me to death! Two weeks after the purchase, the engine light came on while I was driving on the freeway, and wouldn't go off; the car must be taken in for diagnostic which I'm told will cost almost $100 to find out why the engine light was on. I'm afraid to drive it with the engine light on and the other light blinking, so the car will just set in the parking area until I can raise enough money to pay for the $250 deductible on the extended warranty I purchased for $1,500, and the problem may not even be covered by the warranty. Also, first the dealer sold me the car without a key fob which I knew nothing about it until the horn started honking and lights started flashing when I unlocked the door to get back into the car a couple of days after the purchase. The sales person told me I could get one made at a discount, but when I went back to purchase it I was told I was mistaken. After shopping around it cost me over $100 to get one made (though the dealer would have charged me over $200.)

Filed Feb 15, 2018 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · MD

I was stopped at an intersection in my subdivision to let some kids cross the street. All of a sudden, the engine slowed down like it was going to die and then sped up. The car started to lurch forward. I pushed the brake down the rest of the way to keep the car from running over the kids.

Filed Nov 8, 2017 · Electrical · 163,000 miles · MS

Throttle body control----car will jerk and begin to lose power while driving. You will not be able to drive over 30 MPH. Within a few minutes, you will be stranded on side of the road.

Filed Jun 13, 2017 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge avenger. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked without warning and the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the diagnostic code reader indicated that the vehicle had an automatic transmission control system malfunction, loose fuel cap, and the battery input voltage was low. The mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause of the transmission malfunction and the low battery voltage. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke to jenkins chrysler dodge jeep (2561 us-27, lafayette, ga 30728) who stated that labor would cost $85 per hour. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2016 · MS

Car stops while driving and may crank after 5-15 minutes of waiting, horn blows for no reason, wipers malfunction. Problem caused by tipm. No recall in us http://absoluteraleigh.com/tipm-repair/but one is in canada (found on autozone recall list) also found info on http://absoluteraleigh.com/tipm-repair/ relating to the tipm and on http://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/avenger/2008/engine/engine_stalls_shuts_down_when_driving.shtml. Another website ishttp://www.carcomplaints.com/dodge/avenger/2008/electrical/tipm_malfunctioning.shtml. I have been to 3 mechanic shops and two dealerships. Please help us get this problem resolved. Thanks. The car cuts off while driving most of the ti,e. There has been times when the car cuts of before the car is even moved. It dosent matter have long the car has been driven. The horn had to be disconnected becuse it would not stop blowing. That was the first thing that went wrong before the car started going dead. The next sign was the car started jerking but then would not go over 30 MPH. I dont kow what happened but the car didnt do that long. From then on the car goes dead which is extremely dangerous, especially on the interstate.

Filed Feb 14, 2016 · FL

Car started stalling while driving 2 days after purchase. Dealer said use car is as is. But since then 3 different mechanics have look at it and they can't find anything wrong. Last mechanic headed for a week and couldn't find anything. Four months later started to jerk before stalling and the throttle light came on. Three days later the check engine light came back on and the day after it started doing the same thing. Back to the shop and seven days later because it was loosing fuel pressure the fuel pump was replace. Now 2 days later is doing the same thing again. This car can't be repair if they can't find what's wrong. And that included a dodge dealer that had the car for a week, charge me $75 and couldn't find what's wrong. The car is unsafe, it stall while driving and can cause a serious accident.

Filed Jun 15, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 101,700 miles · MI

I was stopped at a red light; once the light turned green, I stepped on the gas to go and the vehicle jerked lightly; the warning light for which I now know is the throttle body sensor, blinked on and off; I attempted to give it gas but it would not go past 10 MPH; the rpms went up but the speedometer would not move; I have not had any other issues with the vehicle after owning it for 5 years with regular maintenance; the brake down occurred at 101,700 miles; the vehicle is currently being repaired at dodge dealership at a cost of $530

Filed Feb 28, 2014 · Electrical · 93,745 miles · OH · 1 injury

My vehicles etc light (code p2112) came on while getting on the expressway at 65 MPH and it went into "limp mode" causing my vehicle to jerk severely and my speed to drop down to 30 MPH immediately. After nearly being hit by a semi I was able to get to the emergency lane and my check engine light came on as well. The vehicle will not go faster than 10 MPH.

Filed Feb 16, 2014 · Engine, Visibility · 73,000 miles · CA

My car has problem with the blower motor n car would jerk bad.

Filed Feb 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 70,000 miles · WA

I was driving on the highway going 55mph and the electronic throttle indicator light came on and my car failed to increase speed and started to jerk slightly. The rpms then jumped from 1700 about to over 2500 then started pushing 3000 and wouldn't go down until I was off the highway and going 30mph. My RPM was still around 2500. I was able to pull over and turn my car off and that seemed to fix the issue, until I needed to go on the highway again. Everytime my car went to shift to a higher gear when I was hitting between 50 and 55mph it would happen. It took my car to a mechanic who told me my car was undrivable because this would ruin my transmission. I now have a completely dead car due to the part I need being nationally unavailable.