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Dodge Challenger: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Dodge Challenger problems by model year, from 1,550 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (63%, 143 drivetrain complaints), 2015 (50%, 54 drivetrain complaints) and 2016 (45%, 27 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 11 Dodge Challenger years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (12%), 2018 (20%) and 2012 (22%). 2023 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (63%) to 2011 (30%), down 33 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (143 of 454 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Dodge Challenger year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Challenger | very high | 63% | 143 | 299 | 1/11 | 7 |
| 2011 Challenger | no elevated signal | 30% | 47 | 193 | 5/11 | 6 |
| 2012 Challenger | no elevated signal | 22% | 43 | 253 | 9/11 | 6 |
| 2013 Challenger | no elevated signal | 28% | 44 | 179 | 6/11 | 5 |
| 2014 Challenger | high | 41% | 53 | 149 | 4/11 | 5 |
| 2015 Challenger | high | 50% | 54 | 126 | 2/11 | 6 |
| 2016 Challenger | high | 45% | 27 | 78 | 3/11 | 2 |
| 2017 Challenger | no elevated signal | 25% | 11 | 49 | 8/11 | 3 |
| 2018 Challenger | no elevated signal | 20% | 13 | 75 | 10/11 | 4 |
| 2019 Challenger | no elevated signal | 28% | 14 | 58 | 7/11 | 3 |
| 2020 Challenger | too few to score | – | 9 | 20 | – | 1 |
| 2021 Challenger | too few to score | – | 6 | 19 | – | 2 |
| 2022 Challenger | too few to score | – | 3 | 9 | – | 2 |
| 2023 Challenger | no elevated signal | 12% | 5 | 43 | 11/11 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Dodge Challenger years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Dodge Challenger engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Dodge Challenger involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 27 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2015 | 15V114000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline | 2015 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V431000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2017 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V496000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2017 |
| May 2018 | 18V280000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018 |
| Jul 2018 | 18E053000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
22 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V420000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V200000 | electrical system: ignition: module | 2010 |
| Oct 2010 | 10V475000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2010 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V103000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2013 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V118000 | air bags | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V634000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V749000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2015 |
| May 2015 | 15V282000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V444000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V461000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V352000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V435000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2011–2014 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V741000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2014 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V021000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| May 2018 | 18V332000 | electrical system: wiring | 2015–2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V018000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2014 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V203000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V758000 | service brakes | 2019 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V191000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V112000 | parking brake | 2023 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V573000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Dodge Challenger
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Dodge Challenger
What are the worst years for the Dodge Challenger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Dodge Challenger years are the 2010 (63% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2015 (50% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2016 (45% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Dodge Challenger?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Dodge Challenger years are the 2023 (12%), the 2018 (20%) and the 2012 (22%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Dodge Challenger have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 454 of 1,234 relevant NHTSA complaints (37%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Is the Dodge Challenger reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 11 Dodge Challenger years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 37% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Dodge Challenger?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Dodge Challenger years we track, out of 27 in total: 17V496000 (Aug 2017, 2017), 18V280000 (May 2018, 2018), 18E053000 (Jul 2018, 2014–2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.