What are the most common Dodge Challenger problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 3,208+ owner reports, the 2021 Dodge Challenger has 24 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Driveshaft Failure / U-Joint Failure, Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Rack Failure, Valve Spring Failure on 6.4L 392 HEMI (High-RPM and Modified/Boosted Cars). Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Dodge Challenger reliable?
The 2021 Dodge Challenger has 24 known issues documented across 3,208+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Driveshaft Failure / U-Joint Failure and Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Rack Failure and Valve Spring Failure on 6.4L 392 HEMI (High-RPM and Modified/Boosted Cars) and Hellcat IHI Supercharger Bearing / Pulley Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Dodge Challenger problems?
Repair costs for known Dodge Challenger issues range from $0 to $12,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Driveshaft Failure / U-Joint Failure, typically costs $300-$2,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger Driveshaft Failure / U-Joint Failure?
The rear driveshaft on high-powered Challengers can experience premature U-joint failure or driveshaft issues, especially under hard launches, drag racing, or with aftermarket power upgrades. The factory driveshaft may not handle repeated high-torque loads. Some owners report mul… Repairs typically run $300-$2,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Rack Failure?
The EPS rack assembly can fail suddenly, causing complete loss of steering assist while driving. Circuit board contamination in the EPS module causes short circuit. Corrosion in rack assembly compounds the issue. Recalls S19 (NHTSA 16V-167) and VB8 (NHTSA 19V-812) cover some vehi… Repairs typically run $1,200-$2,800. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2023 Dodge Challenger Valve Spring Failure on 6.4L 392 HEMI (High-RPM and Modified/Boosted Cars)?
The production valve springs on the 6.4L 392 HEMI can crack or fracture. A weakened spring can cause a persistent single-cylinder misfire that remains after plug, coil, or injector swaps; a complete fracture can let the valve contact the piston and cause major cylinder-head or en… Repairs typically run $700-$5,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger Hellcat IHI Supercharger Bearing / Pulley Failure?
The IHI twin-screw supercharger fitted to the 6.2L supercharged HEMI in the Challenger SRT Hellcat, Redeye, and Demon is prone to internal bearing failure, typically heard first as a rising whine, growl, or whir from the front of the engine that gets louder with RPM and engine wa… Repairs typically run $3,000-$12,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2015-2021 Dodge Challenger HEMI Lifter/MDS Tick?
Some 2015-2021 Dodge Challenger 5.7L and 6.4L engines can develop a persistent engine-speed-related tick, rough idle, loss of power, or misfire from hydraulic roller-lifter, roller, or cam-lobe wear. A tick alone does not prove internal wear: exhaust-manifold leakage, injector no… Repairs typically run $100-$2,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2021 Dodge Challenger OEM Radiator Premature Failure?
The factory plastic-tank radiators on Challengers are prone to cracking and leaking, especially under spirited driving or in hot climates. The crimped plastic end tanks can fail at the seams. Many owners report needing radiator replacements between 60,000-100,000 miles. Repairs typically run $200-$800. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2023 Dodge Challenger Pentastar 3.6L Oil Filter Housing Leak?
The plastic oil filter housing warps and cracks from heat cycling, causing oil leaks from front of engine near oil filter. In severe cases coolant and oil can mix. Common across all Pentastar 3.6L vehicles (Challenger, Charger, 300, Jeep, Ram). Repairs typically run $400-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger Pentastar V6 Rocker Arm/Lifter Tick?
The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine can develop a ticking noise from worn rocker arms. Unlike the HEMI MDS tick, this is caused by the roller follower rocker arms wearing out prematurely. The issue typically appears between 50,000-100,000 miles and is more common on 2011-2013 engines bu… Repairs typically run $800-$1,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger HEMI Exhaust Manifold Bolt Failure?
Exhaust manifold bolts break due to thermal cycling causing the bolts to become brittle and snap, especially on the passenger side. Dissimilar metals (iron manifold, aluminum head) accelerate the process. Creates a ticking noise at cold startup. Common across all HEMI-powered LX/… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger ZF 8-Speed Transmission Harsh Shifting and Valve Body Failure?
The ZF 8HP45/8HP70 8-speed automatic suffers from harsh downshifts (especially 2nd to 1st), rough upshifts with RPM spikes, and clunking when cold. Ferrous or aluminum debris in 3-4 shift pressure valves is the primary failure point. Valve body is the most common component needin… Repairs typically run $800-$2,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger Uconnect Infotainment Freeze, Black Screen, and Random Reboot (Backup Camera Loss)?
The Uconnect infotainment system (8.4-inch 4C/4C NAV/UAQ head units, and the 7-inch Uconnect 4) on the Dodge Challenger is widely reported to freeze, go to a black or blue blank screen, and spontaneously reboot — sometimes in continuous reboot loops while driving. The fault is in… Repairs typically run $200-$3,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger AC Not Blowing Cold / HVAC Blend-Door Actuator Failure?
Dodge Challenger owners across the LC/LA platform (2008-2023) commonly report the A/C not blowing cold, blowing warm/weak, or one side of the cabin staying warm. The complaints split into two distinct failure clusters that share the same symptom.
CLUSTER 1 - Refrigerant/AC-syste… Repairs typically run $35-$1,940. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger Battery Drain / Parasitic Draw — Battery Dead Overnight or After Sitting?
A widely reported electrical complaint across nearly all Challenger model years is excessive parasitic battery drain that leaves the car dead overnight or after sitting a few days. A healthy modern vehicle should settle to roughly 25-50 mA of key-off draw once all modules go to s… Repairs typically run $140-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2023 Dodge Challenger Oil cooler / oil-filter-adapter housing leak (5.7L & 6.4L V8 Hemi)?
On the Gen-III Hemi V8 (5.7L VVT from 2009 on, and the 6.4L/392 across its run), engine oil is cooled by a coolant-fed oil cooler integrated into the oil-filter adapter housing that sits in the engine valley, beneath the intake manifold. The cooler is a coolant-to-oil heat exchan… Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger Front-End Suspension Clunk / Pop — Sway-Bar End Links, Tie Rods, Control-Arm Bushings, Ball Joints?
One of the most widely reported Dodge Challenger complaints — the "infamous front-end clunk." Owners across the LX-platform (2008-2023) describe a clunk, pop, knock, or rattle from the front suspension on initial acceleration, light braking, low-speed turns, and especially over s… Repairs typically run $20-$461. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger Catalytic Converter Efficiency Code (P0420 / P0430)?
A P0420 ("Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 1") or P0430 ("Bank 2") check-engine light is one of the most common emissions codes on the Dodge Challenger, especially on higher-mileage V8 cars. The PCM sets the code when it compares the upstream (pre-cat) and downstr… Repairs typically run $40-$2,379. Severity: medium.
What is the 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger Warped Front Brake Rotors Causing Pedal Pulsation, Steering Shimmy, and Rapid Pad Wear?
Dodge Challenger owners frequently report front brake "warping" that produces a noticeable pulsation through the brake pedal and a shimmy in the steering wheel under braking, often accompanied by faster-than-expected front pad wear. The complaint surfaces at surprisingly low mile… Repairs typically run $128-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2015-2023 Dodge Challenger High Theft Risk — Relay-Attack & Key-Cloning Vulnerability (Easy to Steal)?
The Dodge Challenger — especially HEMI-powered R/T, Scat Pack, and Hellcat trims — is one of the most-stolen vehicles in the United States, and its passive keyless-entry/push-button-start system is the reason. Thieves exploit several well-documented electronic attacks: (1) Relay… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2023 Dodge Challenger Random Misfire / Rough Idle (P0300) From Worn Spark Plugs & Failing Ignition Coils?
A P0300 "random/multiple cylinder misfire" code with a rough, shaking idle is one of the most common drivability complaints on the Dodge Challenger, and on a high-mileage or maintenance-overdue car it is most often caused by worn spark plugs and/or weak ignition coils rather than… Repairs typically run $130-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2009-2023 Dodge Challenger HEMI Water Pump Premature Failure / Coolant Leak?
The mechanical (belt-driven) water pump on HEMI-powered Challengers is a recurring weak point that can fail well before normal service life, with owners reporting failures across a very wide mileage band — some as early as ~5,800-7,000 miles, clusters around 18,000-25,000 miles,… Repairs typically run $375-$811. Severity: medium.
