RoadVitals

2009 Dodge Challenger Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
132
Latest Jul 25, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
12
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 13, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 132 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 132 · page 1 of 6

Electrical
Filed Jul 25, 2023

I am currently waiting for a new Instrument Cluster, which is the cause of all of my problems, and which is why I failed the emissions test.

NHTSA ID
11534338
Incident
Jul 14, 2020
Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 2023

On several occasions while driving the vehicle would would appear to lose power and the front wheels would shake. After turning off the engine and restarting the car the problem resolved itself. It was taken to the dealership and they said they could not replicate the problem. Two days ago it did the same thing along with the passenger side front wheel heating and smoking. It was towed to the dealership again. The technician called to say that when he got into the car the brake pedal went to the floor and wanted to know if happened the day before. He was advised the pedal was fine and the brakes were stopping the vehicle. He said the brakes were worn down and the entire brake system needed replacement. There was no issue reported with the brakes on the previous inspection at the dealership in December 2022.

NHTSA ID
11515829
Incident
Apr 4, 2023
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 2, 2023

THREE TIMES NOW THE THROTTLE HAS GONE TO WIDE OPEN AND STICKS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. SCARES THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF YOU.

NHTSA ID
11514983
Incident
Mar 31, 2023
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the "check air bag" warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local parts store where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side and passenger’s side air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V021000 (Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V444000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ID
11493840
Incident
Aug 14, 2022
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Nov 8, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

During an auto accident the ram emblem on my steering wheel shot off of the steering wheel when the air bags deployed and becoming a projectile and hitting me in the neck leaving a deep bruise and abrasions to the area the ram emblem hit. Its been nearly 3 weeks and the bruising is still present and the skin is still red from the injury. Attached and you can even see the ram horns in in neck. This photo taken later that day. If this can happen in my with my accident I was just lucky it didn't hit my eye or worse. The contact stated that they now have a permanent scar on their neck from the steering wheel projectile. They have not contacted the manufacturer and the vehicle is no longer in their possession.

NHTSA ID
11492698
Incident
Oct 20, 2022
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2021

Recall issues and manufacturers dont want to fix it.

NHTSA ID
11444274
Incident
Mar 29, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the subframe bolt had snapped off. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

NHTSA ID
11439068
Incident
Oct 1, 2021
Mileage
44,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 13, 2021

Faulty TCM After purchasing my car it would hard shift in the 3rd and 4th gear And I realize that shortly after purchasing it chant and then one night I was on the freeway and between 2 semi trucks when it's just neutral and then tried shifting into 2nd gear Which almost caused me to wreck in between 2 semi trucks which was not cool and Now my car only shifts into 1st and 2nd gear and when it gets to 3rd it neutrals , It won't go into 3rd or 4th gear . I took it into the dealership to get new software Uploaded on my TCM they said it was fine so I drove it out the parking lot and still doing the sa.e thing won't shift into 3rd gear so I took it to another shop to have it looked at because I didn't want to risk my life driving the car. I'm not gonna take it back to a place that just gotten to tell me that everything was fine when it's clearly not so we put it on a lift inspected it and it shifts from 1st all the way up to 4th no problem and then soon as you put it on the ground and start driving it ,it does the same thing neutrals when it gets the 3rd . Then after looking further into the car the mechanic noticed how small the groundwire was compared to the power wthe power wire and it wasn't getting enough voltage So I'm thinking that also could be a major issue Later on down the road And that might even be the cause of the TCM going bad . It's just crazy to me a car would be OKAY to be sold with the problems it has And there's a lot of people online with the same kinda of problems as mine All I have to say is I'm lucky that I'm alive due to These problems.

NHTSA ID
11428928
Incident
Jul 23, 2021
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 11, 2021

I took my car to the dealer for recalls they didn’t fix anything they left my car out in the rain the hood up and Choppa had my car for a whole month did any nothing they were very courteous no customer assistance nothing

NHTSA ID
11424269
Incident
Jul 10, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jul 7, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that there was a blind spot on the passenger’s side rear-view mirror. The contact stated that due to manufacturing of the mirror, it was difficult to switch lanes or see oncoming traffic due to the defect. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure on several occasions but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11423742
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Electrical
Filed Jan 2, 2021

HAD A MESSAGE POP UP ON MY RADIO THAT THE WIRELESS MODULE IS BAD...CANNOT UNLOCK, LOCK, OPEN THE TRUNK OR REMOTE START THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB.

NHTSA ID
11386124
Incident
Dec 29, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 5, 2020

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE COMING TO A STOP. OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAR LOSSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BREAKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING AS WELL. PRIMARILY WHILE TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON A CITY INTERSECTION AND IN MY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM SCARED THAT I AM GOING TO WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS AND HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327485
Incident
May 5, 2020
Mileage
51,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 8, 2020

CAR GETS STUCK IN GEAR WHEN PARKED AND IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR WHEN PARKED IS ON A FLAT SURFACE AND YOU NEED TO YANK IT OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. IF YOU BACK UP THE CAR AND TRY TO TAKE IT OUT OF REVERSE YOU HAVE TO YANK IT OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA ID
11307874
Incident
Jan 27, 2020
Mileage
33,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 3, 2020

I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, I SUSPECT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE AIR BLOWING OUT THE VEHICLES VENTILATION SYSTEM... I REGULARLY DEVELOP CHEST PAIN IN MY BREAST AREA AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE . I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED FALSE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, THROUGH A CARFAX SEARCH

NHTSA ID
11306836
Incident
Feb 2, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 7, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

I BROUGHT MY CAR 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE DELALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ANY OF THE FOUR RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAPERS IN THE MAIL CONCERNING THE RECALLS AND THAT PUTS ME AND MY CHILDREN AT RISK EVERYDAY IT'S A SCARY FEELING I ALSO HIT A TREE THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET MY STEERING G WHEEL WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND MY BREAKS AS WELL

NHTSA ID
11297547
Incident
Oct 31, 2019
Mileage
138,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 16, 2019

THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TAKING THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURS ON BOTH COLD AND HOT START UP AS WELL AS WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPING DURING IN TOWN DRIVING. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT THE DRIVER COULD INADVERTENTLY ROLL INTO AN INTERSECTION WHERE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN OR BUILDING. THE VEHICLE WILL "CREEP" ON FLAT GROUND IF IT IS NOT PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKE IS RELEASED. USING OUR FRIEND GOOGLE I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS FROM DISCUSSION ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MY AND OTHER MODEL YEARS. TWO CASE NUMBERS FROM THE MANUFACTURER SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSUE. CASE NUMBERS ARE K38556860 AND S1021000004. THE CASE NUMBERS ARE NOT RECALLS AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE ATTACHED A FILE WITH THE TWO CASES THAT EXPLAIN AN INSPECTION AND REMEDY PROCEDURE. 11/14/2019 IS NOT THE CORRECT DATE OF THE OCCURRENCE, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. BEST GUESS IS THIS ISSUE STARTED SOMETIME IN 2016, EXACT DATE UNKNOWN, VEHICLE MILEAGE IS ESTIMATED. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE POSSIBLE DANGEROUS SITUATION I FEEL THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND POSSIBLY MADE INTO A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED TO ACCOMPLISH THE REMEDY AS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED CASES..

NHTSA ID
11280474
Incident
Nov 14, 2019
Mileage
22,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 125 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED WATERMARK CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM AT 800-549-3637 (LOCATED AT 1055 CROSSING PL, MADISONVILLE, KY 42431) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,109.

NHTSA ID
11280046
Incident
Nov 14, 2019
Mileage
139,109 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 2019

THIS CAR IS NOT FREQUENTLY DRIVEN AND SERVES AS A SPORTS CAR ONLY, NOT A COMMUTER, IT ONLY HAS 025,379 MILES ON IT. IT'S A SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANS WITH CLUTCH PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR NOTICED WHAT FELT LIKE BRAKES (ALL OF THEM) DRAGGING, INCREASING THE LOAD AGAINST THE CLUTCH AND THROTTLE. NOT EXTREMELY BUT ENOUGH TO NOTICE. THIS SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A MALFUNCTION WITH COMPUTER OVERRIDE FEATURES LIKE "HILL-ASSIST" AND "STABILITY CONTROL", BOTH I GENERALLY SWITCH OFF. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING SLOW SURFACE STREET SPEEDS, STOP & GO, I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR DID SLOWLY STOP. I WAS "ON ALERT" AND WAS USING THE GEARS TO SLOW ANTICIPATING A POSSIBLE FAILURE. WE WERE GOING TO DINNER AND AFTER ABOUT 4 MORE PEDAL TO FLOOR STOPS, IT WAS PARKED FOR JUST OVER AN HOUR AND REGAINED IT'S BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AFTER SITTING. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH OF ANY TYPE AT ANYTIME. I THINK THIS INDICATES SOME COMPUTER OR OTHER SYSTEM FAILURE CONNECTED WITH THIS. CONDITIONS WERE A 90 PLUS DEGREE DAY WITH THE A/C-ON. THINGS SEEMED HOT UNDER THE HOOD AND AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND RESERVOIR WHEN I FIRST PARKED FOR THAT HOUR. OTHER THAN "NO WARNINGS", THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACT IS, NEITHER OF US SMELLED OVERHEATED BRAKE MATERIALS AS YOU TYPICALLY WOULD. THIS I FIND REALLY ODD BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T THE BRAKES DRAGGING ON THE CAR, WHY DID THEY FAIL AND GO TO THE FLOOR "WHILE HOT" ? AS IT IS MY HABIT AT ALL TIMES, I PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE A LOT, ASSURING IT WAS OFF THROUGH THIS. IT'S IN WORKING ORDER AND HOLDS THE CAR WHEN I PRESSED IT'S PEDAL DOWN, CLICKING AND LOCKING IT TO DO SO. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD WEIRD BRAKE FAILURES WITH OTHER YEAR MODEL CHALLENGERS. PLEASE CHECK ON THIS ! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID
11228812
Incident
Jun 30, 2019
Mileage
25,367 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2018

STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND DUMPED ALL BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE.... WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN LINE FAILED THANK GOD...

NHTSA ID
11164135
Incident
Dec 30, 2018
Mileage
75,000 mi
Filed Dec 28, 2018

CAR HAS A STARLING ISSUE COMING TO A SLOW START UP OR MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND HER CAR WILL JUST STORE THEN IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AND RUNS FINE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR STILL PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF

NHTSA ID
11163884
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2018

CAR JUST STALLS NO WARNING HI WAY SPEED YOUR TURNING CANT STEER THE CAR OR STOP IT GIVES NO CODES STOPE OR DRIVING IT WILL JUST LOSE POWER AND STALL NOT SAFE .VERY RANDOM NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN

NHTSA ID
11153536
Incident
Nov 22, 2018
Mileage
142,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (RON CARTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, 3005 FM 528 RD, ALVIN, TX 77511, (281) 331-8111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS AND BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11122162
Incident
Aug 24, 2017
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER EQUIPPED WITH A KIDDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. IN 2011, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT IT DID NOT FUNCTION. THE FIRE WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OWNER WITH A DIFFERENT FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V824000 (EQUIPMENT); HOWEVER, THE KIDDE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BECAUSE THE CONTACT DISCARDED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11120162
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2018

WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BREAK THE CAR JUST STALLS I HAVE ALL DASH LIGHTS PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT RESTARTS BACK UP THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES NOW THAT I OWNED THE CAR HAS 65.0000 MILES ON IT NEED INFO ON WHAT TO DO THE DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS GOING ON THIS TAKES PLACE AT ANY SPEED SLOW OR FAST TURNS

NHTSA ID
11114466
Incident
May 9, 2018
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 30, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED RUST ALONG THE WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FOAM ON THE VEHICLE NEAR THE AREA HOLDING WATER CAUSED RUST, WHICH WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE ROYAL GATE DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM DEALER (LOCATED AT 15502 MANCHESTER ROAD, ELLISVILLE, MI 63011; 636-394-3400) AND WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE BEING NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID
11020642
Incident
Aug 29, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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