2018 Dodge Challenger Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 75 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Challenger years
About as many complaints as other years 9th of 16 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Challenger. That ranks 9th out of 16 Challenger model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (28 complaints, 37%), typically at around 5,050 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger RT (LC) Hemi at the 5th US-Car meeting in Gut Leimershof near Bamberg. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2018 Dodge Challenger problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System28 · ~5,050 mi
Unknown or Other28 · ~25,000 mi
Power Train8 · ~13,500 mi
Steering6 · ~14,655 mi
Wheels6 · ~27,071 mi
Air Bags5 · ~18,581 mi
Engine5 · ~24,000 mi
Exterior Lighting5
Service Brakes5 · ~13,500 mi
Suspension4 · ~30,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System2837%5,050——
Unknown or Other2837%25,000——
Power Train811%13,500——
Steering68%14,655——
Wheels68%27,071——
Air Bags57%18,581——
Engine57%24,000——
Exterior Lighting57%———
Service Brakes57%13,500——
Suspension45%30,000——
Visibility/wiper45%24,000——
Vehicle Speed Control34%28,655——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)23%11,054——
Seats23%27,000——
Equipment11%48,000——
Fuel/propulsion System11%———
Lane Departure11%———
Latches/locks/linkages11%———
Structure11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2019, with 17 complaints
2018: 102018102019: 172019172020: 7202072021: 112021112022: 102022102023: 5202352024: 7202472025: 4202542026: 420264

n = 75 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2018 Dodge Challenger recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electrical system:wiring:front underhoodAug 9, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V524000 · 12,779 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.

Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

Electrical system:software; vehicle speed control:cruise control; electrical system:wiringMay 17, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V332000 · 4,815,661 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Power train:automatic transmissionMay 1, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V280000 · 71 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.

Risk: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The Uconnect HMI/touchscreen in my 2018 Dodge Challenger has visibly delaminated and developed severe phantom touch inputs. When powered on, the screen registers commands without any physical contact. The failed touchscreen remains installed and available for inspection. The vehicle has…

Electrical System · received Sep 2, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11761567

Driving along and all of a sudden the shifter lights started flashing, wipers turned on, steering became difficult, and finally the transmission locked up. Stalled in the middle of the hiway turn lane and because the transmission was locked up it couldn't even be pushed out of the way. Traffic was…

Power Train · received Jun 9, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11743056

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that the rims on the wheels of the vehicle were poorly designed and there were several cracks on the rims. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered cracks on the inside edges of the rims. The contact stated that the…

Wheels · received Apr 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11729418

I purchased the vehicle which had minor passenger door damage under $500. There were false reports on Copart and Autobidmaster about the vehicle. They lied and said the vehicle was 91.2 percent damaged. The businesses are false. They admitted insanity as their fraudulent motivation. The title…

Unknown or Other · received Jan 18, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11711734

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the left turn signal light failed to function as intended. The turn signal light on the instrument panel was flashing erratically. The message "Left Turn Signal Out" was displayed. The vehicle was not…

Electrical System · received Sep 11, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11686582

Other Dodge Challenger years

← 2017 Challenger · 2019 Challenger →

See all Dodge Challenger problems by year, every Dodge model, or the Dodge VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Dodge Challenger?

Owners most often report electrical system, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 28 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2018 Dodge Challenger?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2018 Dodge Challenger a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Challenger model years, the 2018 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.