Dodge Challenger Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 620 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Dodge Challenger across 16 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (138). The words owners use most often: “side window” (7% of reports).
- 620electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 10related recalls
- $840typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Side window: mentioned in 45 of 620 complaints (7%)
- Chrysler jeep: mentioned in 34 of 620 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Dodge Challenger at $840, and half of them between $690 and $1,350.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 404 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 620 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 36 a fire, 6 an injury.
Dodge Challenger electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Challenger | 6 | 14% | 29,851 |
| 2022 Challenger | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2021 Challenger | 4 | 21% | — |
| 2020 Challenger | 7 | 35% | 2,000 |
| 2019 Challenger | 17 | 29% | 4,475 |
| 2018 Challenger | 28 | 37% | 5,050 |
| 2017 Challenger | 16 | 33% | 39,250 |
| 2016 Challenger | 15 | 19% | 14,500 |
| 2015 Challenger | 26 | 21% | 49,575 |
| 2014 Challenger | 62 | 42% | 40,127 |
| 2013 Challenger | 104 | 58% | 47,150 |
| 2012 Challenger | 138 | 55% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Challenger | 103 | 53% | 54,000 |
| 2010 Challenger | 68 | 23% | 46,000 |
| 2009 Challenger | 21 | 16% | 50,550 |
| 2008 Challenger | 4 | 40% | 33,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (10)
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2021
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y58.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2019
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V32.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood
Model years: 2018
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:wiring
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Model years: 2014
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014 Dodge Challenger, Charger, Durango, Chrysler 300, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T75.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2015
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2015 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured June 30, 2014, to October 8, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the instrument cluster may become inoperative. This could cause the gauges to oscillate at zero and the Vehicle Theft Alarm could remain illuminated. Thus, the affected vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 101, "Controls and displays."
Risk: If the instrument cluster becomes inoperative, it can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a software enhancement, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2014. Owners can contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P74.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
Risk: If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.
Electrical system:wiring:front underhoodDo not drive
Model years: 2013
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured from December 3, 2012, through January 24, 2013 and equipped with a V6 engine. The battery positive cable at the starter motor may experience an electrical short circuit to ground.
Risk: A short circuit could lead to a vehicle fire.
Fix: Chrysler has begun notifying owners and they are being advised to immediately refrain from driving their vehicles and to contact their dealers. Chrysler Group further advises affected owners not to park their vehicles in, or near, any structures. Dealers will replace the under hood starter cable assembly, free of charge. The recall notification began on March 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Electrical system:ignition:module
Model years: 2010
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010 chrysler 300, dodge challenger, charger, jeep commander, grand cherokee and dodge ram vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with a wireless ignition node (win) module exhibiting a binding condition of the solenoid latch.
Risk: The result of the defect could lead to a condition where the key may be removed from the ignition switch (win module) prior to placing the shifter in park. This could result in the potential for unintended vehicle movement and could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the win module free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before august 23, 2010. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that the instrument cluster cover had cracked twice in the center and in the right corners. The vehicle was initially repaired under warranty; however, the failure reoccurred within several months. The dealer had since refused to perform…
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, the check engine warning light illuminated, and an abnormal burning odor was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted and…
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…
Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) I have two children and the vehicle has left me stranded about a dozen times because it will not even start. Upon research, this faulty part can also cause the vehicle to just stall at highway speeds. I have taken it to a 3rd-party mechanic, a Dodge…
While operating my vehicle at road speed the electric steering rack failed. This rendered the steering inoperative. It was impossible to steer the vehicle. Not only is this situation extremely dangerous and deadly, there was no advanced warning. I received no prompts or warning lights before the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Challengers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 620 owner complaints about electrical system for the Dodge Challenger. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Challenger electrical system?
Yes: 10 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Dodge Challenger?
Owners report a typical cost of $840 (half paid between $690 and $1,350), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Dodge Challenger?
The most frequent phrase is “side window”, in 45 of 620 complaints, followed by “chrysler jeep” (34).
Other Dodge Challenger problems
- Engine problems (283)
- Air Bags problems (281)
- Power Train problems (188)
- Steering problems (147)
See all Dodge Challenger problems.