2013 Dodge CHALLENGER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Dodge CHALLENGER has 251 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: i received a call from the car dealer (darcars chrysler jeep of rockville, md) that i purchased my vehicle from on 19 march 2013. i was told that my car was recalled for a safety issue. the problem is the engine starter positive terminal on my vehicle could short to ground and cause an electrical . ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 5 crash reports 5 injuries

251

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

104 complaints

41%

• I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CAR DEALER (DARCARS CHRYSLER JEEP OF ROCKVILLE, MD) THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM ON 19 MARCH 2013. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE STARTER POSITIVE TERMINAL ON MY VEHICLE COULD SHORT TO GROUND AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL
• WONDER WHY IS IT THAT YOUR WEBSITE 7 DAYS AFTER RECALL HAS NOTHING TO VIEW OF THE RECALL OF 4459 VEHICLES WITH APPROX. 2500 EFFECTED, 7 FIRES (NO INJURIES). *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13V103000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports

“I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CAR DEALER (DARCARS CHRYSLER JEEP OF ROCKVILLE, MD) THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM ON 19 MARCH 2013. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE STARTER POSITIVE TERMINAL ON MY VEHICLE COULD SHORT TO GROUND AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

27 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
• VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON... ESC, ABS,BRAKES, DASHBOARD WENT DARK NO RADIO OR NAV. POWER STEERING FAILED. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP... VEHJICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.. WILL NOT START AGAIN... *JS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS BECAME DIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO POWER OFF AT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

19 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHIFTED INTO SPORT MODE AND ENGAGED THE POWER SHIFTER SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT THE PO
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS T
• THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDER RECALL SINCE NOVEMBER AND THE DEALER HAS NOT EVEN FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHIFTED INTO SPORT MODE AND ENGAGED THE POWER SHIFTER SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT THE PO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

16 complaints

• WAS TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH, BEGAN TO GENTLY ACCELERATE TO PASS CAR GOING IN SAME DIRECTION ON FREEWAY. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED RAPIDLY, BUT CAR DID NOT SPEED UP, THEN SUDDENLY IT APPEARED TO SLAM INTO GEAR. PERSON TRAVELLING IN PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO LOOK ALL AROU
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR RECALL. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS WATER IN THE INTAKE AND I MUST HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH HIGH WATER. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN THROUGH HIGH WATER. I HAV
• I WAS DRIVING NORMAL SPEED AT 60 WHEN I PROCEEDED TO GET OVER I PUSH THE GAS A LITTLE BIT THE CAR RPM WHEN HIGH BUT THE CAR DID NOT SPEED UP I LOOKED AT THE DASH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT SCANNED AT ADVANCE AUTO AND AUTO ZONE THEY BOTH GAVE ME THE SAME CODE OF P0741 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WAS TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH, BEGAN TO GENTLY ACCELERATE TO PASS CAR GOING IN SAME DIRECTION ON FREEWAY. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED RAPIDLY, BUT CAR DID NOT SPEED UP, THEN SUDDENLY IT APPEARED TO SLAM INTO GEAR. PERSON TRAVELLING IN PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO LOOK ALL AROU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

15 complaints

• VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON... ESC, ABS,BRAKES, DASHBOARD WENT DARK NO RADIO OR NAV. POWER STEERING FAILED. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP... VEHJICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.. WILL NOT START AGAIN... *JS
• DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MILE THE CAR POWER WENT OUT ON ABS AND THEN ALL GAGES SHOWED ZERO, STEERING WENT OUT AND CAR SHUT OF COMPLETELY GOING AT 60 THEN. NO BRAKES NO STEERING ENGINE SHUTS OFF WAS SO SCARED .... CAR HAD TO COME TO A STOP ON IT OWN HAD STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY
• ON THIS DATE 7/3/17 MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER WERE VISITING THE LIBRARY WHEN OUR VEHICLE STALLED. THANKFULLY THEY WERE IN A SAFE LOCATION AND HAD JUST PARKED. PRIOR TO LEAVING THE HOUSE MY HUSBAND NOTICED A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CAR STALLES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON... ESC, ABS,BRAKES, DASHBOARD WENT DARK NO RADIO OR NAV. POWER STEERING FAILED. WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP... VEHJICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.. WILL NOT START AGAIN... *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 251 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CAR DEALER (DARCARS CHRYSLER JEEP OF ROCKVILLE, MD) THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM ON 19 MARCH 2013. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE STARTER POSITIVE TERMINAL ON MY VEHICLE COULD SHORT TO GROUND AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHIFTED INTO SPORT MODE AND ENGAGED THE POWER SHIFTER SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT THE PO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WAS TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH, BEGAN TO GENTLY ACCELERATE TO PASS CAR GOING IN SAME DIRECTION ON FREEWAY. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED RAPIDLY, BUT CAR DID NOT SPEED UP, THEN SUDDENLY IT APPEARED TO SLAM INTO GEAR. PERSON TRAVELLING IN PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO LOOK ALL AROU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)