
2016 Dodge CHALLENGER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Dodge CHALLENGER has 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: driveline clunk noise in rear of vehicle when coming to a stop between 3 to 6 mph downshifting. this happens no matter what the road surface your on. this is a new vehicle with less than 500 miles, after i went to my county probate office to get my licence tag, this occurred every time i came to a . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
109
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
16 complaints- • DRIVELINE CLUNK NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP BETWEEN 3 TO 6 MPH DOWNSHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD SURFACE YOUR ON. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES, AFTER I WENT TO MY COUNTY PROBATE OFFICE TO GET MY LICENCE TAG, THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME I CAME TO A
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND USING THE PADDLE SHIFTER TO SHIFT TO AN UP GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT INSTEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT ME
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE AS IF THEY WERE PREMATURELY WEARING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIM
“DRIVELINE CLUNK NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP BETWEEN 3 TO 6 MPH DOWNSHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD SURFACE YOUR ON. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES, AFTER I WENT TO MY COUNTY PROBATE OFFICE TO GET MY LICENCE TAG, THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME I CAME TO A ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
15 complaints- • MY 17 YEAR OLD SON'S 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER TURNS OFF WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THE IGNITION SWITCH USUALLY GOES TO ACC (SOMETIMES RUN). ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, BRAKING IS DIFFICULT, HEATING/COOLING TURN OFF, AND ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE AIRBAGS BECOME INACTIVE I
- • UCONNECT 911 VEHICLE PHONE CHIP NOT WORKING, WHITE SCREEN ON RADIO MODULE, AND UNABLE TO CONTROL RADIO SETTINGS, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL BLOWER FOR HEAT, AC, OR DEFROST, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER AND CALL TO CUSTOMER CARE HAS NOT RESOLVED ISSUE AS OF YET. HEAD UNIT IS ON BACK ORDER. PHONE CAN NOT BE CO
- • ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO I REMOTE STARTED MY VEHICLE WITH THE FACTORY REMOTE STARTER. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS STATIONARY, PUSHED THE START BUTTON TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY, ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO LATER THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY AND SHUTOFF, ALL THE DASHBO
“MY 17 YEAR OLD SON'S 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER TURNS OFF WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THE IGNITION SWITCH USUALLY GOES TO ACC (SOMETIMES RUN). ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, BRAKING IS DIFFICULT, HEATING/COOLING TURN OFF, AND ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE AIRBAGS BECOME INACTIVE I”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
12 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VICTORVILLE MOTORS (LOCATED AT 14617 CIVIC DR, VICTORVILLE, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANU
- • WHEN I OPENED THE CAP OF MY COOLANT EXPANSION TANK, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE RUST AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE CAP. I INSERTED MY FINGER INTO THE TANK AND FOUND RUST INSIDE THE COOLANT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RUST. WE WENT T
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
11 complaints- • I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AFTER I SIGNED THE PAPERS THEY LET ME INSPECT IT. I SAW SOME RUST ON THE JOINTS AND SCREWS THAT HELD THE TIRES. THEY SAID IT WAS SURFACE RUST. I TOOK IT HOME AND EXAMINED IT CLOSED. I FOUND THAT THE RUST IS VERY EXTENSIVE. IT INCLUDED THE METAL THAT HELD THE TIRE TO THE CAR AND
- • UCONNECT 911 VEHICLE PHONE CHIP NOT WORKING, WHITE SCREEN ON RADIO MODULE, AND UNABLE TO CONTROL RADIO SETTINGS, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL BLOWER FOR HEAT, AC, OR DEFROST, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER AND CALL TO CUSTOMER CARE HAS NOT RESOLVED ISSUE AS OF YET. HEAD UNIT IS ON BACK ORDER. PHONE CAN NOT BE CO
- • U CONNECT SAFETY CONCERNS. DRIVE SHIFT PROMPTED FOR SERVICE, BACK UP CAM SHOWING WHILE IN DRIVE IN NAVE SCREEN, NO CONTROL OVER BLOWERS, WITH MANUAL BUTTONS OR NAV SCREEN, NO CONTROL OF RADIO VOLUME, BLACK SCREEN, AND ASSIST LIGHT AND 911 LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONAL. *TR
“I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AFTER I SIGNED THE PAPERS THEY LET ME INSPECT IT. I SAW SOME RUST ON THE JOINTS AND SCREWS THAT HELD THE TIRES. THEY SAID IT WAS SURFACE RUST. I TOOK IT HOME AND EXAMINED IT CLOSED. I FOUND THAT THE RUST IS VERY EXTENSIVE. IT INCLUDED THE METAL THAT HELD THE TIRE TO THE CAR AND”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
11 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, FINGERS AND R
- • TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CONDITION IN WHICH THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN NECESSARY. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLOW TO RESPOND RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE CON
- • TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, FINGERS AND R”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 109 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: DRIVELINE CLUNK NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP BETWEEN 3 TO 6 MPH DOWNSHIFTING. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD SURFACE YOUR ON. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES, AFTER I WENT TO MY COUNTY PROBATE OFFICE TO GET MY LICENCE TAG, THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME I CAME TO A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: MY 17 YEAR OLD SON'S 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER TURNS OFF WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THE IGNITION SWITCH USUALLY GOES TO ACC (SOMETIMES RUN). ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, BRAKING IS DIFFICULT, HEATING/COOLING TURN OFF, AND ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE AIRBAGS BECOME INACTIVE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AFTER I SIGNED THE PAPERS THEY LET ME INSPECT IT. I SAW SOME RUST ON THE JOINTS AND SCREWS THAT HELD THE TIRES. THEY SAID IT WAS SURFACE RUST. I TOOK IT HOME AND EXAMINED IT CLOSED. I FOUND THAT THE RUST IS VERY EXTENSIVE. IT INCLUDED THE METAL THAT HELD THE TIRE TO THE CAR AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge CHALLENGER — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 109
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 11
- Injury reports
- 9
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Dodge CHALLENGER