2021 Dodge CHALLENGER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2021 Dodge CHALLENGER has 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 115. The most common issue is air bags problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: the contact owned a 2021 dodge challenger. the contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 55-65 mph when the vehicle hydroplaned, as a result, the vehicle struck a guard rail head-on and spun out of control. the contact stated that the frontal air bags failed to deploy. there . There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
26
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
5/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
AIR BAGS
4 complaints- • The contact owned a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 55-65 MPH when the vehicle hydroplaned, as a result, the vehicle struck a guard rail head-on and spun out of control. The contact stated that the frontal air bags failed to deploy. There
- • Left frontal Collision between drivers side head assembly and center front of car- with white tail deer about 100-120 lbs. , causing extensive damage to car. $19,000. Payout from progressive for those extensive repairs. And airbags never deployed. This seems highly alarming to me. The abrupt stop
- • The contact was driving a rental vehicle from Enterprise which was a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated there was debris in the high way and the vehicle was pulled into the wall and the air bag did not deploy. The contact state
“The contact owned a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 55-65 MPH when the vehicle hydroplaned, as a result, the vehicle struck a guard rail head-on and spun out of control. The contact stated that the frontal air bags failed to deploy. There ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (2)
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.
High theft risk
The Dodge CHALLENGER was the #24 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 4,100 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: Muscle car; engine and body parts
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Dodge CHALLENGER
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Dodge CHALLENGER
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Dodge New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Dodge. If you're buying a used 2021 CHALLENGER, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Dodge dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 26 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: The contact owned a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 55-65 MPH when the vehicle hydroplaned, as a result, the vehicle struck a guard rail head-on and spun out of control. The contact stated that the frontal air bags failed to deploy. There
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: Challenger less than a week from the dealership and less than 1,000 miles. Catastrophic fuel pump failure while driving, unable to recover. Rear view back up camera freezes and stutters causing safety issues. Radio volume constantly changes while driving and leads to distraction safety issues.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: speedometer is messed up and not working properly what should I do?
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: The transmission/drive shaft thumps and the car "lurches" upon start-up. This is somehow related to the push button start. My car is also equipped with a factory remote start and no noise is heard, nor does the car lurch on start-up. Please refer to video link: https://youtu.be/SRQJcjpl4mA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Dodge dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Dodge CHALLENGER — Year Comparison
How does 2021 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 26
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 115
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2021 Dodge CHALLENGER