2021 Dodge Challenger problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (3) · Steering (2) · Power Train (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Challenger model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2021-08-26 · campaign 21V664000 · 135 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Visibility:windshield:critical Fasteners 2021-07-08 · campaign 21V516000 · 21,258 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y47.
Service bulletins (287)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2026-09-30 · S2621000004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the customer may complain about a popping noise, grinding noise, or an intermittent no reverse or forward transmission engagement. the tech may find damaged and/or worn transmission output shaft splines (850re transmission only)
Structure:body 2026-06-26 · S2208000045 REV.D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Engine 2026-03-21 · 18-044-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
flash: powertrain control module (pcm) updates customers must experience a malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination and the vehicle must symptom: exhibit/set one or more of the following diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs): ● **p0111-00 - intake air temperature sensor 1 circuit range performance ba
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-18 · S2208000045 REV.C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
backup camera poor image quality inspection
Power Train 2026-03-09 · S2621000003 REV.A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845re, 8hp45, 850re, 8hp50, 8hp70, 8hp75, 8hp75-phev, 8hp75-lcv, 8hp90, 8hp95. transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: p07e4, p1db2, p0716, p1b14, p0733, p1d90, p1d
Electrical System 2026-03-05 · S2608000010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
active diagnostic trouble code (dtc) b1a10-00, b1a11-00, b1a12- 00, b1a13-00-, b1a14-00, b1a15-00, b1a16-00, and b1a17-00 in the radio frequency hub (rfh)
Showing the 6 most recent of 287 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-16 · Steering“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 incident happened. i researched and found that certai…”
2026-06-22 · Steering · 44,850 mi“the contact owns a 2021 dodge challenger. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30-35 mph on a local roadway, the steering suddenly became inoperative, and the steering wheel locked without warning. the contact was able to maintain control of the vehicle and safely pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle was already drif…”
2025-07-03 · Power Train“mileage 61113 . car moves forward 15 feet an goes into neutral .when pulling into traffic this is a serious safety problem . a major accident which could be loss of life might occur . enterprise car sales will not acknowledge o show any concern . they offered a 12 month or 12000 mile limited warranty free and implied i should have paid for an expen…”
2025-06-21 · Seat Belts“my seatbelt seemed a bit faulty when i purchased the car. it was slow to retract and at some points wouldn’t retract unless i played with the seatbelt. three years in to owning the car it still won’t retract fully and is at the point where it won’t come out to a safe distance that allows me to wear my seatbelt. as for the electrical defaults, there…”
2025-06-12 · Suspension“i purchased this vehicle from vroom, who is also my lender under united auto credit. the car was sold with a washed title and undisclosed prior structural and mechanical damage. i have documentation confirming the vehicle had serious pre-existing issues and should never have been sold as a clean-title car. the differential has failed three times i…”
2024-12-06 · Unknown Or Other“my automatic start hasn’t been working for months . sometimes it work , sometimes it doesn’t . when it doesn’t work i get a message on the dash saying “remote start cancelled hood open . “iced taken my car to the dodge dealership several times & it keeps happening . i’ve contacted dodge customer care etc and nothing . once when i was at the dealer…”
2024-09-23 · Seats“on [xxx] i was traveling s/b on [xxx] in florida in my dodge challenger which i purchased from new smyrna dodge this year. i was traveling approx 65 mph and all of a sudden the back of my drivers seat went back all the way putting me in a flat position against the rear seat. i was lucky enough to pull myself up and keep control of the vehicle. t…”
2024-05-14 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“on [xxx] i was involved in car accident on [xxx] around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. when the impact happened the airbags deployed and cut my wrist (left) and burned my left forearm. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)…”
2024-01-01 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“the cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway i have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but i settled the accident with other driver with cash with out involving insurance or police but the car is n…”
2023-08-22 · Air Bags · 45,415 mi“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 stated a police report was filed. the contact was trans…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.