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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Dodge CHALLENGER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

133 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

30,152 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 133 complaints (30.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation2418.0%
Transmission and shifting2115.8%
Braking behavior1712.8%
Steering behavior1612.0%
Electrical and battery issues64.5%
Fuel system concerns10.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
40
Engine
26
Power Train
22
Electrical System
21
Engine And Engine Cooling
8
Steering
8
Vehicle Speed Control
8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags40
Engine26
Power Train22
Electrical System21
Engine And Engine Cooling8
Steering8
Vehicle Speed Control8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine5

Air Bags: 40; Engine: 26; Power Train: 22; Electrical System: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Steering: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
33
25,000 to 49,999
25
50,000 to 74,999
19
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00033
25,000 to 49,99925
50,000 to 74,99919
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
9
2010
7
2011
13
2012
11
2013
3
2014
10
2015
24
2016
23
2017
8
2018
6
2019
3
2020
4
2021
6
2022
2
2023
3
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20099
20107
201113
201211
20133
201410
201524
201623
20178
20186
20193
20204
20216
20222
20233
20261

2009: 9; 2010: 7; 2011: 13; 2012: 11; 2013: 3; 2014: 10; 2015: 24; 2016: 23; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10348967 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)

1. SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. 2. CAR STALLS AND ENGINE DIES ELIMINATING ALL POWER STEERING BRAKES, ETC. 3. CAR HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. 4. CEL WILL COME ON BUT GOES OUT AFTER RESTART. 5. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITH TWO DIFFERENT ENGINES. 6. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GOT ME REAR ENDED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348967 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10351882 · 2010-08-26 (August 26, 2010)

CAR JUST STALLS AS IF TURNED KEY OFF AT ERRATIC TIMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10279815 · 2009-08-09 (August 9, 2009)

2009 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T LOSES POWER WHILE UNDER LOAD SUCH AS GOING UP HILLS OR PASSING; AND THE RPM PULSATES. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO OCCUR MORE IN HOT WEATHER. UPON DECELERATION, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SO ROUGHLY THAT VEHICLE LOST TRACTION IN SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN A CRASH. THESE APPEAR TO BE TWO SEPARATE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279815 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10280660 · 2009-08-17 (August 17, 2009)

I OWN A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT. I WAS DRIVING 30MPH DOWN A STREET, HONKED THE HORN AND BRAKED AT THE SAME TIME AND MY CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE ASKED ALL AMERICAN IN ODESSA WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO FIX IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY MODEL CAR. I PRINTED OUT RECALL #08V458000 ON THE POWER TRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY A MODULE IS TO BE REPLACED SO THAT THE CAR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN OFF UNLESS IT IS IN PARK ONLY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD. THE TECHNICIAN AT AL…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280660 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10265124 · 2009-04-13 (April 13, 2009)

2009 DODGE CHALLENGER--THROTTLE STICKING-BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED-RPMS REV. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 187 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265124 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10289230 · 2009-10-21 (October 21, 2009)

BRAKES THAT CONTINUE TO FADE AND SHUTTER UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289230 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10354485 · 2010-09-08 (September 8, 2010)

2009 DODGE CHALLENGER, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTOFF AFTER DECELERATING. VERY DANGEROUS. BREAKS AND STEERING SHUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES TO ME. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REPORTS OF THIS LOCATED HERE: HTTP://WWW.CHALLENGERTALK.COM/FORUMS/F36/ENGINE-STALLING-35997/. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354485 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10289239 · 2009-10-21 (October 21, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CHALLENGER(NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AN INVESTIGATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289239 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10443633 · 2012-01-12 (January 12, 2012)

AFTER BATTERY AND CABLES RECALL PERFORMED AND NEW KEY FOBS PROGRAMMED DUE TO "NO KEY FOB PRESENT" ,CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY START. PUSH BUTTON OR FOB IN DASH, MADE NO DIFFERENCE. CAR WOULD "THUNK" OR "START AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF" AND FINALLY THE SAFETY ISSUE THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED! ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD BE DEAD. IT DIED ON ME COMING UP A STEEP HILL MERGE LANE, MAKING TURNS, ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY. HAD THE CAR TO MY PURCHASE DEALER TWICE AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443633 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11760165 · 2026-08-27 (August 27, 2026)

Fuel Pump complete failure. No warning lights, etc. Went out at a stoplight. Vehicle restart was random and would run for only a few seconds. Luckily wasn't in the middle of intersection, but was a busy road, I was in left turn lane and created safety issue. I had warning flashers on but still caused a concern of getting hit. I kept seat belt on and called and got tow truck. Took it to Dodge dealer, they confirmed vehicle would not run long enough to move. Fuel pump failure. Upon my own investigation, the issue appears common and is d…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11760165 at NHTSA ↗