2019 Dodge CHALLENGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
4,884 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 58 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 13 | 22.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 15.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Wheels | 11 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Electrical System: 17; Unknown Or Other: 14; Wheels: 11; Engine: 8; Steering: 8; Power Train: 6; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 34 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2019: 4; 2020: 13; 2021: 12; 2022: 2; 2023: 11; 2024: 7; 2025: 7; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 11267536 · 2019-10-09 (October 9, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND AS I TURNED TO MERGE MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE WHEEL. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AND IT SAID 'STEERING WHEEL MOTION OFF'
Owner-reported narrative. 710 miles reported. Look up ODI 11267536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11280627 · 2019-11-17 (November 17, 2019)
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO ITS FULL EXTENT, THE TIRES BEGIN TO SCRAPE AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11280627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298999 · 2020-01-13 (January 13, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REVERSING HIS VEHICLE TO PARK, IT JOLTED BACKWARDS. THE SERVICE SHIFTER, SERVICE TRANSMISSION, SERVICE ENGINE, AND THE PARK CAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE GEARS WERE STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE DEALER BRAVO CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF ALHAMBRA LOCATED AT 1100 W MAIN ST, ALHAMBRA, CA 9180[phone removed] REFUSED TO HELP TOW THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO PICK UP TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11302951 · 2020-01-30 (January 30, 2020)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON A CITY STREET. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN CHANGING LANES AND WHILE MAKE A TURN. ON 1-11-2020 I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST DRIVE THIS CAR, BUT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH MULTIPLE CODES. THE SALESMAN HAD ME TEST DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME SPECS SO THAT A TECH COULD LOOK AT THE CODES. THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. PURCHASED THE ORIGINAL CAR THAT HAD THE CODES ON THE DAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190666 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 300 MILES. VEHICLE STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. ENGAGED EMERGENCY FLASHER. AFTER SEVERAL EFFORTS TO START/STOP THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DID FINALLY ENGAGE. THIS TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE HOME AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. STILL LEARY ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203420 · 2019-04-24 (April 24, 2019)
IF PARKED IN GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK IN THE GEAR IT WAS LEFT IN. IT ALSO HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEARS WHEN COLD. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN STAR CENTER CASE #K38556860 AND #S1021000004.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306592 · 2020-02-02 (February 2, 2020)
STOCK, FACTORY BUILT, REAR BRAKE PAD SURFACE AREA IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE REAR ROTOR DIAMETER. SWEEP OF BRAKE PAD IS SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER THAN THE ROTOR. THIS IS CAUSING AN IMPROPER WEAR PATTERN ON ROTOR. REDUCES STOPPING FORCE AND WILL CREATE A RIDGE IN THE ROTOR. THIS RIDGE WILL MAKE FUTURE REPLACEMENT BRAKE PADS INCOMPATIBLE, AND COULD AFFECT BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE NEGATIVELY.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413229 · 2021-04-21 (April 21, 2021)
BRAKE LINES IN ENGINE BAY ON PASSENGER SIDE ARE ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING THE INSULATION TO MELT. THE MELTED INSULATION WAS FOUND BY MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO BOILING BRAKE FLUID AND RECOMMEND GETTING THIS FIXED AT DODGE UNDER WARRANTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,910 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11513260 · 2023-03-22 (March 22, 2023)
Was getting on freeway and hit the gas to accelerate and get ahead of the traffic. The Challenger would not accelerate fast (has a hemi) and car almost flew into me. Started testing the vehicle and it just wouldn't accelerate fast, it was stall slowly and pickup speed over 30 seconds or so. I brought it in to one shop and they said its probably a software update and to take it to Dodge and it should be free. Dodge told me it's probably not software, kept my car for 5 days and told me it was a software update and that they updated it for fr…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11548547 · 2023-10-05 (October 5, 2023)
On my way to work on 9/28/23 my 2019 dodge challenger hellcat Redeye engine just shut off at 65mph. I was in the left lane by the wall on I45 heading northbound. I instantly had a loss of power steering and braking. The engine just shut off. A check engine light came on and the dash said shift I to park to start. I was successfully able to get across 4 lanes of traffic to stop on the apron between o ram and side of freeway. When I shifted to park and to try to restart it would not start. Had to be towed to dealership where upon inspection they …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11548547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11621159 · 2024-10-21 (October 21, 2024)
My mileage time ometer keeps jumping from 56000 to 68000 time belt. My car is fairly new. This vehicle should not be doing this. The break I use to start the car nearly starts it. The breaks is not connected to the fuel pump correctly.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11621159 at NHTSA ↗