2016 Dodge CHALLENGER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
16,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 78 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 17.9% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 14.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 15 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
Electrical System: 15; Power Train: 15; Engine: 12; Air Bags: 11; Unknown Or Other: 11; Steering: 9; Exterior Lighting: 6; Suspension: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 31 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 6; 2017: 14; 2018: 7; 2019: 10; 2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10863244 · 2016-05-04 (May 4, 2016)
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 IT GOES DEEP. THE RUST FLAKED OFF IN MY HAND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK THE NEXT MORNING. THEY TOLD ME I COULD EXCHANGE IT FOR A SIMILAR VEHICLE BUT THAT ALL OF THEM HAD THE SAME RUST. I TOOK PICTURES OF SOME OF THE RUST. I TOLD THEM TO KEEP THE CAR A…
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864517 · 2016-05-12 (May 12, 2016)
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 RIGHT SIDE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850.
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871669 · 2016-05-31 (May 31, 2016)
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 CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ADVANCE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE APPROACHING TRAFFIC. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10871669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885201 · 2016-07-16 (July 16, 2016)
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 FULL STOP AT A SIGN, LIGHT OR BEHIND A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, SERVICE MANAGER CAME OUT TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS LOOSE IN TRUNK, SPARE TIRE,ETC. NO PROBLEM FOUND, I WAS TOLD TO BRING CAR BACK MONDAY MORNING FOR FURTHER DIAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 483 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10888898 · 2016-07-27 (July 27, 2016)
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 CONCRETE BARRIER. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED I…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916381 · 2016-10-16 (October 16, 2016)
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 IN ACC. MY SON HAS NEARLY HIT A TREE AND HE HAS CROSSED LANES INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED. THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AT ABOUT 2500 MILES 04/2016. IT HAS HAPPENED FROM10 MPH TO 70 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED 15 O…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947843 · 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)
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 IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT WATER ENTERED THE ENGINE MANIFOLD TROUGH THE COLD AIR INTAKE, LOCATED SIX INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10948825 · 2017-02-01 (February 1, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE UNKNOWN PARTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,730. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,730 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948825 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V332000 · Electrical System:Software | Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2018-05-17 (May 17, 2018)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Consequence: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
NHTSA campaign record ↗