10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,813 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Dodge Challenger electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Dodge Challenger Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Jul 142020

Challenger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am currently waiting for a new Instrument Cluster, which is the cause of all of my problems, and which is why I failed the emissions test.

- Island Lake, IL, USA

problem #20

Mar 312023

Challenger

  • miles
Three times now the throttle has gone to wide open and sticks for about 5 seconds. Scares the living crap out of you.

- Ferndale, WA, USA

problem #19

Dec 292020

Challenger

  • 90,000 miles
Had a message pop up on my radio that the wireless module is bad...cannot unlock, lock, open the trunk or remote start the car with the key fob.

- Dublin, CA, USA

problem #18

May 052020

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 51,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle stalls randomly while coming to a stop. Oil light illuminates car losses all power steering and breaking. This happens while driving straight or turning as well. Primarily while turning. This has happened to me on a city intersection and in my residential neighborhood. I am scared that I am going to wreck because of this and hurt myself or others.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #17

Feb 022020

Challenger

  • 60,000 miles
I have experienced numerous breathing difficulties, I suspect have been caused by the air blowing out the vehicles ventilation system... I regularly develop chest pain in my breast area and migraine headaches after being in the vehicle for an extended period. I have reason to believe that the vehicle had been tampered with prior to my purchase. I've recently discovered false information related to the ownership of the car, through a carfax search

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #16

Oct 312019

Challenger

  • 138,000 miles
I brought my car 8 months ago and the delalership never told me about any of the four recalls I never received any papers in the mail concerning the recalls and that puts me and my children at risk everyday it's a scary feeling I also hit a tree that was in the middle of the street my steering G wheel was hard to control and my breaks as well

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #15

Aug 152016

Challenger

  • 57,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Alternator failure at 57000 miles. No power, and smoke.

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #14

Mar 232016

Challenger

  • 45,000 miles
This vehicle was in perfect operational conditions prior to the repairs regarding the takata inflators. Immediately following this repair, I have replaced the battery on two separate occasions. A completely charged battery will discharge overnight. After a complete diagnostic evaluation by Dodge dealership, they found no problems with vehicle. In the 12-days following this diagnostic, I have charged the battery twice. I am really concerned that an electrical defect, as a result of the dealership repairs, may contribute to an electrical fire or a possible explosive concern. I am concerned for the safety of my self, as well as my family. This has been an on-going concern for approximately 6-months.

- Hesperia, CA, USA

problem #13

Sep 232016

Challenger

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owned a 2009 Dodge Challenger. While driving 15 mph, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, the gauges displayed incorrect readings and the radio failed to function. The vehicle was taken to an auto part center, but was not diagnosed or repaired. Also, while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled and the engine compartment caught fire. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a salvage yard where it was completely destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 135,000.

- Lancaster, TX, USA

problem #12

Jul 192016

Challenger 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,250 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. While driving 80 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 80,250. Updated 11/29/16 the consumer also stated the vehicle would shut off in the midst of a turn and at start up. Updated 12/13/16.

- Federal Heights, CO, USA

problem #11

Apr 042016

Challenger

  • 64,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T equipped with the automatic transmission started experiencing problems downshifting when approaching a stop. You wouldn't know until you press the gas to proceed down the road and barely move as the vehicle would be stuck in the highest gear. I would have to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and restart it to drive the vehicle. Luckily this didn't happen when trying to pull out into traffic as it would have a high tendency to create a collision. Transmission code for the input speed sensor and after researching it online, I found a mass number of complaints and repairs about this issue. It appears to be a mechanical defect that needs to be dealt with by fca and NHTSA due to the common occurrence is these vehicles. Replacing the input speed sensor which is part of an electronic module cost approximately $500 and corrected the problem.

- Lockport, IL, USA

problem #10

Dec 022015

Challenger

  • 50,100 miles
I have had this car for 7 years and have only just turned it over 50K miles. Just recently the car started to make a whining noise the the battery warning light came on. After turning the car off and then back on the light turned off but would come back on after a few miles. Checked out where the noise was coming from and it was the alternator. I have noticed that the 160 amp alternator has been recalled on the 2011-12 3.5L engines for these cars. As I have the same alternator in my car. I was wondering if they are also being checked. This car is also a show car that has won 9 trophies and 4 medals, it is beyond belief that the alternator would fail so quickly for a car that is extremely well maintained. I drive this car at 4:30 a.M. to go to work and when the warning light comes on the headlights dim slightly.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #9

Oct 142015

Challenger

  • 89,000 miles
The car will sometimes shut off and disable all power assists. This has happened to me on the expressway on occasion.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #8

Jun 232009

Challenger 8-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 500 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. While parked, the no fob detected warning message illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 500....updated 08/25/15 the consumer stated it was just not a no key fob warning message, the vehicle would not start or if she was outside of the vehicle, the doors would not unlock. Updated 09/08/15

- Wasilla, AK, USA

problem #7

Dec 202014

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 39,573 miles
I took car into dealership because it didn't sound right. It was determined that is was the alternator and therefore the battery. This car had less than 40,000 on it and the alternator should not have gone out. After some research I found that later model Dodge vehicles had recalls because of the alternator and I feel the recall should go back to my model.

- Goodlettsville, TN, USA

problem #6

Aug 062009

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 1,500 miles
In 2009 I purchased a Dodge Challenger srt 8. since I have had the vehicle it has stalled many times. Every time it's when I slow down and make a left or right turn. While turning the vehicle stalls and you loose steering and brakes. Last incident was earlier this week, my wife slowed down to make a left turn into our subdivision and he vehicle stalled in the oncoming lane and she was almost struck. She had to put the vehicle in neutral and restart the vehicle to exit the roadway. I have called the dealership many times and they say there's nothing wrong with the vehicle. I looked online for a fix and there doesn't seem to be any, although there are a lot of Dodge vehicle owners with this problem.

- Montgomery, TX, USA

problem #5

Nov 102013

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 31,640 miles
The vehicle caught on fire while driving. The fire started in the right front side of the engine compartment and quickly consumed the vehicle completely. The vehicle was not presenting any problems before the incident and no warning lights came on. The vehicle stalled and caught on fire. It was extremely difficult to come out of the vehicle. The estimated travel time before the accident was approximately 45 minutes. One important fact is that the vehicle received a service at the local dealership flagship Chrysler of toa baja pr 00949 under service order # 129395. The service included a 20 point inspection, the change of fluids to include transmission, differential, power steering, service the injectors, and EFI throttle system. The dealership released the vehicle from the service department on 4 Nov 2013 and caught on fire on 10 Nov 2013.

- Comerio, PR, USA

problem #4

Jun 012011

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 21,000 miles
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 and they couldn't find what was wrong with it. Finally took it to another dealer who found the problem within an hour. The win module had to be replaced and updates flashed to the computer. I'm told Chrysler appeared at this dealer while my car was in for service and that they personally checked it over, re-doing some of the things the dealer performed. Major safety issue with car shutting off while driving! shame I had to pay to have this fixed. Shame on Chrysler/Dodge. It appears from reading other complaints that many others are having this same problem!

- Youngstown, NY, USA

problem #3

May 202011

Challenger 8-cyl

  • 28,000 miles
Took my car into dealership for warranty work on trim and window switch. Car was fine. Had owned it for 2.5 years. Dealer performed flash on PCM per chrylsers information. When I left the dealer, I noteced a 1.5 second delay when gas pedel is depressed. Found out when trying to pass slower traffic. Human nature causes you to press if more. Then all of the sudden, the power comes on hard. Took it back, and had chryler tech test drive with service mgr. They saw the problem with the scan tool hooked up. Was told that there was a 1.4 second delay. Tech said he made changes in program and took it to.7 seconds. I do not see a differance in performance. Called contact at Chrysler. And was told that it falls within factory standards. There is no way this is right. Car was fine untill they flashed it. I am unable to get any paperwork from Chrysler stating the problem is normal. This is very dangerous. At 55 or 70mph 1.4 seconds can be a lifetime. If a time delay is normal for the fly by wire systems, then I am glad I am not a Pilot of a fighter aircraft or new comercal air liner.

- Mansfield , GA, USA

problem #2

Oct 172009

Challenger

  • 1,000 miles
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.

- Crowler, LA, USA

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