CSR

Dodge · NHTSA safety record

2018 Dodge Challenger

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

74

Complaints

9

Crashes

2

Fires

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Dodge Challenger have filed 74 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2018 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 27 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 22,012 miles, the median across the 35 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (3)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

18V524000 · August 9, 2018

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
The risk
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 12,779 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

18V332000 · May 17, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The 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.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 4,815,661 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

18V280000 · May 1, 2018

The defect
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
The risk
If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) · up to 71 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 74.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27 36%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 27 36%
POWER TRAIN 8 11%
STEERING 6 8%
WHEELS 6 8%
AIR BAGS 5 7%
ENGINE 5 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 5 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 7%
SUSPENSION 4 5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 4 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 17.

2018 2019 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 22,500 miles

ON APRIL 24TH, 2019, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS DAMAGED. DUE TO THE IMPACT ON THE CAR, THE AIRBAGS WERE SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY, YET THEY DID NOT. AS I WAS ENTERING THE CENTER LANE A CAR PLOWS INTO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR TEARING THE VEHICLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint 11204702. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 5,246 miles

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON CITY STREET, WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING 80+MPH. TRAVELED OFF ROADWAY HITTING RIGHT FRONT OF CAR ON CONCRETE LANDSCAPING WALL, TRAVELED ADDITIONAL 40 FT STRIKING AND BREAKING A UTILITY POLE BEFORE CAR CAME TO A STOP. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL. *DT *TR

NHTSA complaint 11170974. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

2 injured · crash · 22,012 miles

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 80-83 MPH. I WAS GETTING OFF ON AN EXIT IN BOISE IDAHO WHEN I STEPPED ON MY BREAK TO SLOW DOWN MY CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO BREAK. THE BREAKS LOCKED UP AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP WHICH MADE ME GO THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND GET T-BONED I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO GET FIXED TWICE BEFORE AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST ONE I TOOK IT TO WAS THE TWIN FALLS DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T FIX IT SO I TOOK IT TO THE BURLEY IDAHO WHERE THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WOULD TURN ON WHICH WOULD CAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE MY BREAKS OR ACCELERATION PETAL FOR ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS AFTER

NHTSA complaint 11191802, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 16,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, HIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE HOOD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

NHTSA complaint 11162348. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Driving along and all of a sudden the shifter lights started flashing, wipers turned on, steering became difficult, and finally the transmission locked up. Stalled in the middle of the hiway turn lane and because the transmission was locked up it couldn't even be pushed out of the way. Traffic was backed up and people trying to get around because I was blocking a major hiway intersection. The dodge dealership has had the car 3 times and finally diagnosed it as the rack and pinion plug.

NHTSA complaint 11743056. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS:RIM

75,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that the rims on the wheels of the vehicle were poorly designed and there were several cracks on the rims. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered cracks on the inside edges of the rims. The contact stated that the cracks were formed while driving over bumps and uneven road pavements. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was notified that there were no recalls related to the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint 11729418. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I purchased the vehicle which had minor passenger door damage under $500. There were false reports on Copart and Autobidmaster about the vehicle. They lied and said the vehicle was 91.2 percent damaged. The businesses are false. They admitted insanity as their fraudulent motivation. The title should be clean title and the door has been completely repaired. The title to the vehicle should be in my name. Car is ready to be registered. The reports from State Farm Insurance, Copart and Autobidmaster were what they said were false attempts to keep me from registering my vehicle I purchased. This has been ongoing since February 2025 and they are the guilty party.

NHTSA complaint 11711734. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the left turn signal light failed to function as intended. The turn signal light on the instrument panel was flashing erratically. The message "Left Turn Signal Out" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s side window failed to function as intended. The window was rolling up and down slowly. Eventually, the window became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the window motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The

NHTSA complaint 11686582, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

I got the car on 4/13/2025 from a Toyota dealership with about 31000 miles they told me the car fax showed the car had 2 owners a regular customer and another dealership, they also told me they change the battery but they failed to disclosed that they took the car to a body shop to fix a dent and to be repainted, by mistake they offered me the Toyota warranty 5 years or 60000 miles , on 8/10/25 while driving the car it caught on fire luckily nobody got injured , after putting the fire off the fire department told us the cause of it was an engine malfunction only after 4 months and with about 39000 miles ,from the pictures we suspect the fire started by the fuse box and now I'm looking for

NHTSA complaint 11681493, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My trouble is with my 2018 Dodge Challenger. The UConnect system is delaminating and the entire system is malfunctioning. I have taken the vehicle to my local Dodge dealer and showed them the issue, and they agree there is an issue. The safety issue is that the screen display system goes into what is called "ghost touching" where random buttons on the display are acting as if someone is pushing them but no one is touching anything. While backing up, the screen goes haywire, when trying to control anything electronic, the system goes haywire. Safety issue of distraction trying to find certain when in "ghost mode" The vehicle has been inspected by my local Dodge dealer, and agree there is an

NHTSA complaint 11669404, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Dodge Challenger

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2023 41 2
2022 9 2
2021 19 2
2020 20 1
2019 58 3
2017 49 3
2016 78 1
2015 126 5
2014 146 4
2013 179 5
2012 253 6
2011 193 6
2010 298 7

Other 2018 Dodge models

Every Dodge on this site — 105 vehicles, 431 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst