The 2021 Dodge Challenger has 2 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints19filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints
2021 Dodge Challenger in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
NHTSA recall 21V664000 · Aug 26, 2021 · 135 vehicles
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y58.
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y47.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2021 Dodge Challenger 2 DR AWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
11.1%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
2021 Dodge Challenger 2 DR RWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
11.1%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
2021 Dodge Challenger SRT 2 DR RWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Challenger
23mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Challenger AWD
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Challenger
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Midgrade Gasoline
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,000/year to fuel
Challenger
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
Challenger
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
Challenger Widebody
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
Challenger
17mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.4 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
Challenger Widebody
17mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.4 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
Challenger SRT
16mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Challenger SRT
16mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 21 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Challenger SRT Widebody
16mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 21 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.2 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Challenger SRT Widebody
15mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 21 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
6.2 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,500/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 5, 2026Steering While operating my vehicle at road speed the electric steering rack failed. This rendered the steering inoperative. It was impossible to steer the vehicle. Not only is this situation extremely dangerous and deadly, there was no advanced warning. I received no prompts or warning lights before the incident happened. I researched and found that certain 2021 Dodge Challengers were involved in a warning system recall. My specific vehicle was not included in the recall. This is what Dodge and the dealership who did the repair kept telling me while they ignored any responsibility. This situation is completely unacceptable. I have no idea why my vehicle was not included in the recall for the…
Jun 6, 2026 · 44,850 milesSteering The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-35 MPH on a local roadway, the steering suddenly became inoperative, and the steering wheel locked without warning. The contact was able to maintain control of the vehicle and safely pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle was already drifting. There were no warning lights illuminated, or messages displayed prior to the failure. After restarting the vehicle, a warning message associated with the steering system was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified…
Apr 10, 2025Power train mileage 61113 . car moves forward 15 feet an goes into neutral .When pulling into traffic this is a serious safety problem . A major accident which could be loss of life might occur . Enterprise car sales will not acknowledge o show any concern . They offered a 12 month or 12000 mile limited warranty free and implied i should have paid for an expensive warranty. their carfax report showed that they did not comply with service information from the manufacturer for the transmission . As such i have been taken advantage of . I will now have to pay about $1000 to have the service completed . This problem also is happening on their Dodge pick up trucks.
Aug 17, 2021Seat belts My seatbelt seemed a bit faulty when I purchased the car. It was slow to retract and at some points wouldnât retract unless I played with the seatbelt. Three years in to owning the car it still wonât retract fully and is at the point where it wonât come out to a safe distance that allows me to wear my seatbelt. As for the electrical defaults, there are times when I am driving and the display, between my speedometer and rpm dials, turned off. So would my center display, yet my radio continued to play. There were no warning signs or signals when that would happen. It is always random.
Dec 12, 2024Power train I purchased this vehicle from Vroom, who is also my lender under United Auto Credit. The car was sold with a washed title and undisclosed prior structural and mechanical damage. I have documentation confirming the vehicle had serious pre-existing issues and should never have been sold as a clean-title car. The differential has failed three times in under 6 months, and Iâve experienced full drivetrain failure following multiple service visits to Dodge. I had requested inspection of the transmission, but after every visit, the issues worsened. The vehicle is currently available for inspection. The car exhibits violent vibrations, power loss, and unpredictable handling, making it unsafe to…
Sep 10, 2024Unknown or other My automatic start hasnât been working for months . Sometimes it work , sometimes it doesnât . When it doesnât work I get a message on the dash saying âremote start cancelled hood open . âIced taken my car to the Dodge dealership several times & it keeps happening . Iâve contacted Dodge customer care etc and nothing . Once when I was at the dealership the gentlemen said another customer came in with the same issue . This is car is too expensive, , I only have 38400 miles and nobody knows the issues nor do they care . I believe this is known issue with dodge
Sep 22, 2024Seats On [XXX] I was traveling s/b on [XXX] in Florida in my Dodge Challenger which I purchased from New Smyrna Dodge this year. I was traveling approx 65 mph and all of a sudden the back of my drivers seat went back all the way putting me in a flat position against the rear seat. I was lucky enough to pull myself up and keep control of the vehicle. The incident could have been a disaster because my father was also riding in the vehicle on the passenger side. I pulled over on the median and checked the drivers seat thinking maybe the manual recline had just slipped. In doing so I saw that the metal frame on the right side of the seat had snapped where it connects to bottom of seat frame.…
May 10, 2024 · crash · 1 injuryAir bags On [XXX] I was involved in car accident on [XXX] around 4 oâclock in the afternoon. When the impact happened the airbags deployed and cut my wrist (left) and burned my left forearm. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.