2019 Dodge Challenger: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2019 Dodge Challenger
On the 2019 Dodge Challenger, the failure owners report most often is other wheel or tire problem, with 11 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 5,000 miles. Overall it scores 75 out of 100, severe risk for a 2019.
Severe risk for a 2019 — 143rd riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. 93 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 29 named failure modes on the 2019 Dodge Challenger, and the three most-reported carry 25% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other wheel or tire problem leads with 11 reports and about 0.7 per 1,000 vehicles.
Backup camera failure follows with 6 reports, median 5,000 miles.
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure follows with 6 reports.
By system, the reports fall mostly into wheels (11), infotainment (10) and steering (10).
At what mileage it happens
35 of the reports on the 2019 Dodge Challenger came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 5,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 94% by 50,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 54% of the dated reports.
71% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 29. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 8 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.28, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other wheel or tire problem at $200–$1,500, backup camera failure at $250–$1,200, steering rack, gear or tie rod failure at $700–$2,600 and other electrical problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
23% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 11 | 7 | — | 3k | — | 0.7 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 6 | 3 | — | 3k | — | 0.4 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 3 | — | 6k | — | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 5 | 3 | — | 40k | — | 0.3 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 4 | 2 | — | 29k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 33k | — | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 4 | 4 | — | 2k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 2 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 300 | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 50 | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 31k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 98k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 31k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 10 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.6 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2019 Dodge Challenger draws about 5.5 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 85th percentile of complaint rates among 2019 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 16,821 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2019 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2019 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2019 Dodge Challenger, affecting an estimated 19,550 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover back over prevention: sensing system: camera, tires and electrical system: instrument cluster/panel. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
319,610 vehicles 2020-09-10- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- Consequence
- The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
TIRES
173 vehicles 2019-10-24- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles. An incompatible front wheel and brake package was installed and may allow the front tire to contact the steering knuckle, causing tire damage.
- Consequence
- A damaged tire can suddenly lose air pressure and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front wheels and inspect and replace the front tires, as necessary. In addition, dealers will inspect the wheel alignment, adjusting it if necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is VB0.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
7,929 vehicles 2019-03-14- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Dodge Challenger and Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
- Consequence
- Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V32.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2019 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2019 sits in the model line
Severe risk for a 2019 — 143rd riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 15 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 61 and 2020 worst at 82, with 2019 itself at 75.
If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2023, 2017, 2012, 2011, 2018 and 2013 score lower than 2019 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2017–2019 generation specifically, 2017 is the strongest year at 65 and 2019 the weakest at 75.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2017-2019 generation, 2017 Dodge Challenger scores best at 65 and 2019 Dodge Challenger worst at 75.
The limits of complaint data
93 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 93 reports, 35 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 38% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Dodge Challenger?
The most-reported failures are other wheel or tire problem (11 reports, median 5,000 miles), backup camera failure (6 reports, median 5,000 miles) and steering rack, gear or tie rod failure (6 reports). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2019 Dodge Challenger reliable?
It scores 75 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 143rd riskiest of the 245 2019 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2019 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Dodge Challenger is best?
Within the 2017–2019 generation, 2017 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 2019 worst at 75. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed