Home · 2011 Dodge Challenger (driver) · Complaints

What 191 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Dodge Challenger (driver)

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (191)Crash / fire / injury (14)Electrical system (103)Airbags (35)Engine (21)Fuel system (18)Steering (14)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (10)Brakes (8)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Body & structure (6)Visibility & wipers (5)

35 of 191 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Mar 24, 2015Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V118000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10701418

Mar 3, 2015Electrical systemAirbags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V634000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 10691931

Feb 3, 2015Airbags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY 2011 CHALLENGER KEEPS COMING ON FOR NO REASON . I FOUND ON LINE THAT THEY WERE BEING RECALLED FOR FAULTY WIRING CONNECTERS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAGS . I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT FOR A RECALL NOTICE AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ONE . I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY TELL ME TO GET IT FIX AND PAY FOR IT MY SELF BECAUSE THE RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC . IF THEY NO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY PARTS ,I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680783

Jul 30, 2014AirbagsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

I WAS TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE OF THE HWY,GOING APPROX 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR IN THE LEFT LANE A RED CHEVY IMPALA SIDESWIPED A SUV BEHIND ME, AT THAT TIME THE RED CHEVY LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR AND HIT ME IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL, THAT SPUN MY CAR, I THEN HIT THE GUARD RAIL WENT BACK ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC HIT THE CAR THAT HIT ME AND STOPPED NEAR THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY.NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, MY WIFE'S HEAD SMACKED THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND ENDED UP WITH A MAJOR CONCUSSION,AND OTHER INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10617758

Jun 10, 2014Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT PRETENSIONER CIRCUIT WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V118000 (AIRBAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,344.

NHTSA ODI 10597492

May 28, 2014Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

I WAS RETURNING TO WORK FROM LUNCH AND I WAS DRIVING SOUTH IN THE COMPANY PARKING LOT GOING NO FASTER THAN 5-10 MPH. I STARTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE SO THAT I COULD BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE DIRECTLY BEHIND IT. AS I STARTED TO MAKE THE TURN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PLACED IT ON THE BRAKE SO I COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE I BACKED UP INTO THE SPACE BEHIND ME. AS I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND BECAUSE I HAD NO TIME TO REACT THE CAR PLOWED THROUGH A TREE, SOME HEAVY VEGETATION AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR, AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT WITH THE TREE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE BUMPER TO FALL OFF AND DESTROYED. YET, THE AIRBAGS, WHICH WERE RECALLED AND ALREADY "SERVICED" ONCE BEFORE, NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594493

Jul 16, 2013Airbags

I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER ON 5/10/2013 STATING "THE FRONT SEAT AIRBAG WIRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON YOUR VEHICLE MAY HAVE AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. IF AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION EXISTS DURING SIDE IMPACT, THE FRONT SEAT AIRBAG LOCATED AT THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE SEATBACK MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED. THIS COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL INJURY TO FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DURING A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION." I'VE SPOKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THE PART NEEDED TO CORRECT THIS IS ON BACKORDER. IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER GETS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM NOT BEING CORRECTED COULD I SUE CHRYSLER FOR A GAZILLION DOLLARS? I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER PRODUCT FROM THEM. THIS IS BEYOND LUDICROUS TO WAIT THIS LONG. I COULD HAVE BUILT THIS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 100 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525257

May 8, 2012Airbags

BOUGHT CAR USED. AFTER 3 DAYS OF HAVING IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND WILL NOT GO OUT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY SAY IT IS IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE CORRECT HARNESS SO FAR 2 WHERE SHIPPED TO THEM AND THEY WERE THE WRONG ONE. THEY REALLY DON;T HAVE A ANSWER. ACCORDING TO DEALER ALOT OF CHALLENGERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR DODGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10457832

Mar 27, 2012Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsSeat beltsBody & structureCrash1 injury

MY 2011 DODGE CHALLENGER WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT PUSH THE MOTOR UNDER THE DASH, CRACKED THE TRANSMISSION, CRUMBLED THE FRONT OF THE CAR ALMOST TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CHALLENGER HAS AN AIR BAG ON THE SEAT, WELL THAT AIR BAG; NOR THE AIR BAG ON THE WINDSHIELD PILLAR OR THE STEERING WHEEL OR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOY. NOT ONLY DID THE AIR BAGS FAIL, BUT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK TO RESTRAIN A PERSON FROM AVOIDING INJURY. THIS IS MY SECOND CHALLENGER, MY FIRST CHALLENGER HAD A BAD PAINT JOB AND THIS ONE COULD OF COST ME MY LIFE. I HAVE THE VEHICLE, AWAITING FOR DODGE TO INSPECTION THE DEFECTS. IT HAS BEEN 5 DAYS AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM DODGE NOR ARE MY CALLS BEING RETURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10453253

Feb 24, 2012Airbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WERE AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. IT IS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DEPLOY AIRBAG. THIS CAN BE TURNED OFF BY WIGGLING A WIRE AND CONNECTOR UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LIGHT AND DISABLING OF THE AIRBAG HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES AND ANY TIME YOU INCREASE SPEED QUICKLY (IE. FREEWAY ON RAMPS). THIS IS AGAIN REMEDIED BY A GIGGLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTOR BEHIND AND UNDER THE DRIVER. I CAN DISABLE THE AIRBAG ANYTIME BY WIGGLING THE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT, IF DRIVING PRIOR TO THE INDICATOR COMING ON. I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ALTHOUGH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN THEIR MANY ATTEMPTS. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO BEING REPORTED ON LINE BY OWNERS OF NEW 2012 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10449160

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Working with the data? Download all 191 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Dodge Challenger (driver) verdict →