2021 Dodge Challenger Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2021 Dodge Challenger has 26 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve air bags and engine.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 26 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
AIR BAGS
4 15.4%
ENGINE
3 11.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 11.5%
POWER TRAIN
3 11.5%
STRUCTURE:BODY
2 7.7%
Quick Insights
The top category is AIR BAGS, accounting for 15.4% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 15 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2021 Dodge Challenger
The 2021 Dodge Challenger has 26 owner complaints in this dataset. AIR BAGS is the most common complaint category, representing about 15% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2021 Dodge Challenger are AIR BAGS (4), ENGINE (3), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 12 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2021 Dodge Challenger?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 15 of 15 systems
AIR BAGS
4 Reports15% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The contact owned a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 55-65 MPH when the vehicle hydroplaned, as a result, the vehicle struck a guard rail head-on and spun out of control. The contact stated that the frontal air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
2/22/2022
Left frontal Collision between drivers side head assembly and center front of car- with white tail deer about 100-120 lbs. , causing extensive damage to car. $19,000. Payout from progressive for those extensive repairs. And airbags never deployed. This seems highly alarming to me. The abrupt stop, or the sudden heavy damage to front of vehicle seems like it would activate airbags?? Safety issue??
4/30/2022
ENGINE
3 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Challenger less than a week from the dealership and less than 1,000 miles. Catastrophic fuel pump failure while driving, unable to recover. Rear view back up camera freezes and stutters causing safety issues. Radio volume constantly changes while driving and leads to distraction safety issues. Door locks are consistently unreliable, roughly 25% chance of door lock failure. Key fob not detected and electronic security lock down issues. Uconnect freezing and stuttering causing delays in back up camera and other functions causing safety concerns.
8/1/2021
speedometer is messed up and not working properly what should I do?
8/3/2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
speedometer is messed up and not working properly what should I do?
8/3/2021
The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accident with other driver with cash with out involving insurance or police but the car is not being driven that much ever since accident it was nothing serious just a little damage to front bumper but it was really scary when it happened again on freeway thats why i recorded the problem live and can provide the video at request havent went to get the car checked out or repaired yet but definately need to it's a safety issue and dangerous one if happens at the wrong time or place I haven't received no calls from dealers or mail but will wait for further instructions from nhtsa the car is parked at the moment and will tow to the selling dealer after I hear from you guys I also believe there is a recall on my car for the same year and trim La but it was issued after I had vehicle in possession not sure but I received a similar looking card like the recall one about a factory replacement vehicle that I was supposed to receive because of a engine breakdown not sure what it is for but can provide that as well seems it seems sketchy because it looks alot and very similar to the recall card that gets sent out when there is a recall on car i have it on my person i kept it because it had a change of a dress fill out form in back of it so I need to check with sselling dealer I believe I might of gotten the wrong car or not my car i am owed for some reason the vin is not correct and I believe it's supposed to be a fj so this happening to me on a new 2021 dodge challenger for 53435 dollars doesn't seem right at all will ask dealer for a copy of my contract of the sale see if it matches the one they gave me might have the wrong car but the safety issue is real and hopefully you guys can tel me what'snex
1/1/2024
POWER TRAIN
3 Reports12% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The transmission/drive shaft thumps and the car "lurches" upon start-up. This is somehow related to the push button start. My car is also equipped with a factory remote start and no noise is heard, nor does the car lurch on start-up. Please refer to video link: https://youtu.be/SRQJcjpl4mA
1/10/2022
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 drive at highway speeds. The differential is on the verge of catastrophic failure again. These issues risk loss of vehicle control, wheel lock up, and potential collisions. Has the issue been confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes. Dodge dealerships have confirmed repeated differential failure and ongoing drivetrain problems. Independent shops have also verified signs of prior impact and poor repairs. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance? It has been brought to authorized Dodge service centers at least six times and is the subject of an open Dodge customer care case (7+ months). No police or insurance inspections at this time. This vehicle was fraudulently sold with hidden damage and has presented major, repeated safety hazards. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate not only this vehicle, but the broader pattern of dangerous sales by Vroom/United Auto Credit and Dodge, including title washing and stalling tactics to run out factory warranties before resolution.
6/12/2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
2 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Left frontal Collision between drivers side head assembly and center front of car- with white tail deer about 100-120 lbs. , causing extensive damage to car. $19,000. Payout from progressive for those extensive repairs. And airbags never deployed. This seems highly alarming to me. The abrupt stop, or the sudden heavy damage to front of vehicle seems like it would activate airbags?? Safety issue??
4/30/2022
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 drive at highway speeds. The differential is on the verge of catastrophic failure again. These issues risk loss of vehicle control, wheel lock up, and potential collisions. Has the issue been confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes. Dodge dealerships have confirmed repeated differential failure and ongoing drivetrain problems. Independent shops have also verified signs of prior impact and poor repairs. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance? It has been brought to authorized Dodge service centers at least six times and is the subject of an open Dodge customer care case (7+ months). No police or insurance inspections at this time. This vehicle was fraudulently sold with hidden damage and has presented major, repeated safety hazards. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate not only this vehicle, but the broader pattern of dangerous sales by Vroom/United Auto Credit and Dodge, including title washing and stalling tactics to run out factory warranties before resolution.
6/12/2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 Reports8% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
The reverse camera screen is not adjustable and blinds the entire cab including looking into the mirrors. You must cover the screen to even look into the mirrors.
5/14/2023
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
12/6/2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Challenger less than a week from the dealership and less than 1,000 miles. Catastrophic fuel pump failure while driving, unable to recover. Rear view back up camera freezes and stutters causing safety issues. Radio volume constantly changes while driving and leads to distraction safety issues. Door locks are consistently unreliable, roughly 25% chance of door lock failure. Key fob not detected and electronic security lock down issues. Uconnect freezing and stuttering causing delays in back up camera and other functions causing safety concerns.
8/1/2021
BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Challenger less than a week from the dealership and less than 1,000 miles. Catastrophic fuel pump failure while driving, unable to recover. Rear view back up camera freezes and stutters causing safety issues. Radio volume constantly changes while driving and leads to distraction safety issues. Door locks are consistently unreliable, roughly 25% chance of door lock failure. Key fob not detected and electronic security lock down issues. Uconnect freezing and stuttering causing delays in back up camera and other functions causing safety concerns.
8/1/2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact owns a 2021 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. Additionally, the vehicle pulled back while attempting to accelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,160.
2/22/2023
NONE
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
This may not be the correct place to report this but it is a serious problem. Since Google took over the Waze navigation app they have been relentless in popping up ads, useless information and so on. They are now asking if I am driving an electric car of all things.... all while I'm driving on the highway! This strong, relentless encouragement to get drivers to distract their attention from the responsibility of driving is a menace! These apps know when a vehicle is in motion and these marketing idiots should not be doing this. This is a Nationwide problem that NHTSA could put a stop to tomorrow should they decide to. And I very much hope you will. These distractions serve no useful purpose... it's just one more way to annoy people with unwanted advertisements and unhelpful "tips". Thank you for your attention to this very important issue
7/28/2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accident with other driver with cash with out involving insurance or police but the car is not being driven that much ever since accident it was nothing serious just a little damage to front bumper but it was really scary when it happened again on freeway thats why i recorded the problem live and can provide the video at request havent went to get the car checked out or repaired yet but definately need to it's a safety issue and dangerous one if happens at the wrong time or place I haven't received no calls from dealers or mail but will wait for further instructions from nhtsa the car is parked at the moment and will tow to the selling dealer after I hear from you guys I also believe there is a recall on my car for the same year and trim La but it was issued after I had vehicle in possession not sure but I received a similar looking card like the recall one about a factory replacement vehicle that I was supposed to receive because of a engine breakdown not sure what it is for but can provide that as well seems it seems sketchy because it looks alot and very similar to the recall card that gets sent out when there is a recall on car i have it on my person i kept it because it had a change of a dress fill out form in back of it so I need to check with sselling dealer I believe I might of gotten the wrong car or not my car i am owed for some reason the vin is not correct and I believe it's supposed to be a fj so this happening to me on a new 2021 dodge challenger for 53435 dollars doesn't seem right at all will ask dealer for a copy of my contract of the sale see if it matches the one they gave me might have the wrong car but the safety issue is real and hopefully you guys can tel me what'snex
1/1/2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accident with other driver with cash with out involving insurance or police but the car is not being driven that much ever since accident it was nothing serious just a little damage to front bumper but it was really scary when it happened again on freeway thats why i recorded the problem live and can provide the video at request havent went to get the car checked out or repaired yet but definately need to it's a safety issue and dangerous one if happens at the wrong time or place I haven't received no calls from dealers or mail but will wait for further instructions from nhtsa the car is parked at the moment and will tow to the selling dealer after I hear from you guys I also believe there is a recall on my car for the same year and trim La but it was issued after I had vehicle in possession not sure but I received a similar looking card like the recall one about a factory replacement vehicle that I was supposed to receive because of a engine breakdown not sure what it is for but can provide that as well seems it seems sketchy because it looks alot and very similar to the recall card that gets sent out when there is a recall on car i have it on my person i kept it because it had a change of a dress fill out form in back of it so I need to check with sselling dealer I believe I might of gotten the wrong car or not my car i am owed for some reason the vin is not correct and I believe it's supposed to be a fj so this happening to me on a new 2021 dodge challenger for 53435 dollars doesn't seem right at all will ask dealer for a copy of my contract of the sale see if it matches the one they gave me might have the wrong car but the safety issue is real and hopefully you guys can tel me what'snex
1/1/2024
SEATS
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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. Obviously it is a defect in the metal because the frame was not damaged in any way and metal just to broke(Snapped). Had it happened in an accident the injury could have been severe. These seat are suppose meet certain standards. I responded to The dealer today and spoke to a service representative who did agree it was probably a defect because he never heard of that happening but also said unfortunately you are just over warranty by three thousand miles. Stated you can leave car but it will involve full days labor taking seat apart. Doesn't say much for dealer mechanics. Also said there was no recall on it but admitted when it happened could have been serious accident. He also made no attempt to even go out and look at it. If in fact this is a defect people's lives could be in danger. If I wasn't able to pull myself up immediately to a sitting position we probably would have had an accident. The actions of this dealer did not surprise me at all. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
9/23/2024
SUSPENSION
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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 drive at highway speeds. The differential is on the verge of catastrophic failure again. These issues risk loss of vehicle control, wheel lock up, and potential collisions. Has the issue been confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes. Dodge dealerships have confirmed repeated differential failure and ongoing drivetrain problems. Independent shops have also verified signs of prior impact and poor repairs. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance? It has been brought to authorized Dodge service centers at least six times and is the subject of an open Dodge customer care case (7+ months). No police or insurance inspections at this time. This vehicle was fraudulently sold with hidden damage and has presented major, repeated safety hazards. I am asking the NHTSA to investigate not only this vehicle, but the broader pattern of dangerous sales by Vroom/United Auto Credit and Dodge, including title washing and stalling tactics to run out factory warranties before resolution.
6/12/2025
SEAT BELTS
1 Report4% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
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.
6/21/2025
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2021 Dodge Challenger?
Are complaints about the 2021 Dodge Challenger a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2021 Dodge Challenger?
Are complaints about the 2021 Dodge Challenger severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Dodge Challenger: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 26
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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