Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, electrical, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Dodge Challenger: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Dodge Challenger. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD, RWD | 21–23 mpg |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | RWD | 19 mpg |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | RWD | 16 mpg |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | RWD | 18 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Dodge Challenger, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Frontal airbags fail to deploy in hard frontal impacts, according to most of these reports. Drivers describe a head-on hit into a guardrail after hydroplaning, a deer strike that caused heavy front-end damage, and a car pulled into a wall by road debris, all with no deployment. Three of the four complaints involve crashes, and two report injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and head injury. A separate report says the airbag did deploy but cut and burned the driver's wrist and forearm.
Instrument cluster and center screen problems lead these reports. Both displays go dark at random while driving with no warning, though the radio keeps playing. Another pattern is every warning light coming on at once while the car jerks under acceleration on the freeway, which one driver says caused a minor crash. A faulty speedometer is also reported. One complaint describes a seatbelt that retracts slowly from the start and later will not pull out far enough to wear safely.
A fire that starts while the car is sitting still, with no warning, is the most serious report here. It happened at about 16,000 miles and needed fire crews to put it out. The other complaint describes a fuel pump failing while driving with under 1,000 miles on the car, leaving the driver unable to recover. That same report lists electronic faults: a freezing backup camera, Uconnect lag, radio volume changing on its own, unreliable door locks, and a key fob that goes undetected.
Lurching and a thump from the transmission or driveshaft at start-up show up when the car is started with the push button. The same car starts smoothly with remote start. A more dangerous complaint describes the car moving forward a short distance and then dropping into neutral, a risk when pulling into traffic. That report comes at about 61,113 miles on a used car, and the owner says the seller had not completed the manufacturer's transmission service information. Only two complaints are on file.
Excerpts from complaints Challenger owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
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??
Filed with NHTSA, April 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 6 Challenger years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the 14th model year of the Challenger's third generation (2008–2023).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2021
Recall repairs are free at any Dodge dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Dodge Challenger, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
