2016 Dodge Challenger Complaints

STEERING — Filed 04/21/2026

Good morning my (eps) Electronic steering system isn't working I have the light on my dashboard and while driving it went on and couldn't steer it needs force to turn and its difficult to keep it straight this is the second time im replacing this part last time I had this same problem was 2 yrs ago and I've noticed online people having the same issue with not only challengers but other dodge vehicles that use the Electronic steering system that fails while the car is in motion very dangerous if your driving on the freeway. I seen there was a recall for this but on certain cars but I don't understand why only certain cars this isn't supposed to happen so often and having to be paid off by the owner this is a malfunction or electrical connection thats causing the motor to stop working.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/07/2026

I am reporting a serious vehicle safety issue caused by negligent service performed by Tony T’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, located at 7250 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77017. The dealership performed a borescope inspection of the rear differential on my 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, as documented on my invoice. After this service, it was discovered that critical differential plugs were removed and not reinstalled, multiple fasteners were missing, and the differential assembly was left loose to the point it could be physically moved by hand. This condition created a significant safety hazard, including risk of fluid loss, overheating, drivetrain failure, and potential loss of vehicle control while driving. The issue was confirmed by another repair facility. I have photo and video evidence, as well as the service invoice. The vehicle was unsafe to operate and out of service for an extended period, resulting in financial loss and safety risk. I request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this incident as a potential safety issue related to improper service practices.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/16/2016

I see a possible rollback on MY vehicle, the dealer sold it to me around 13,500 miles, carfax shows a possible rollback. Vehicle sold by Moritz Chevrolet Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, TX Fort Worth, Texas817-696-2000 moritzchevrolet.com

STEERING — Filed 05/09/2025

When making a sharp turn where you need to turn the wheel fully to the left or right, the car steering would lock up and a power steering indicator light would appear on the dashboard. I would have to shut the vehicle off and restart it for the light to turn off and resume steering functionality. The car was inspected by the dealership and the indicated that it showed the error code happened one time, however we recently purchased the vehicle with 19,000 miles, so not sure if the happened before we purchased the car and the used car dealer reset the codes. This issue has happened many times over the last 3 months.

STEERING,SUSPENSION — Filed 05/16/2025

My 2016 Dodge Challenger has less then 38,000 miles. I don’t even drive it in the rain to keep it spotless. I have taken great care of it. It started making a knocking noise from underneath the car. Took it to the dodge dealership & found out the drive shaft is bad.If you google 2016 Dodge challenger sxt drive shaft issue you will see that this is a nation wide problem starting from 2015 to 2018. I think Dodge should be responsible for fixing this issue. Its not right,

ENGINE — Filed 12/25/2024

Hemi Tick. The problem is so bad there is a common name for Stelantis 5.7 Hemi engine. Nothing else needs to be said the problem is well documented.

STEERING — Filed 11/25/2024

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the "Power Steering" warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. During the failure, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. After restarting the vehicle, the failure was self-corrected, and vehicle operated normally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 102,000.

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 03/01/2023

I had a recall fixed at dodge for PCM since then service power steering comes on and the steering wheel locks up sometimes I'm driving and it seizes up it started at 37000 miles And when my extended warranty was up 3yr manufacture 6 yr extended warranty but since we purchased it in the beginning the warranty overlapped not fair since I should have had 9 yrs now I can't even drive my car more than 15minutes also it's very dangerous that I can be driving and all of a sudden can't turn the steering.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — Filed 06/06/2024

Center bond of crankshaft Damper falling-off front of engines on the highway due to defective bonding material in manufacturing causing failure in rubber bonding. At highways speeds, a 10lb chunk of metal will fall-off HEMI engines & create a flying projectile at other motorists on the road causing damage or death to other vehicles/drivers and/or pedestrians. Owners who are unaware of this safety-issue will be unaware that their crankshaft-damper has fallen off due to not realizing a piece of the engine is now missing, thus creating possibility of engine failure due to No Vibration Dampening any longer attached to the crankshaft pulley.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 02/21/2024

Center LED Tail Lights burned out. No damage or modification done. Fuses checked. Unit failed. 41,000 miles

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 06/01/2023

Tipman module is melting and has a burning smell and black marks where there has been spark. Fire hazard. Draws too many amps from headlights. Drivers side seatbelt won't register and seatbelt airbag light is on.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/11/2023

Was taking off from a red light, got to about 15 MPH and there was a loud bang and I felt it from under the car. It then felt like I was dragging something under the car, but that couldn't be as I was behind another car and if there were something in the road, they would have hit it. I managed to pull over to the side of the road. I put it in park and tried to turn it off. It wouldn't turn off and the "P" on the shifter was blinking and so was the "Run" light. It was at that point smoke started coming from under the hood. I grabbed my belongings from the passenger compartment, but couldn't open the trunk. It was then that flames started showing. I got away from it and started calling 911. Just then a police car arrived and they radioed for fire. It was afterwards I noticed that from the place it happened, to the spot I was able to stop, there was a long line of transmission fluid and when they towed the burned car, there was lots of transmission fluid. The car had low mileage and maintained as required. It was still under extended warranty. I contacted Chrysler customer care and they had the car "inspected" but found nothing to have gone wrong and that fires happen. This is wrong and unfair as there was a major mechanical issue that resulted in a fire and the loss of my vehicle. If this had happen a couple minutes earlier, I would have been on the freeway and certainly would have crashed and possibly died.

STRUCTURE — Filed 12/31/2021

The rear trunk lid struts fail to keep the trunk open causing the trunk to close without warning and has hit me in the head several times while unloading groceries. It is also very hard to open as the trunk is quite heavy. This was noted to the dealer during the warranty period but they said they were unable to duplicate it. The struts need replaced. I feel this should be a recall since it has occurred since the vehicle was new. Someone could be severely hurt or become trapped in the trunk. The struts are under designed for the weight of the trunk.

AIR BAGS — Filed 04/19/2021

ON APRIL 19TH 2021 MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 30 -35 MPH IN HER 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER SXT ON A MINOR THOROUGHFARE WHEN A CAR TURNED ABRUPTLY IN FRONT OF HER. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DODGE CORPORATION AS WELL AS THE THE DEALERSHIP AT WHICH SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 32,876 MILES ON IT.

ENGINE — Filed 02/23/2021

CHRYSLER MAKER OF DODGE CHALLENGER 2016 AND OTHER MODELS AND OTHER YEARS ARE AWARE OF A MAJOR DEFECT. THE OIL FILTER HOUSING ON MANY MAKES AND MODELS LEAK LOTS OF OIL. AS OF RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 40,000 OF THIS PART ON BACK ORDER. THEY LEAK OIL OVER THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE BURNING OIL PUTS FUMES IN THE CAR AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THIS CAN MAKE YOU SLEEPY AND THE CAR CAN CATCH FIRE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. YOU CANT TAKE A PICTURE OF THE PART WITHOUT REMOVING THE UPER AND LOWER INTAKE. I SENT A PIC OF THE OIL IN MY DRIVE. PLEASE GOOGLE THIS AND SEE THAT THIS NOT A ISOLATED THING BUT A COMMON ALWAYS GONNA HAPPEN THING. THE BURNING OIL MAKES ME FEEL SICK.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/09/2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 67 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS JAY WALKING AND SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS RIBS FROM THE SEAT BELT AND FACE DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD GLASS SHATTERING WHICH EMBEDDED INTO HIS SKIN BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT WAS BEING HELD FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB*DT*JB

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 10/23/2020

I HAD A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT HEAD ON COLLISION TO GUARD RAILS. SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRICT ME FROM HITTING WINDSHIELD ALSO MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT IMPACT.

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/13/2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER (DISLOCATED) AND TO THE RIGHT KNEE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY A TOWING COMPANY. HILLTOP CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (3291 AUTO PLAZA DRIVE, RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA 94804, (510) 243-6100) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 05/29/2018

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE. I THOUGHT A GARBAGE CAN WAS ON FIRE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND MY TRUNK WAS ON FIRE. CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 4 MINUTES. CAR WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP AND INSURANCE COMPANY BELIEVE WIRING HARNESS OR BATTERY (LOCATED IN TRUNK) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TT

SEAT BELTS — Filed 08/15/2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 54 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT MEDIAN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO SECURE THE DRIVER WHO WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS, A FRACTURED LEFT ARM, AND FRACTURES TO BOTH LEGS. THE 3-YEAR-OLD REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY. BOTH RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE LOCAL DEALER CURTSY DODGE (LOCATION UNKNOWN) WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 06/09/2017

THE CAR STARTED DOING A REAR WHEEL HOP IN SECOND GEAR CHANGE AS ALREADY REPORTED TO DODGE. DODGE HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE CAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT VIA A MR MIKE MACDONALD. THIS WHEEL HOP WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO 3 DODGE DEALERS WHO SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL". ON THE OFFER TO REPLACE THE CAR I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT CAME. I SHOULD HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT OFFER. THE CAR ALMOST KILLED ME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, AS MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. MULTIPLE CASES OF AIR BAGS ON THESE CARS NOT DEPLOYING HAS COME UP IN GOOGLE SEARCHES. BOTH DRIVER SIDE TIRES RUPTURES WHEN THE CAR WENT SIDEWAYS FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER WHAT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WAS THE THROTTLE BEING STUCK. I CAN PROVIDE IMAGES LATER AFTER THE HOSPITAL OF THE TIRE HOP MARKS. DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SELLING A COFFIN ON WHEELS. ODDLY, MR. MIKE MACDONALDS PHONE SENDS ME STRAIGHT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE NOW.

AIR BAGS — Filed 11/02/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT NOT DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS — Filed 07/11/2016

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND LOST SEVERAL TEETH, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/29/2016

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CONDITION IN WHICH THE BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN NECESSARY. IN OTHER INSTANCES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLOW TO RESPOND RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ADVANCE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE APPROACHING TRAFFIC. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND A CONCUSSION DUE TO THE LACK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE FORCE OF HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT BELT ALSO DID NOT SECURE THE CONTACT, WHICH CAUSED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/05/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE, FINGERS AND RIGHT SIDE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 850.