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Dodge ChallengerModel year report

2010 Dodge Challenger Problems

Compared with other Dodge Challenger years

More complaints than typical for this model

94/100 2.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011, 2013

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
299filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
35,096miles, 210 complaints with mileage
Recalls
74 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Dodge Challenger (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Dodge Challenger most often describe engines shutting off or losing power while driving, sometimes at low speed in turns or while braking, and sometimes at highway speed with a broken timing chain. Complaints also frequently describe front air bags that did not deploy in a crash, electrical faults involving the ignition node and charging system, and a fuel odor inside the cabin.

  1. Engine

    Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

    • 112 complaints (37%)
    • median 25,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (103 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2025

    Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning, often while slowing to a stop, braking or making a low-speed turn, with power steering and power brakes lost at the same time. Several owners say the car restarts only after being shifted to park and cycled off and on, and some report repeat occurrences. Dealers are frequently described as unable to duplicate the failure or find stored codes, and in some cases replaced the powertrain control module, throttle body or sensors without resolving it. Reported from very low mileage (under 10,000 miles) through roughly 95,000 miles, with many in the first few thousand miles.

    Recall 10V2000002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the ignition node module or PCM has been replaced and whether any software updates were applied. Test drive at low speed with braking and turns, and check that the car restarts cleanly from a stop.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While drivivg on my way home doing about 60mph in the right lane on the expressway and the car completely shutdown, the engine light came on, I couldn't even steer the car, the steering wheel locked up no breaking capeability, had to let the car coast into the emergency lane, luckly there weren't any cars in front or behaind me. Which could have been fatal. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10668964, filed 2014-12, 98,000 miles

    “This is the second time that my Challenger has stalled when making a right-hand turn; the first time was about a eight months ago. Yesterday, I slowed to turn into my office parking lot. When I was making this right-hand turn, the engine stalled and I could not steer the car - almost hitting the curb. After putting the car in park, I was able to restart the car.”

    NHTSA complaint #10467820, filed 2012-07, 8,700 miles
  2. Engine

    Timing chain break or guide failure

    • 51 complaints (17%)
    • median 52,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (45 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2025

    Owners describe a pop or bang from the engine compartment followed by total loss of power, and the engine will not restart. In several cases dealers diagnosed a broken timing chain, broken plastic chain guide or failed tensioner, with damage to valves, pistons or heads that required major engine work. Complaints also describe camshaft or rocker arm wear presenting as abnormal noise, and some say the manufacturer declined assistance. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 78,000 miles, a few at highway speeds.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Listen for rattling or ticking from the front of the engine at idle, ask for timing chain service records, and confirm which engine and whether any timing chain guide work has been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 2010 Dodge Challenger r/t with a 5.7 l hemi at 35,192 miles on car. The car has a loud bang and shuts off,. I try to crank my car , but nothing.. Car was towed to dealership for repairs and was in the shop for 3 weeks before I got a phone call telling me that they put my car together only to find out they have to take it apart again.. The cam shaft broke.... The timing chain broke....bent a rod... …”

    NHTSA complaint #10536565, filed 2013-08, 35,192 miles

    “I was traveling at 65 MPH on 4 lane interstate highway. Was on a bridge with no shoulder. Engine suddenly lost all power. Vehicle was coasting and slowing down rapidly. Cars behind me were hitting the brakes to avoid rear-ending my vehicle as I attempted to make my way to the shoulder. Once across bridge, I pulled to the shoulder. Engine would turnover but would not start. Towed to Dodge dealership. Dealer diagnosed problem as broken timing chain, which caused camshaft to stop turning. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10502432, filed 2013-03, 41,000 miles
  3. Other or unknown

    Fuel smell and leaks near the fuel module

    • 12 complaints (4%)
    • median 85,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2011–2021

    Owners report a strong raw fuel smell inside the cabin, coming through the vents while parked or driving, and one describes fuel pooling near the rear passenger tire after filling the tank. In some cases the source was traced to a leaking or cracked fuel module at the rear of the car. Complaints also describe fuel odor entering the cabin through the vents shortly after a cold start. Reported from very low mileage up to about 120,000 miles, often noticed when parked or just after refueling.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Smell for fuel around the rear of the car and inside the cabin after a fill-up, and have the fuel module and lines inspected for seepage before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “It was observed that a gas smell was noticed while in my car when parked in the garage and threw out my vehicle cabin. After a day or so I called the Dodge dealership and requested to bring it in due to a strong gas vapor smell coming from my vehicle. They acted very unconcerned and said no appointment was available until the following week. Same day I took my care to a service shop and asked them to run a diagnostics check to locate the smell. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10717183, filed 2015-05, 89,000 miles

    “Car starting smelling strongly of gasoline after filling tank. The smell makes you very light headed and is dangerous to drive. I parked the car in my driveway and gas is dripping from 2 spots in front of the rear passenger tire. I am afraid to start it to drive it to a dealer thinking it will catch on fire. I have called a tow truck to come and take it to a dealer. I am trying to keep an eye on it so not one comes around it with a cigarette or other source of ignition. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10993326, filed 2017-06, 85,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Ignition key stuck or car stays powered

    • 34 complaints (11%)
    • median 66,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (29 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2024

    Complaints describe the key not coming out of the ignition, the battery draining as a result, and in some cases the car stalling while the key was stuck. Others report the key can be removed before the car is in park, or the car cannot be shut off. Dealers in some cases replaced the wireless ignition node module; one owner notes the vehicle was excluded from a related ignition module campaign. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 150,000 miles.

    Recall 10V2000001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Confirm the key turns freely, releases in park and shuts the engine off, and ask whether the wireless ignition node module or battery charging system has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “A battery light came on my dash, a few minutes later several indicator flashed on (the ABS, the brake, and esp/bas flashed on and my vehicle powered off completely while driving on the highway. This is extremeley dangerous and have been reading this is a known problem on Dodge models. How can this be corrected?! If this is a repeat problem, why isn't it yet a recall? The car is just shutting off while driving with no warning.”

    NHTSA complaint #11066082, filed 2018-01, 77,000 miles

    “I was driving my car in traffc and the car just shut down and it would not crank up ,I had to have it towed, because the gas pedal is not pumping gas into tthe car.and the key gets stuck in the ignition. Chrysler says its the acc pedal sensor”

    NHTSA complaint #10853645, filed 2016-04, 148 miles
  5. Air bags

    Air bag did not deploy in a crash

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe collisions in which the front air bags did not deploy, including rear-end and head-on impacts, and in one case the shoulder belt was also described as not holding. Owners also describe the horn sounding on its own, after which the air bag and horn assembly was found removed or disconnected at the steering wheel. Several recalls on this model year cover the driver and passenger inflator modules. Spread across the sample from about 3,500 to 155,000 miles.

    Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 15V444000 · DO NOT DRIVE

    What to check: Check with a dealer by VIN whether the air bag inflator recalls were completed, and confirm the air bag and horn wiring at the steering wheel are connected and intact.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My car was standing still waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so I could turn left. I was hit hard from behind, sending me into the opposite lane where I was hit head on by another car. My air bag did not deploy and my shoulder harness failed to function. My car sustained far more damage than the other two cars involved. (my car was a total loss.) their air bags deployed properly.”

    NHTSA complaint #10460699, filed 2012-06, 4,700 miles

    “On december 11, 2019, my son was about to leave for work when the horn starting blowing in the car and wouldn't stop. The car was stationary. After about 4 minutes it stopped. I took the car to supreme chevrolet in plaquemine where I purchase the car from. The car was checked out and told that I was going to need another horn, they had ordered one and it should be in in about 3 days. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11364335, filed 2020-10, 154,716 miles

Buying note. Look for service records showing air bag inflator recalls completed and any ignition node or PCM updates applied, and test drive thoroughly at low speed with braking and turns. Have a pre-purchase inspection listen for timing chain noise and check the rear fuel module for leaks or fuel odor.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 299 consumer complaints for the 2010 Dodge Challenger. 210 of the complaints include a mileage, and 62% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 35,096 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 13 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns (4 marked do-not-drive) and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 11 Dodge Challenger model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 94 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (7), Body and structure (6), Electronic stability control (5), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Wheels (5), Exterior lighting (3), Equipment (2), Tires (2), Seat belts (1), Seats (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I was going about 50 miles per hour on a busy freeway when my ABS light turned on lights in the panel start to flicker and engine shuts off. This is one of many occurances engine has shut off without warning. Took to dealership under my mopar service contract and they replaced alternator. One month later engine turns off again. 5 separate occasions.”

NHTSA complaint #11032557, filed 2017-10, 138,000 miles

Engine: “Tried to start the car and all the dash lights, interior lights and radio worked just fine. Got someone to give me a jump and it started right up so I went and bought a new battery and that worked for about 3 days then the exact same thing happened again. This time I took it straight to the local Dodge dealership and after 2 1/2 days they say it's the total integrated power module, or the tipm.”

NHTSA complaint #10992009, filed 2017-05, 44,000 miles

Electrical system: “Pulled my car out of the garage, started washing her. The wire above the drivers visor shorted and caught the interior on fire. Thank god I did not hop on the road but was washing the car. 3 months later, still do not have the car as Dodge stops making headliners and we have been unable to find one at a junkyard.”

NHTSA complaint #11130862, filed 2018-09, 8,500 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Have a 2010 Dodge Challenger with less than 40,000 miles. Took car to shop at Dodge dealership due to the fact that my check engine light was on (at 38,000 miles). After not diagnosing my car correctly on 3 separate occasions, they finally determined that the car needed a new power module, and several engine sensors were faulty and not working.”

NHTSA complaint #10629335, filed 2014-08, 3,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

62% of the 210 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,603 and 66,000 miles.

30%0–1012%10–2520%25–5018%50–7510%75–1008%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (210 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 35,096 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’11’1459’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Dodge Challenger. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Challenger · coupe RWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Dodge Challenger version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Challenger RWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172520$3,350
Challenger RWD5.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic162519$3,550
Challenger RWD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed manual152418$3,700
Challenger RWD6.1L 8-cyl6-speed manual142216$5,150
Challenger RWD6.1L 8-cyl5-speed automatic131915$5,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2010 Dodge Challenger → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Challenger

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20234329,85125173 · FewerToo new
2022910,0002517—Not enough data
20211917,1602517—Rising
2020202851517—Rising
2019594,884351820 · FewerStable
20187522,012351824 · FewerFalling
20174932,00035180 · FewerStable
20167816,000151810 · FewerFalling
201512731,250551851 · TypicalFalling
201414936,000451849 · TypicalFalling
201317950,000551864 · TypicalFalling
201225353,0006—1882 · MoreFalling
201119355,0006—1851 · TypicalFalling
201029935,0967—1894 · MoreFalling
200913330,1527—1970 · MoreFalling
20081039,0003—15—Not enough data

All Dodge Challenger model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Challenger?

Owners of the 2010 Dodge Challenger most often describe engines shutting off or losing power while driving, sometimes at low speed in turns or while braking, and sometimes at highway speed with a broken timing chain. The issues reported most often: Engine stalls or shuts off while driving; Timing chain break or guide failure; Fuel smell and leaks near the fuel module.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Dodge Challenger have?

NHTSA recorded 299 consumer complaints for the 2010 Dodge Challenger as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Dodge Challenger is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 75 complaints (25% of the total), followed by engine with 75.

Has the 2010 Dodge Challenger been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Dodge Challenger get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Dodge Challenger (Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Dodge Challenger reported?

Among the 210 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 35,096 miles and the middle half falls between 7,603 and 66,000 miles; 62% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.