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Dodge ChallengerModel year report

2011 Dodge Challenger Problems

Compared with other Dodge Challenger years

Typical for this model

51/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2014

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
193filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,000miles, 145 complaints with mileage
Recalls
63 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
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Dodge Challenger (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Dodge Challenger most often describe sudden electrical shutdowns in which dash lights flash, the engine quits and the car loses steering and brake assist; many complaints point to a failed alternator. Fuel leaks around the rear-mounted fuel pump module and airbag warning lights are also recurring themes. Reports are spread fairly widely by mileage, from very low-mileage garage cars to vehicles well past 100,000 miles.

  1. Electrical system

    Alternator failure and sudden loss of electrical power

    • 89 complaints (46%)
    • median 53,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (67 state mileage)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $725 (median of 12 quotes)
    • filed 2013–2026

    Owners describe warning lights flashing across the dash, the engine stalling and electrical systems going dead while driving, sometimes with smoke or a burning smell from the alternator area. Several say the dealer diagnosed a failed alternator, and some mention repairs being done under recall but the symptom returning. Complaints also describe difficulty getting the part and recall work scheduled in a timely way. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 170,000 miles, with many between about 40,000 and 85,000 miles.

    Recall 17V435000Recall 14V6340001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for the alternator's service history and whether any open electrical recall work was completed on the vehicle. A charging-system test before purchase is inexpensive and shows whether the battery is being charged properly.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Numerous lights went off in my vehicle after the steering wheel locked and the music to my stereo suddenly cut of and back on within seconds. All of this without warning. Now the car fails to start back up. I've taken it to a Dodge dealership and it was diagnosed as a bad alternator. I was informed that there are absolutely no alternators available anywhere for a 2011 Dodge Challenger 3.6 and sure enough I can't find any myself online. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10551172, filed 2013-11, 39,000 miles

    “The alternator in my 2011 Challenger failed. I took the vehicle to a private repair facility. They tried to order a replacement alternator, and the dealership would not release them the part, claiming they, the dealership, must perform the repair. This is not what the recall letter states, nor can or will the dealership perform this repair in a timely manner. My car has been down since 9/22, and the dealer will not perform the repair until 10/5.”

    NHTSA complaint #11030532, filed 2017-09, 58,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel leak from rear fuel pump module / tank area

    • 17 complaints (9%)
    • median 59,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2022

    Owners report a gasoline smell inside or around the car, most often after filling up, and fuel visible under the vehicle near the rear passenger side. Complaints describe cracks or failed seals at the auxiliary fuel pump module or the top of the fuel tank; some say an O-ring or seal was replaced first and the leak came back, and others were told the tank needed replacement. Several note the smell and leak appear mainly when the tank is more than about three-quarters full. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 85,000 miles, often noticed right after refueling or when parked.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: After a fill-up, check for a fuel smell inside the cabin and look for staining or dampness on top of the tank under the rear seat access panel. Ask whether the fuel pump module or tank has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “In early october 2014 I started smelling gas fumes inside my vehicle. I took the vehicle to a local repair shop. It was determined that my fuel tank had a factory defect where the fuel pump locking tabs were molded into the tank. The leak was around the seam where attached. This is directly under the rear passenger seat on top of the fuel tank where it would have been impossible to have been hit by anything. The tank was leaking fuel on to the exhaust system at the rear of the vehicle. We were very lucky that there was no fire. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10671045, filed 2015-01, 59,000 miles

    “Fuel leak by rear passenger tire. Leaks when car is parked and off. Pressure from heat outside or engine running. Dodge dealer pushed appt. Out 2 weeks. Took vehicle to own mechanic and it was found to be leaking from secondary fuel pump on the top of it.and fuel leaked in transit and constantly in driveway.”

    NHTSA complaint #10893751, filed 2016-08, 50,000 miles
  3. Air bags

    Airbag warning light on, seat airbag connector concerns

    • 29 complaints (15%)
    • median 40,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2022

    Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on intermittently or staying lit, sometimes triggered by bumps or by adjusting the seat. Complaints mention trouble traced to the wiring harness and connectors under the front seats, and some owners report that the relevant recall did not cover their vehicle or that parts were unavailable when they asked for the repair. Reported from very low mileage up to about 90,000 miles, with many in the 40,000-90,000 mile range.

    Recall 13V118000Recall 19V018000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V021000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V352000 · DO NOT DRIVE

    What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb-check sequence on start-up, and check with a dealer whether open airbag recalls apply to the specific VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Air bags go on and off randomly as described in NHTSA #13v118000. Chrysler says my car is not included in that recall and refuse to even look at it. Every time I hit a bump my airbag light comes on or goes off. Most of the time my airbags do not work.”

    NHTSA complaint #11083115, filed 2018-04, 4 miles

    “On april 6, 2019, while I was driving, my airbag light came on and stayed solid red, then it would go off and on with chiming sound. Because my 2011 Challenger is not in recall, dealer will charge unwarranted cost.”

    NHTSA complaint #11194419, filed 2019-04, 76,130 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Power window ('smart glass') running on its own and

    • 21 complaints (11%)
    • median 73,250 mi at 6.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2021

    Owners report the driver's window moving up and down slightly on its own, often while the car is parked, until the battery is drained and the car will not start. Some describe the behavior appearing in damp weather, and one notes the window moving unexpectedly while driving. Complaints say dealers quoted replacement of the window system without a lasting fix. Reported from very low mileage to over 100,000 miles, sometimes described as worse in moist weather.

    What to check: With the car parked, watch the windows for a minute or two to see if they creep on their own, and ask whether the window switch or regulator has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My window constantly goes up and down 1/8th inch when the vehicle is turned off. I have looked online and found 80 2011 challengers recalled for this exact problem, I believe they should all be under recall. The smart glass operation is faulty. Every 7 seconds my window moves 1/8th of an inch up or down. This drains my battery and makes my car die. Customer satisfaction notification m24 should be expanded to include all 2011 challengers with the smart glass.”

    NHTSA complaint #10711887, filed 2015-04, 55,000 miles

    “While driving this car on the highway with the windows open, the drivers window suddenly went up almost catching my sons arm in the window. The window continued to go up and down all on its own. Eventually it stopped and did not happen again. However it appears that during the night the window started moving on its own and eventually killed the battery. In researching I found that the 2011 challengers had a smart glass problem, exactly like this, but it was only on builds before march 2011 and this car was july 2011. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11122722, filed 2018-08, 118,000 miles
  5. Steering

    Loss of power steering assist

    • 21 complaints (11%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2020

    Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy or locking, in a few cases while changing lanes or at speed. Complaints attribute this to the electro-hydraulic power steering pump or to loss of electrical power from the alternator, and one notes the dealer could not reproduce it. Reported between roughly 25,000 and 140,000 miles, sometimes occurring together with an electrical shutdown.

    Recall 17V435000

    What to check: During a test drive, check that steering effort is consistent at low speed and while parking, and ask whether the power steering pump or its wiring has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving home from work and another vehicle was merging onto the highway on the inside shoulder. I made a normal lane change to avoid getting t-boned and my steering locked up causing me to spin out and hit a guardrail.”

    NHTSA complaint #10669648, filed 2015-01, 25,000 miles

    “The electrical system on this vehicle shuts the vehicle down when the battery isn t strong enough to support the computer. This happens while driving. Causing loss of steering and control of the vehicle. The traction control shuts off and because the engine shuts down the power steering is gone and the power brakes . This happened to me coming around a sharp corner of an off ramp. I lost all control of the vehicle and almost went off the road. I called the service dept. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10897332, filed 2016-08, 36,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a charging-system test, an airbag-light check and a look at the fuel tank area under the rear seat is worthwhile on this model year, and confirming which recalls were actually completed for the VIN gives a clearer picture of what has been addressed.

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 193 consumer complaints for the 2011 Dodge Challenger. 145 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 8 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 123 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 51 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (5), Seat belts (4), Exterior lighting (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The driver side window 'smart switch' is malfunctioning again. It has was replaced a little over a year ago. I was told my particular vehicle was not covered under the recall, missed it by a month. The fact is my vehicle meets all the criteria as the vehicles under the recall. Can I get some help here please?”

NHTSA complaint #11268453, filed 2019-10, 104,000 miles

Air bags: “Takata recall recall #: s43/NHTSA 16v-352 I received the above safety recall notice in may 2016 and to date the Dodge dealership located in simi valley, california is advising that they do not have the parts to perform the safety recall. I took my car in to the dealership for maintenance and was advised at that time the the recall could still not be performed.”

NHTSA complaint #10968703, filed 2017-03, 75,000 miles

Engine: “I was at the store and tried to start my car. My warning lights came on and car would not start. Thought it was a dead battery, but as it turned out it was a bad alternator. Dodge has had alternator recalls on other similar vehicles from the same year and browsing the internet I see many complaints about bad alternators with owners of the same vehicle as mine. I believe there should be a recall on this alternator. This happened feb.11,2017”

NHTSA complaint #10954481, filed 2017-02, 76,000 miles

Fuel system: “Noticed fluid leaking in front of rear passenger tire.upon further inspection I found it to be gasoline. Then I looked under the rear seat and found a puddle of gasoline accumulated in the fuel pump area on the right side. The car had been parked so the puddle on the ground and under the seat were very noticeable. This is not safe at all!!!”

NHTSA complaint #11191142, filed 2019-03, 83,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 145 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 73,500 miles.

8%0–106%10–2528%25–5034%50–7513%75–1009%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (145 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,000 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.

’12’1451’16’18’20’22’26
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 2011 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 rated———4 · 11.1% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 RWD3.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182721$3,200
Challenger RWD5.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic162519$4,000
Challenger RWD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed manual152418$4,550
Challenger SRT8 RWD6.4L 8-cyl6-speed manual142317$4,850
Challenger SRT8 RWD6.4L 8-cyl5-speed automatic142216$5,150

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

Recall details for the 2011 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. 123 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 123 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 2011 Dodge Challenger?

Owners of the 2011 Dodge Challenger most often describe sudden electrical shutdowns in which dash lights flash, the engine quits and the car loses steering and brake assist; many complaints point to a failed alternator. The issues reported most often: Alternator failure and sudden loss of electrical power; Fuel leak from rear fuel pump module / tank area; Airbag warning light on, seat airbag connector concerns.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Dodge Challenger have?

NHTSA recorded 193 consumer complaints for the 2011 Dodge Challenger as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Dodge Challenger is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 103 complaints (53% of the total), followed by air bags with 35.

Has the 2011 Dodge Challenger been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 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 2011 Dodge Challenger get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Dodge Challenger (Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Dodge Challenger reported?

Among the 145 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 73,500 miles; 43% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.