2013 Dodge Challenger Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster heavily around electrical behavior: windows that cycle up and down on their own, batteries that drain, and occasional stalling or no-start conditions, with many reports tied to alternator and wiring recalls. Engine and transmission complaints center on hesitation or loss of acceleration, and power steering and air bag warnings come up in smaller numbers. Most reports arrive between roughly 20,000 and 80,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and battery drain (charging system)

   • 77 complaints (43%)
   • median 27,700 mi at 2.5 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at low or highway speeds, sometimes with a burning smell, smoke or flames, and other times simply refusing to restart. Owners report dealers replacing the power control module, fuse box or wiring, and in some cases the problem returned afterward. Several reports mention receiving alternator or battery cable recall notices but being told the parts were not yet available. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to roughly 130,000 miles, with many under 45,000 miles.

   Recall 14V634000Recall 17V435000Recall 13V103000 · DO NOT DRIVE3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V634000, 17V435000 and 13V103000 were completed on this vehicle and get documentation. Have a mechanic check the alternator, battery and starter cable, and look for any signs of a repaired or melted fuse box.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car caught on fire as I was driving it this was 4 hours after I picked it up from the dealership for getting the tourque converter fixed. I think this is an electrical problem that caused it. I was driving in a parking lot only going 7-10 MPH. Dallas pd doesn't come out if it's on private property I am still waiting my fire report in the mail. I have unsure claim numbers from 3 different people. (chrystler. National general insurance. Harco national insurance.)”

   NHTSA complaint #10945284, filed 2017-01, 23,500 miles

   “I received a call from the car dealer (darcars chrysler jeep of rockville, md) that I purchased my vehicle from on 19 march 2013. I was told that my car was recalled for a safety issue. The problem is the engine starter positive terminal on my vehicle could short to ground and cause an electrical fire. An electrical fire could occur at any time regardless whether the vehicle is running or is in the key off position. As of 22 march 2013, there is no fix issued by the manufacturer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10504181, filed 2013-03, 450 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Window cycles up and down on its own, drains battery

   • 32 complaints (18%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the driver or passenger window moving up and down by itself in short increments, often while the car is parked and switched off, which drains the battery and sometimes leaves the car needing a jump start. Several complaints say the door latch or window motor assembly was diagnosed and replaced, while others report the problem came back after repair. Some owners say they were told their model year was not covered by a repair applied to earlier Challengers. Reported from about 12,000 to 130,000 miles, most often in the 45,000-90,000 range, typically noticed while the vehicle is parked.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car parked and off, watch the windows for a few minutes for any movement, and ask whether the door latch or window module has ever been replaced. Check the battery age and whether the car has a history of needing jump starts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My door doesnt realize its shut so my smart window goes up and down on its own until battery is drained. Happens when vehicle is stationary. Was recalled on 2012 model. My brakes or brake area squeals when im pressing the brakes to stop. I have new rotors and brakes, stops for about a week even have had rthem resurfaced. Lots of complaints on this in the Challenger forum.”

   NHTSA complaint #11052908, filed 2017-12, 30,000 miles

   “Window started rolling down about 1/4 inch (draining battery so I bought a new battery) and then other issues started occurring. Check engine light came on(while starting the car) then went off, (I had just put the car in park and turned it off), 5 mins later I turned it back on and window will not roll down at all now. As soon as the went stopped completely other things such as performance and brakes seemed to be hesitant.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362604, filed 2020-10, 82,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Hesitation or loss of power when accelerating

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 57,272 mi at 3.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2021

   Owners report pressing the accelerator and getting no response, with engine speed unchanged and no warning light, sometimes while merging or passing. Some describe the opposite as well, a surge of acceleration after the delay. Complaints mention transmission reprogramming or torque converter work at the dealer that helped briefly, with the symptom returning later. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 60,000 miles, often during highway merging or acceleration.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and on an incline, watching for a delay between pedal input and response. Ask whether any powertrain control module or transmission reprogramming has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Twice when driving down highway I went to pass a car and when I pressed the accelerator pedal my car did not accelerates,so I hurried and got back behind the vehicle I was trying to pass, it scared my daughter who was in the car with me.today I was on the on ramp to merge onto the highway and tried to speed up and my car didn't ,the RPM stayed the same and no warning light came on,im guessing that taking it to get check would not help being it didn't have any warnings came on, and I don't have any warranty and I only have 57272 miles on car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376311, filed 2020-11, 57,272 miles

   “I was entering the freeway and getting up to speed, when I merge onto the freeway my car loss power and would not accelerate and doing the time it was high traffic time of day, and there was a big truck coming up behind me and the driver blew his horn and slammed his brakes to keep from hitting me from behind.I gave my car more gas and there was no acceleration,when I lifted my foot completely off the pedal and pushed it again then my car accelerated.it was a real scary moment not only for me but also for my daughter who was in the car with me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396837, filed 2021-02, 56,200 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out or steering gets heavy

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2022

   Complaints describe the power steering warning coming on and steering effort becoming very heavy, particularly during low-speed turns, with no prior warning in some cases. One owner reported a dealer recommending a steering rack replacement; others say a diagnosis found low fluid or no identifiable cause, and some note the car has no accessible power steering reservoir. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 90,000 miles, often during turns or parking maneuvers.

   Recall 17V435000

   What to check: Try full-lock turns at low speed during the test drive and listen for clicking or binding. Ask whether the alternator recall was performed, since the steering assist on these cars is electrically assisted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Last week i face a serious issue with my Dodge Challenger v6 2013 steering, while im taking a U turn (20klm /25klm) without any warning lamp or message the steering becomes hard that I couldn’t turn it and i used both hands to turn and caused my car to go on the side walk with the front right wheel. Starting from that time every time i take u turn its hard and i need two hands to turn but right turn so smooth, i went to dealership they said probably you need to change steering rack and pinion. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11451639, filed 2022-02, 126 miles

   “Challengers steering always goes out. Their are forums all over the internet about the horrible steering issues of Dodge vehicle ranging from brand new models to older models. This issues makes it difficult to turn which is a safety hazard. Also the book inside the challengers show that there is a power steering reservoir but it does not have one so even if low fluid was an issue we could not fix that.”

   NHTSA complaint #11265803, filed 2019-10, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and deployment concerns

   • 11 complaints (6%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2021

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on intermittently, which they understand to mean the system may not work in a crash. Some complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in an impact, and others describe deployment well after the collision. Related recalls cover the front inflator modules for this model year. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 88,000 miles, with several around 25,000-60,000 miles.

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

   What to check: Confirm recalls 19V018000 and 18V021000 were completed for this vehicle. During a test drive, check that the air bag light goes out after the bulb check and stays off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag indicator light intermittently lights and renders the airbag system useless due to the malfunctioning switch in the airbag system. This could cause injury or death to the occupants of the vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11091038, filed 2018-04, 88,221 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Challenger. While driving at 25 MPH, the driver side air bag warning light illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 50,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10731585, filed 2015-07, 50,000 miles

Buying note. The most consistent theme here is electrical trouble, so service records showing the alternator, battery cable and inflator recalls were completed matter more than mileage. A slow, careful test drive covering window operation, highway acceleration and low-speed turns will surface most of what owners describe.

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.