2016 Dodge Challenger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report airbags that did not deploy in collisions, across several crash types. Other recurring reports involve driveline clunks and driveshaft noise, sudden power steering loss or steering wheel lock-up, Uconnect screen and rear camera faults, and intermittent headlights linked to burnt fuses or wiring. Many reports concern electrical and infotainment systems, and the mileage across complaints spans a wide range.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in some crashes

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 6,011 mi at 2.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2021

   Owners describe collisions in which the airbags did not deploy, including rear, side, and front impacts and a crash into a guard rail. Some report injuries, and a few say the seat belt also did not restrain them as expected. Several complaints describe the vehicle as towed after the crash, and some say it was totaled. Reported across a wide range, from under 1,000 miles to about 76,000 miles, in crashes at city and highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light is off after startup and whether the airbag control module has been checked for stored codes after any prior collision. Ask whether any airbag-related recall or service campaign applies to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11413368, filed 2021-04, 32,876 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366450, filed 2020-10, 6,022 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveline clunks and driveshaft noise or failure

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 5,950 mi at 1.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe clunks from the rear when slowing or downshifting, and driveshaft noise at moderate speeds. Some report a driveshaft carrier bearing that broke down, and another reports the drivetrain breaking off with a sudden loss of power to the wheels. Other complaints describe a rear-wheel hop on gear changes, which dealers reportedly called normal, and a driveshaft replacement that was delayed because parts were not available. Where mileage is listed, these reports are under about 16,000 miles, and some do not list mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the driveshaft, its carrier bearing, and the rear driveline mounts were inspected, and whether any repair was documented. On a test drive, make slow stops and light downshifts and listen for a clunk or shudder from the rear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driveline clunk noise in rear of vehicle when coming to a stop between 3 to 6 MPH downshifting. This happens no matter what the road surface your on. This is a new vehicle with less than 500 miles, after I went to my county probate office to get my licence tag, this occurred every time I came to a full stop at a sign, light or behind a vehicle in front of me. Took vehicle to dealership, service manager came out to see if anything was loose in trunk, spare tire,etc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885201, filed 2016-07, 483 miles

   “2016 Dodge Challenger 39,900 miles. Drive train completly broken off. My safety and others steering problems. Sudden lack of power to tires. This car is driven very little and is driven like a grandma. This drive train should never had been and issue. There should be recalls on this. I am having to pay $2500 to get it replaced. The only warning I had was I noticed it wasn't powering like it should or turning like it should. Even though its 7 years old, the mileage on it proves its a well taken care of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11510975, filed 2023-03
3. 3
   Steering

   Sudden power steering loss or steering wheel lock-up

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 7,500 mi at 1.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe a power steering warning light followed by a steering wheel that is hard or impossible to turn, sometimes during a sharp turn or while driving. Some say the condition cleared after restarting the vehicle, and that the reason was not determined. One owner says the lock-ups began after a powertrain control module recall repair, and another describes one occurring when the ignition moved to accessory mode. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 2,500 to about 102,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the powertrain control module recall was completed and whether the dealer has checked for stored power steering codes. On a test drive, make a sharp low-speed turn in each direction and confirm the power steering warning light stays off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 17 year old son's 2016 Dodge Challenger turns off while car is being driven. The ignition switch usually goes to acc (sometimes run). Also, the steering wheel locks up, the headlights go out, braking is difficult, heating/cooling turn off, and according to the manual the airbags become inactive in acc. My son has nearly hit a tree and he has crossed lanes into the opposite direction when the steering wheel has locked. The problem started happening at about 2500 miles 04/2016. It has happened from10 MPH to 70 MPH. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916381, filed 2016-10, 2,500 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11607381, filed 2024-08
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Uconnect display, rear camera, and 911 button faults

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 10,250 mi at 2.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2023

   Owners describe the infotainment screen going white or black, and rear camera images that drop out or show at the wrong times. Several say the Assist and 911 buttons on the mirror stopped working, and one says a 3G to 4G network change removed those functions. Some describe radio and blower controls that could not be used, and one says the head unit was on back order after repeated dealer visits. One owner ties camera dropouts to a loose wiring harness that returned after a warranty repair. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 10,000 to about 41,000 miles, and some do not list mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the head unit, rear camera wiring, and the Assist and 911 functions have been checked, and whether the network upgrade has been completed. Ask the dealer to confirm in writing that the Assist and 911 functions and the rear camera are working.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear camera wiring harness becomes loose from opening and closing the trunk. Over time the camera intermittently stops working. I had this repaired once by the dealer under warranty but it keeps happening. Now the warranty is expired so the dealer will not repair unless I pay for it. But the original repair did not solve the problem so I am not willing to pay them. When the camera goes out you have to open the trunk and giggle the wires to get it to work again. This has been an ongoing issues since the car was new. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11445702, filed 2021-12

   “Uconnect advised me via email that once the 3G bandwidth was no longer functional, that Uconnect would be upgrading to 4G. The list of functions that would be lost would mostly be cellular functions as well as the Assist and 9-1-1 button functions located on the inside rear view mirror. Most of the cellular phone functional loss was partially resolved with a dongle from T-Mobile/Sprint. However, it does not resolve functional loss of the Assist and 9-1-1 buttons on the inside rear view mirror. I believe this to be significant safety concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11463115, filed 2022-05
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights flicker or cut out with burnt fuses or wiring

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 48,663 mi at 4.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe headlights that flicker, go out, come on at random, or stay in one state, sometimes only noticed when someone else pointed it out. In several cases the dealer found a melted or burnt fuse, or burn marks on the harness, and one dealer suggested moving the wiring to other fuse slots. One owner reports the replacement part was on back order with no expected date. Mileage is often not listed; where it is, reports range from about 39,000 to about 111,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the headlight fuses, relays, and harness connectors were inspected for heat damage, and whether a repair is documented. Check that both headlights stay steadily on in low beam, including during braking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My headlights intermittently went out. Sometimes one side, sometimes both. It happened last night while I was driving. Both headlights went out. Luckily I was right down the street from my house. Pulled in the garage to find that both headlight fuses (fuse 15 and fuse16) were burnt. Upon further research on forums and websites dedicated to my car, many other people are also having issues with this. This has happened to multiple times. Luckily this time I was not on a busy street, but I was on a state route a minute prior to this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322266, filed 2020-04, 39,000 miles

   “The wiring to the headlights are getting hot and visibly showing burn Mark's to the wiring and fuses to the headlights (not halo lights). It is causing the headlights to come on intermittently. Sometimes they come on at night and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they are off and suddenly comes on after miles of driving with my flashers. I can spell the burning sometimes. The Dodge dealership in Douglasville Georgia verified the wire and fuse burning. The dealership technicians spoke of relocating the wires to empty fuse box slots. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11454258, filed 2022-02

Buying note. Before buying, ask for records of any airbag, driveline, steering, infotainment, and headlight repairs, and whether those issues were resolved. A test drive with slow stops and downshifts, a steering check in a sharp turn, and a check that the rear camera and headlights work can help show current condition.

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.