2019 Dodge Challenger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2019 Dodge Challenger most often describe rearview camera images that stay on, go blank, or are unavailable, tires and wheels that rub or wobble when turning, and gears that shift randomly, stick, or fail to engage. Steering that locks or behaves erratically, and airbags that did not deploy or a warning light that stays off, also come up repeatedly. Where mileage is listed, most complaints fall under about 50,000 miles, and the complaint trend is stable.

1. 1
   Wheels

   Tires rub, wobble, or wear unevenly while turning

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe tires or wheels that scrape the body or make a rubbing or thumping sound at full steering lock or when turning. Others report a wobbling feel on the highway, uneven wear on the inside of a front tire, or a front wheel that seems to hit something. In some complaints the dealer replaced tires or a rim, while in others the dealer could not hear or feel the problem, and the problem sometimes came back after a tire was replaced. A complaint links tire wear to contact with the steering knuckle, and the dealer said the vehicle was not under a recall. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 500 to 48,789 miles, and several describe the noise or rubbing when turning.

   Recall 19V758000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 19V758000 applies to this VIN, which you can check with the NHTSA recall lookup. On a test drive, turn the wheel fully in each direction at parking speed and listen for rubbing, and look at the inside edges of the front tires for uneven wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Wheels: my front left wheel tends to feel like it hits something when I turn making a thump sound . Camera: stays in reverse while shifted / also gear”

   NHTSA complaint #11384684, filed 2020-12, 48,789 miles

   “I keep hearing and feeling the wheels rubbing/wobbling. The dealer has replaced 2 tires and 1 rim so far. My car is back in the shop today and they insist that they don't hear/feel anything. That is not the case so they are testing it again today. I had this car built july 2019, Challenger gt awd. I don't see any recall for this. This problem is making me very uncomfortable since I commute daily via highway. I think this needs to be researched further. My issue is still persisting.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317858, filed 2020-03
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Rearview camera stays on, goes blank, or is unavailable

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 28,394 mi at 2.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the rearview camera image staying on for several seconds after the car shifts out of reverse, and in some cases during forward driving. Others report a blue or black screen, a frozen image, or the camera being unavailable in reverse. In some complaints the radio screen itself stayed on the camera view, and the dealer did not diagnose the problem. A complaint ties the lingering image to recall 20V191000, but notes the VIN was not included in that recall. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 3,000 to 50,000 miles, and several describe the image lingering after shifting out of reverse.

   Recall 20V1910002 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, shift from reverse to drive and confirm the rear image clears promptly, and ask whether the backup camera was checked under the bulletin for image quality. Ask whether recall 20V191000 was completed, which you can confirm by entering the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When car is in reverse, backup camera is unavailable jeopardizing safety around. During acceleration of car when driving, the speedometer on dash shows different than the digital speedometer. I.e if I am going 40 the digital shows 60+ (varies). Passenger door lock has difficulty clicking lock/unlock and no child lock is on- will be safety concern if exiting is needed of vehicle. All issues above happen almost every time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328031, filed 2020-06, 3,000 miles

   “There is a loud popping sound when I start my car. It sounds as if the car is back firing. The sound has been duplicated several times. The sound does not happen every time, but it has happened well over 100 times. I have taken it into the dealership, and they claim that the sound can never be duplicated. Also, when I place my car in reverse and then drive the backup camera screen remains on in after driving forward for more than 30 seconds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11577363, filed 2024-03
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gears shift randomly, stick, or fail to engage

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 1.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe gears that shift at random, stay stuck in one gear or in park, or do not engage, sometimes while stopped in traffic. Others describe hesitation at takeoff with an incorrect shift ratio, or a manual transmission that pops out of first gear from a stop. In some complaints the dealer replaced a speed sensor or transmission control module, and the problem was not resolved or came back. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 100 to 60,000 miles, and some describe the problem in traffic or on the freeway.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that each gear engages smoothly from park, reverse, and drive, and that the car does not change gears unexpectedly. Ask whether the shifter, speed sensor, or transmission control module has been replaced, and whether transmission warning messages have been cleared with a scan.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2019 Dodge Challenger was hesitant to take off even when the accelerator was to the floor. A diagnostic test came back and it was a gear 6 shift incorrect ratio. My vehicle was in motion within busy traffic, almost causing a wreck.”

   NHTSA complaint #11324555, filed 2020-05, 34,021 miles

   “While driving on a city street received a transmission malfunction warning. Vehicle had been driven less than 300 miles. Vehicle stopped in middle of traffic and transmission would not engage. Luckily I was not rear ended. Engaged emergency flasher. After several efforts to start/stop the vehicle transmission did finally engage. This took about 15 minutes. Managed to get vehicle home and took it to dealership next day. It is my understanding that a transmission control module was replaced. Still leary about driving this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11190666, filed 2019-03, 300 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering locks, sticks, or behaves erratically

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 710 mi at 1.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2023

   Owners describe the steering wheel locking up while driving, including during a highway merge, a lane change, or a turn. Others describe power steering that cuts in and out around corners or feels erratic, with the steering stuck in a notch on curves. In some complaints the dealer reproduced the problem and replaced the power steering gear and rack, but the steering still felt erratic. Some owners say they could not control the car safely, and in some cases no warning lights were shown. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 600 to 710 miles, and the other reports do not list mileage.

   What to check: On a test drive at low speed in an open area, turn the wheel through its full range and check for locking, sticking, or inconsistent effort. Ask for dealer records of any power steering gear or rack replacement and of any steering-related warning messages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the vehicle is in motion the steering wheel will lock. It happens when driving on the highway or on a city street. This has happened when changing lanes and while make a turn. On 1-11-2020 I was at the dealership to test drive this car, but when I started the car the dashboard lit up with multiple codes. The salesman had me test drive another vehicle with the same specs so that a tech could look at the codes. The technician looked the vehicle over and claimed everything was fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302951, filed 2020-01, 600 miles

   “I was driving in the highway and as I turned to merge my steering wheel locked and I could not move the wheel. Once I stopped the car I turned it off and on and it said 'steering wheel motion off”

   NHTSA complaint #11267536, filed 2019-10, 710 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy, or airbag warning light stays off

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 4,018 mi at 1.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2024

   Owners describe airbags that did not deploy in collisions, including a side impact at highway speed and a rear-end impact. Others describe the airbag warning light not coming on, or the steering wheel airbag emblem not lighting when the car is parked. In some complaints the dealer confirmed an airbag fault and said the airbag needed replacement, while in others the dealer said the airbags did not work. A driver reported head injuries in a crash where the airbags did not come out. Where mileage is given, the figure is 4,018 miles, and the other reports describe crashes or warning lights without listing mileage.

   Recall 19V203000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 19V203000 was completed, which you can check by entering the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. Ask whether the airbag warning light comes on when the ignition is turned on, and ask for records of any airbag repairs or collision history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was rear ended while traveling eastbound on US 175 ( C F Hawn Fwy ). When I was hit the impact pushed me alittle ways. The other driver was going pretty fast because I was hit hard enough to where the trunk of the car was pushed into the back seat of the car. After being able to get out of the car. I noticed that the airbags didn't deploy. The seat belt did lock up but the airbags did not come out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11544895, filed 2023-09

   “After I bought the vehicle later I realized the light don’t come on from my steering wheel Air bag. So I took it to the dealership and they told me my air bags doesn’t work.”

   NHTSA complaint #11533788, filed 2023-07

Buying note. Before buying, check whether recalls 19V758000, 19V203000, or 20V191000 apply to the VIN, and ask whether any camera, transmission, or steering repairs have been done. On a test drive, check gear selection from park through drive, steering at full lock, and that the airbag warning light comes on at startup.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.