DODGE CHALLENGER · model year

2009 DODGE CHALLENGER

171 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009DODGECHALLENGER carries 171 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 7 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 CHALLENGER is air bags with 40 filings, followed by engine (26) and power train (22). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2009 CHALLENGER, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

171
Complaints
12
Crashes
7
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

171 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS40
ENGINE26
POWER TRAIN22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
STEERING8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SERVICE BRAKES4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2

Recalls (7)

09V42000029/10/2009

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITHOUT A FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT.

16V35200024/05/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2

17V82400021/12/2017

EQUIPMENT

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers ma

08V45800010/09/2008

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 6,636 MY 2008-2009 DODGE CHALLENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND "KEYLESS GO" OPTION. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PREVENTION." IF THE STOP/START BUTTON IS PRESSED AND HELD AN

15V44400010/07/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured September 19, 2007, to October 29, 2010. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the

18V02100009/01/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,

08V64200005/12/2008

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 175 MY 2009 DODGE CHARGER, CHALLENGER, AND CHRYSLER 300 VEHICLES. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR (TPM) SENSORS MAY NOT TRANSMIT THE ACTUAL TIRE PRESSURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DRIVER NOT BEING AWARE OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE.

Recent Complaints

20230725ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I am currently waiting for a new Instrument Cluster, which is the cause of all of my problems, and which is why I failed the emissions test.

20230406SERVICE BRAKES

On several occasions while driving the vehicle would would appear to lose power and the front wheels would shake. After turning off the engine and restarting the car the problem resolved itself. It was taken to the dealership and they said they could not replicate the problem. Two days ago it did the same thing along with the passenger side front wheel heating and smoking. It was towed to the dealership again. The technician called to say that when he got into the car the brake pedal went to the floor and wanted to know if happened the day before. He was advised the pedal was fine and the brakes were stopping the vehicle. He said the brakes were worn down and the entire brake system needed replacement. There was no issue reported with the brakes on the previous inspection at the dealership in December 2022.

20230402ENGINE

THREE TIMES NOW THE THROTTLE HAS GONE TO WIDE OPEN AND STICKS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. SCARES THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF YOU.

20230402FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THREE TIMES NOW THE THROTTLE HAS GONE TO WIDE OPEN AND STICKS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. SCARES THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF YOU.

20230402ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THREE TIMES NOW THE THROTTLE HAS GONE TO WIDE OPEN AND STICKS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. SCARES THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF YOU.

20221116AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the "check air bag" warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local parts store where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side and passenger’s side air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V021000 (Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V444000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

20221108CrashSTEERING

During an auto accident the ram emblem on my steering wheel shot off of the steering wheel when the air bags deployed and becoming a projectile and hitting me in the neck leaving a deep bruise and abrasions to the area the ram emblem hit. Its been nearly 3 weeks and the bruising is still present and the skin is still red from the injury. Attached and you can even see the ram horns in in neck. This photo taken later that day. If this can happen in my with my accident I was just lucky it didn't hit my eye or worse. The contact stated that they now have a permanent scar on their neck from the steering wheel projectile. They have not contacted the manufacturer and the vehicle is no longer in their possession.

20221108CrashAIR BAGS

During an auto accident the ram emblem on my steering wheel shot off of the steering wheel when the air bags deployed and becoming a projectile and hitting me in the neck leaving a deep bruise and abrasions to the area the ram emblem hit. Its been nearly 3 weeks and the bruising is still present and the skin is still red from the injury. Attached and you can even see the ram horns in in neck. This photo taken later that day. If this can happen in my with my accident I was just lucky it didn't hit my eye or worse. The contact stated that they now have a permanent scar on their neck from the steering wheel projectile. They have not contacted the manufacturer and the vehicle is no longer in their possession.

20211218ENGINE

Recall issues and manufacturers dont want to fix it.

20211102STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact heard abnormal sounds coming from underneath the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the subframe bolt had snapped off. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

Mileage: 44,000

20210813POWER TRAIN

Faulty TCM After purchasing my car it would hard shift in the 3rd and 4th gear And I realize that shortly after purchasing it chant and then one night I was on the freeway and between 2 semi trucks when it's just neutral and then tried shifting into 2nd gear Which almost caused me to wreck in between 2 semi trucks which was not cool and Now my car only shifts into 1st and 2nd gear and when it gets to 3rd it neutrals , It won't go into 3rd or 4th gear . I took it into the dealership to get new software Uploaded on my TCM they said it was fine so I drove it out the parking lot and still doing the sa.e thing won't shift into 3rd gear so I took it to another shop to have it looked at because I didn't want to risk my life driving the car. I'm not gonna take it back to a place that just gotten to tell me that everything was fine when it's clearly not so we put it on a lift inspected it and it shifts from 1st all the way up to 4th no problem and then soon as you put it on the ground and s

20210711AIR BAGS

I took my car to the dealer for recalls they didn’t fix anything they left my car out in the rain the hood up and Choppa had my car for a whole month did any nothing they were very courteous no customer assistance nothing

20210711ENGINE

I took my car to the dealer for recalls they didn’t fix anything they left my car out in the rain the hood up and Choppa had my car for a whole month did any nothing they were very courteous no customer assistance nothing

20210711POWER TRAIN

I took my car to the dealer for recalls they didn’t fix anything they left my car out in the rain the hood up and Choppa had my car for a whole month did any nothing they were very courteous no customer assistance nothing

20210707VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that there was a blind spot on the passenger’s side rear-view mirror. The contact stated that due to manufacturing of the mirror, it was difficult to switch lanes or see oncoming traffic due to the defect. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure on several occasions but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

20210102ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HAD A MESSAGE POP UP ON MY RADIO THAT THE WIRELESS MODULE IS BAD...CANNOT UNLOCK, LOCK, OPEN THE TRUNK OR REMOTE START THE CAR WITH THE KEY FOB.

Mileage: 90,000

20200605ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE COMING TO A STOP. OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAR LOSSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BREAKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING AS WELL. PRIMARILY WHILE TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON A CITY INTERSECTION AND IN MY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM SCARED THAT I AM GOING TO WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS AND HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

20200605ENGINE

VEHICLE STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE COMING TO A STOP. OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAR LOSSES ALL POWER STEERING AND BREAKING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TURNING AS WELL. PRIMARILY WHILE TURNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON A CITY INTERSECTION AND IN MY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I AM SCARED THAT I AM GOING TO WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS AND HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

20200208POWER TRAIN

CAR GETS STUCK IN GEAR WHEN PARKED AND IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR WHEN PARKED IS ON A FLAT SURFACE AND YOU NEED TO YANK IT OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. IF YOU BACK UP THE CAR AND TRY TO TAKE IT OUT OF REVERSE YOU HAVE TO YANK IT OUT OF GEAR.

Mileage: 33,000

20200203AIR BAGS

I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, I SUSPECT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE AIR BLOWING OUT THE VEHICLES VENTILATION SYSTEM... I REGULARLY DEVELOP CHEST PAIN IN MY BREAST AREA AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE . I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED FALSE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, THROUGH A CARFAX SEARCH

Mileage: 60,000

Compare 2009DODGECHALLENGER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER have?
The 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER has 171 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 7 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER?
Yes, the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER?
The most-complained component for the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER is AIR BAGS with 40 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.