What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Challenger?

Owners filed the most complaints about the electrical system, followed by the engine and air bags.

Has the 2013 Dodge Challenger been recalled?

Yes, the Recalls section on this page lists them, and the count for this model year is in the by-year section.

How many complaints does the 2013 Dodge Challenger have?

NHTSA has 179 complaints on file.

Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger reliable?

The complaint record is mixed and the electrical system stands out. Owner reports are unverified, so read the sections below and check the recall list.

What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Dodge Challenger?

See the fuel economy section on this page.

2013 Dodge Challenger Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 179 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Dodge Challenger^[1]. The electrical system group is the biggest, with 104 of them^[2].

179owner complaints^[1]

5recalls^[3]

17–21MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints in several groups, and here they are from biggest to smallest.

Electrical System. 104 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe warnings about a possible electrical fire, cars towed to the dealer, a battery disconnected as a stopgap, and a trunk fire that left a driver with a minor burn. Some also describe interior power outlets that stopped working.
Engine. 27 complaints^[6]. Owners describe the car stalling on the road, sometimes without any warning light, and not restarting. Others describe dim dash lights and a car that went completely dead.
Air Bags. 19 complaints^[7]. Owners describe air bags that did not open in a crash, and warning lights that keep coming back even after repair visits. Some say they waited a long time for a recall part.
Power Train. 16 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the engine revving without the car picking up speed, rough shifting, and transmission warning codes.
Steering. 15 complaints^[9].
Unknown Or Other. 11 complaints^[10].
Brakes. 8 complaints^[11].
Speed Control. 7 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 Challenger is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (19V018), January 2019. About 1,413,222 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, a crash, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V021), January 2018. About 328,177 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator (17V435), July 2017. About 442,214 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator (14V634), October 2014. About 435,081 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood (13V103), March 2013. About 4,051 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Challenger SRT8, 6.4L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[18]	14 / 23 / 17	$4,850
Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Midgrade, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	16 / 25 / 19	$4,000
Challenger, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	18 / 27 / 21	$3,200
Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[20]	15 / 23 / 18	$4,550
Challenger SRT8, 6.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	14 / 23 / 17	$4,850

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2 DR RWD^[5]	5	5	5	4	11.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2013 Dodge Challenger with 5.7L 8-cylinder^[22]	370 hp
2013 Dodge Challenger with 6.4L 8-cylinder^[23]	470 hp

How 2013 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Challenger model year. The 2013 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2008	10	3
2009	133	7
2010	299	7
2011	193	6
2012	253	6
2013	179	5
2014	149	4
2015	126	5
2016	78	1
2017	49	3
2018	75	3
2019	59	3
2020	20	1
2021	19	2
2022	9	2
2023	43	2

NHTSA's counts for the Challenger show 179 complaints and 5 recalls for 2013^[3]. Among the 16 model years listed, 12 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2022 (9) and the most are for 2010 (299)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2013 Challenger?

These are unverified owner reports, so they show what people tell NHTSA and not how often a problem happens^[1]. The electrical system group stands out from the rest^[2]. Engine, air bag and power train complaints come next^[6]^[7]^[8]. Some reports describe crashes, fires or injuries, so read the sections below and the recalls list before you buy^[1]^[3]. A clean service history and a careful test drive are sensible for any used Challenger.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Challenger?: Owners filed the most complaints about the electrical system, followed by the engine and air bags^[2]^[6]^[7].
Has the 2013 Dodge Challenger been recalled?: Yes, the Recalls section on this page lists them, and the count for this model year is in the by-year section^[3].
How many complaints does the 2013 Dodge Challenger have?: NHTSA has 179 complaints on file^[1].
Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger reliable?: The complaint record is mixed and the electrical system stands out^[2]. Owner reports are unverified, so read the sections below and check the recall list^[3].
What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Dodge Challenger?: See the fuel economy section on this page.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Dodge Challenger

2008 10 complaints, 3 recalls
2010 299 complaints, 7 recalls
2012 253 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 this page
2014 149 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 78 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Dodge Challenger

Other Dodge models from 2013

2013 Dodge Avenger 548 complaints, 5 recalls
2013 Dodge Journey 353 complaints, 4 recalls

All Dodge models

Similar cars from 2013: midsize cars

2013 Nissan Maxima 62 complaints, 0 recalls
2013 Nissan Sentra 638 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 Subaru Legacy/Outback 363 complaints, 12 recalls
2013 Toyota Avalon 160 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Toyota Prius 426 complaints, 4 recalls
2013 Volkswagen Passat 749 complaints, 9 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 179 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Dodge Challenger (6 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 7 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
104 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 9 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,150). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Challenger model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Challenger, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
27 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,150). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the air bags component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
16 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,000). NHTSA vehicle records
15 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,300). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,136). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the speed control component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,795). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 19V018, filed January 15, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V021, filed January 9, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V435, filed July 10, 2017: Electrical System › Alternator / Generator / Regulator. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V634, filed October 8, 2014: Electrical System › Alternator / Generator / Regulator. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V103, filed March 21, 2013: Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Challenger SRT8, 6.4L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 23 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Midgrade, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,000. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Challenger, 5.7L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Challenger SRT8, 6.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 23 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Dodge Challenger with 5.7L 8-cylinder: rated 370 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Dodge Challenger with 6.4L 8-cylinder: rated 470 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2013 Dodge Challenger: problems, recalls and fuel economy