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2016 Dodge Challenger Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2016 Dodge Challenger carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and wiring. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Driveshaft and rear differential failure.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

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2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Campaign #18E053000 · Dec 7, 2018

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain Mopar Stage 1 Kit Performance Packages Powertrain Control Modules (PCM) Part Numbers P5160023, P5160025, and Demon Crate PCM Part Number 68412287AA. The PCMs are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will either perform a software update or replace the PCM, free of charge. The recall began July 26 , 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U82, and U83.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign #18V332000 · May 17, 2018

Issue: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.

Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Dodge Challenger.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Driveshaft and rear differential failure

POWER TRAIN

7 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2025-05

“The drive shaft carrier bearing has disintegrated causing the drive shaft to bounce all around unsupported in the drive shaft tunnel. The carrier bearing is located in the middle of the two piece drive shaft”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11461681
“Driveshaft failed at 58.000 miles. It almost snapped from it's place”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11455286
“The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while her husband was driving 35 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11530614

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Hemi engine lifter tick and oil filter housing leak

ENGINE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2025-01

“Hemi Tick. The problem is so bad there is a common name for Stelantis 5.7 Hemi engine. Nothing else needs to be said the problem is well documented”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11639234
“LIFTER NOISE VERY BAD AFTER SITTING STILL TICKS WHEN WARM WAS TOLD BY DODGE THEY ALL DO THAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11318010
“CHRYSLER MAKER OF DODGE CHALLENGER 2016 AND OTHER MODELS AND OTHER YEARS ARE AWARE OF A MAJOR DEFECT. THE OIL FILTER HOUSING ON MANY MAKES AND MODELS LEAK LOTS OF OIL. AS OF RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 40,000 OF THIS PART ON BACK ORDER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11397787

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Uconnect infotainment and connectivity failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2022-05

“UCONNECT WILL NOT ADD TO DEVICES, CAN'T ADD PHONES TO CAR FOR HANDS FREE DRIVING. SOFTWARE DEFECT. MY CAR IS 3YEARS OLD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11268388
“UCONNECT 911 VEHICLE PHONE CHIP NOT WORKING, WHITE SCREEN ON RADIO MODULE, AND UNABLE TO CONTROL RADIO SETTINGS, NOT ABLE TO CONTROL BLOWER FOR HEAT, AC, OR DEFROST, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER AND CALL TO CUSTOMER CARE HAS NOT RESOLVED ISSUE AS OF YET”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10957815
“Uconnect advised me via email that once the 3G bandwidth was no longer functional, that Uconnect would be upgrading to 4G”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11463115

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Backup camera intermittent failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-09 → 2022-07

“My backup camera doesn’t work at all”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11472956
“The rear camera wiring harness becomes loose from opening and closing the trunk. Over time the camera intermittently stops working”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11445702
“BACK UP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK. BLACK OR GREEN SCREEN. WHILE IN REVERSE WITH A FOOT ON THE BRAKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11255345

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment during crashes

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2016-05 → 2021-04

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11413368
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 67 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS JAY WALKING AND SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11389263
“WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10888898

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electric power steering loss and lockup while driving

STEERING

8 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2026-04

“Good morning my (eps) Electronic steering system isn't working I have the light on my dashboard and while driving it went on and couldn't steer it needs force to turn and its difficult to keep it straight”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11734016
“When making a sharp turn where you need to turn the wheel fully to the left or right, the car steering would lock up and a power steering indicator light would appear on the dashboard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11673009
“The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the "Power Steering" warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. During the failure, the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11627298

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight wiring and fuse failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2020-03 → 2024-02

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11454258
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11322266
“NOTICED HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEN SOMEONE SAID MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, MY UPGRADED HEADLIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT I DIDN'T NOTICE WHILE BEHIND THE WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11329106

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

92 crashes 1990–2024

How the 92 occupant deaths break down

68

driver deaths

24

passenger deaths

92

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

10

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Dodge Challenger reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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