2009 Dodge Challenger Problems, Recalls & Reliability
171 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Dodge Challenger, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 49/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 34,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2009 sits among all Challenger years
What owners report
“Nothing happen dodge will not repair the problem. Said waiting on parts. Left with no way to travel. Do i have any recourse i can take.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Challenger
“Car just stalls no warning hi way speed your turning cant steer the car or stop it gives no codes stope or driving it will just lose power and stall not safe .very random never know when it is going to happen”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Challenger
“Manuel transmission grinds/hard to shift into the next gears. Feels like the clutch isnt completely disengageing and if you park with it in gear you cant get it out of gear to put it into nuetral,sticks or locks in gear. Sometimes double clutching it doesnt help”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Challenger
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 120 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 31,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 15,539 and 63,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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,…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…
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:…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service…
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…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their…
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…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND IF FOUND WITHOUT A SPINDLE NUT IT WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TPM SENSORS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE MODULE SO THE ENGINE CAN ONLY BE TURNED OFF WHEN THE TRANSMISSION AND GEAR SELECTOR IS IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15,…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 2004 can degrade,…
Model years named: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Technical service bulletins
46 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2009 Dodge Challenger. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2009 Challenger TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Dodge Challenger reliable?
The 2009 Dodge Challenger drew 171 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 49/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2009 Dodge Challenger problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Dodge Challenger are airbags (41 complaints), engine (39), and transmission & drivetrain (27).
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Challenger problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Dodge Challenger problems around 31,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 15,539 and 63,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Dodge Challenger have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Dodge Challenger. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.