Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Dodge Challenger
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Dodge Challenger has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 133 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V021000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V824000 Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V352000 Do Not Drive - Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V444000 Do Not Drive - Driver Side Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V420000 FRONT WHEEL SPINDLE NUT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V642000 TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SENSOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V458000 FMVSS 114/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION KEY REMOVAL NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 41 complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Engine 26 complaints
- Electrical System 21 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 13 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 9 complaints
Of the 133 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 133 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$16,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Dodge Challenger has received a below-average rating due to multiple airbag recalls and significant owner complaints related to the power train and engine. While the recall history is extensive, the frequency of complaints about critical components raises concerns about dependability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | Unknown | $250–$1,200 | very common |
| Power train | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | common |
| Engine | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,000–$4,000 | common |
| Electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $100–$1,000 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations and replacements
- Brake inspections and replacements
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant system flush
- Air filter changes
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning lights
- Transmission slipping
- Engine knocking noises
- Electrical system failures
- Unresponsive vehicle speed control
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Dodge Challenger at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.