2018 Dodge Challenger
reported issues, recalls & what to inspect
This report uses official federal safety records plus VeroRoad’s vehicle × tool evidence. It is a screening tool, not a reliability grade or prediction that your specific car will fail.
NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted allegations, not verified failures. Raw complaint totals are not failure rates because vehicle sales/exposure are not normalized here. A recall is an official safety campaign, but your VIN may or may not be included.
Which systems appear most often in the complaint record?
Use this to prioritize inspection effort, not to label the vehicle “good” or “bad.”
Where were mileage-at-failure values reported?
NHTSA did not return enough usable mileage values for a timeline.
Official campaigns returned for this model-year query
Open the exact VIN before purchase to determine whether a campaign applies and whether the remedy was completed.
18E053000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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.
Why it matters: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 12/07/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.18V280000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
Why it matters: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.
Reported 01/05/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.18V332000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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.
Why it matters: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 17/05/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.18V524000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Why it matters: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Reported 09/08/2018 · Verify exact VIN applicability.What I would inspect before money changes hands
The highest reported component groups are converted into inspection tasks. They are not diagnoses.
Electrical & 12V system
27 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.
- 12V resting and charging voltage
- Module communication scan
- Battery age and terminal condition
- Unexpected warning lights or intermittent electrical behavior
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
27 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.
- Inspect the affected system carefully
- Scan all modules before clearing codes
- Review service history and previous repair records
Engine & powertrain
8 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.
- Cold-start behavior and idle quality
- Acceleration under light and moderate load
- Current, pending and permanent DTCs
- Freeze-frame and fuel/engine live data where available
Steering
6 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.
- Steering warning lights
- Straight-line tracking and steering effort
- Steering-angle data/calibration if relevant
- Noise or binding during lock-to-lock movement
Tires & TPMS
6 owner complaints in the leading component signal intersect this system.
- Tire age and matching set
- Uneven wear or sidewall damage
- TPMS warning status
- Correct pressure after a cold soak
Make it harder for a recently cleared warning light to fool you.
A clean dashboard is not the same as a clean scan. Readiness monitors, pending codes and permanent codes provide useful context during a pre-purchase inspection.
- Run a full-system scan before clearing anything
- Read current, pending and permanent powertrain codes
- Check readiness monitors; multiple “Not Ready” monitors can be consistent with a recently cleared ECU or disconnected battery
- Save freeze-frame data for any stored emissions/powertrain fault
- Scan ABS, SRS, transmission and body modules when the tool supports them
- Check 12V battery / charging condition because low voltage can create misleading module faults
Look beyond recalls.
Manufacturers submit service bulletins, warranty extensions, repair instructions and other communications to NHTSA. These documents can reveal service procedures and known conditions that are not necessarily safety recalls.
Tools that intersect this inspection path
These recommendations use VeroRoad’s existing exact vehicle/function evidence. Fit comes before price.
Autel MaxiTPMS ITS600
Intersects 3 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiTPMS TS508WF
Intersects 3 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiTPMS TS608
Intersects 3 functions used in this inspection path.
Autel MaxiTPMS TS408
Intersects 1 function used in this inspection path.
Useful supporting equipment
A scanner cannot replace physical inspection and measurement. These tools cover common gaps.
Professional battery and resistance testing with sequence testing for higher-volume work.
Check price on Amazon →Useful for locating abnormal heat in electrical, mechanical and EV-related troubleshooting without assuming it is mandatory for every job.
Check price on Amazon →Adds multimeter and current-clamp measurements for deeper electrical troubleshooting when paired with supported MaxiBAS tools.
Check price on Amazon →Dedicated TPMS workflow plus diagnostics and service functions; strong fit when TPMS is a frequent shop job.
Check price on Amazon →Dodge Challenger Risk Radar by year
Where these signals come from
Federal data are fetched from NHTSA’s public APIs. VeroRoad aggregates the records into screening signals and keeps complaints separate from confirmed recalls.