Dodge Challenger Complaints (2009)

133 consumer complaints on file.

#10449438February 27, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE FROM 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A PRECEDING VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WENT OFF THE ROADWAY, AND STUCK A TRAFFIC SIGN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS WRIST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10449347February 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OVERVIEW: MY 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T, WITH THE 5.7L HEMI ENGINE AND MANUAL 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION, HAS AN EXCESSIVE DELAY BETWEEN PRESSING THE THROTTLE AND ACHIEVING ENGINE RESPONSE. THIS OCCURS ONLY IN GEARS 4-6, AND IS THE RESULT OF A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) UPDATE. BACKGROUND: THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ("DRIVE BY WIRE") SYSTEM, WHERE THROTTLE RESPONSE IS CONTROLLED BY THE PCM AND NOT VIA A THROTTLE CABLE. HISTORY: ON OCTOBER 14, 2011, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP DUE TO A ROUGH ENGINE IDLE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT A PCM UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE, BASED ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 18-014-10. THIS UPDATE CHANGED THE ENGINE CALIBRATION ID FROM 05187899AE TO 05187899AG. EVER SINCE THIS UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT (AND UNSAFE) THROTTLE DELAY WHILE IN GEARS 4-6. BASICALLY, WHEN THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED, IT TAKES ABOUT 2 SECONDS FOR THE ENGINE TO RESPOND. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR-COLLISIONS, DURING TIMES WHERE ACCELERATION IS EXPECTED TO AVOID AN UNSAFE ROAD CONDITION BUT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM, YOU COULD ACTUALLY RAPIDLY PULSE THE THROTTLE REPEATEDLY WITHOUT HAVING ANY ENGINE RESPONSE AT ALL. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS ALL OWNERS OF 2009-2010 DODGE CHALLENGER R/TS WITH THE 05187899AG CALIBRATION ID. AS OF THIS DATE, NO PCM UPDATE HAS BEEN RELEASED TO CORRECT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444667January 20, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2009 CHALLENGER CAUGHT ON FIRE TAKING WITH IT MY GARAGE! CAR WAS PARKED AND AS SOON AS THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED, SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF CAR FROM FRONT SIDE PASSENGER AREA NEAR FRONT WHEEL/HOOD AREA. *TT WITHIN MINS THE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES ALONG WITH MY GARAGE. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT! JUST ONE DAY IT DECIDED TO IGNITE IN FLAMES. I CANT EXPLAIN IT. AS A WOMAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG IS EVEN WORSE. DODGE WONT HELP ME. IVE TRIED CONTACTING THEM AND I DONT HEAR FROM THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443633January 12, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER BATTERY AND CABLES RECALL PERFORMED AND NEW KEY FOBS PROGRAMMED DUE TO "NO KEY FOB PRESENT" ,CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY START. PUSH BUTTON OR FOB IN DASH, MADE NO DIFFERENCE. CAR WOULD "THUNK" OR "START AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF" AND FINALLY THE SAFETY ISSUE THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED! ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD BE DEAD. IT DIED ON ME COMING UP A STEEP HILL MERGE LANE, MAKING TURNS, ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY. HAD THE CAR TO MY PURCHASE DEALER TWICE AND THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. FINALLY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO FOUND THE PROBLEM WITHIN AN HOUR. THE WIN MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND UPDATES FLASHED TO THE COMPUTER. I'M TOLD CHRYSLER APPEARED AT THIS DEALER WHILE MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND THAT THEY PERSONALLY CHECKED IT OVER, RE-DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THE DEALER PERFORMED. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING! SHAME I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. SHAME ON CHRYSLER/DODGE. IT APPEARS FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428783October 5, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR IN 4TH, 5TH OR 6TH GEAR THE CAR HESITATES FOR A SECOND OR LONGER BEFORE ACCELERATING. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM CAUSED BY A FLASH OF THE COMPUTER DODGE PERFORMED AND DODGE HAS YET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425957September 18, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE THROTTLE LAD WHEN IN 4 TO 6 GEAR WHEN LETTING OFF PEDAL THEN RETURNING BACK INTO THROTTLE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425960September 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY WORK ON TRIM AND WINDOW SWITCH. CAR WAS FINE. HAD OWNED IT FOR 2.5 YEARS. DEALER PERFORMED FLASH ON PCM PER CHRYLSERS INFORMATION. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER, I NOTECED A 1.5 SECOND DELAY WHEN GAS PEDEL IS DEPRESSED. FOUND OUT WHEN TRYING TO PASS SLOWER TRAFFIC. HUMAN NATURE CAUSES YOU TO PRESS IF MORE. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE POWER COMES ON HARD. TOOK IT BACK, AND HAD CHRYLER TECH TEST DRIVE WITH SERVICE MGR. THEY SAW THE PROBLEM WITH THE SCAN TOOL HOOKED UP. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A 1.4 SECOND DELAY. TECH SAID HE MADE CHANGES IN PROGRAM AND TOOK IT TO .7 SECONDS. I DO NOT SEE A DIFFERANCE IN PERFORMANCE. CALLED CONTACT AT CHRYSLER. AND WAS TOLD THAT IT FALLS WITHIN FACTORY STANDARDS. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS RIGHT. CAR WAS FINE UNTILL THEY FLASHED IT. I AM UNABLE TO GET ANY PAPERWORK FROM CHRYSLER STATING THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AT 55 OR 70MPH 1.4 SECONDS CAN BE A LIFETIME. IF A TIME DELAY IS NORMAL FOR THE FLY BY WIRE SYSTEMS, THEN I AM GLAD I AM NOT A PILOT OF A FIGHTER AIRCRAFT OR NEW COMERCAL AIR LINER. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10420237August 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR PERIODICALLY STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE- MAY BE COMPUTER-RELATED. FRIENDS HAVING THE SAME DODGE VEHICLE HAVE HAD THEIR CAR STALL IN HEAVY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS OR FATAL CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417849August 7, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING AT A RATE OF 30MPH CAR STALLS WITHOUT ANY REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES. WHEN TURNING CORNERS INTO BUSY INTERSECTION, IT JUST FRIGHTENS ME TO THINK OF UNSUSPECTING FAST MOVING TRAFFIC THAT COULD HIT ME. I HAVE READ OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I ONLY HAVE 30 THOUSAND ON MY CAR REALLY! I HAVE A CAR WITH LOW MILES AND PAY A PRETTY NOTE SO I DON'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I DREAD HAVING TO TAKE IT IN TOMORROW. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414799July 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK COMING TO THE TURN AND SLOWING DOWN THE CAR LITERALLY JUST DIED WHILE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD. ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR WAS DEAD. PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED WITH NO CEL. DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHY ITS DOING THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414798July 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2009 DODGE CHALLENGER RT AUTO, WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CAR LITERALLY JUST DIED, NO RIME OR REASON. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTARTED THE CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT TO BOERNE DODGE AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. SAID THE LIGHT JUST WENT AWAY. AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408825June 24, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE SECONDS WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT REPAIR FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406959June 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2009 CHALLENGER R/T STALLED,CRANKED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR HAS STALLED 5 TIMES ONCE GETTING ON A HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY AND MAP SENSOR. THE CAR HAS STALLED A FEW DAYS LATER AND IS NOW AT ANOTHER DEALER. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT I 3 KIDS IN THE CAR TILL I KNOW ITS FIXED. IT SEEMS TO STALL IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS (HOT , COLD, MOVING, WHEN FIRST STARTED,ETC). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394926April 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE DEALERSHIP FLASHED THE PCM AS DETAILED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 18-021-09 REV. A. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT I NOTICED AN INTERMITTENT THROTTLE LAG. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL WAIT 1/2 TO 3/4 SECOND, THEN THE ENGINE WILL RESPOND AND THE CAR WILL GO. MERGING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IS NOW DANGEROUS AS THE CAR WILL NOT ALWAYS RESPOND TO THE PEDAL INPUT. WHEN IT FINALLY DOES RESPOND THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD (SINCE I'M PUSHING DOWN MORE ON THE PEDAL TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE). THIS IS DANGEROUS AS THE REAR TIRES CAN LOSE TRACTION ON WET ROADS. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP A PORTABLE DATA LOGGER AND ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ABLE TO VERIFY THE COMPLAINT. THEY SENT THE RESULTS TO CHRYSLER'S ENGINEERS. THOSE ENGINEERS REVIEWED THE DATA AND SAID, "THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, DELAY IS NORMAL, WE SEE NOTHING WRONG." I HAD THE CAR FOR 22 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS UPDATE AND NEVER HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392633March 23, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THERE IS A DEFECT ON THE DASH WHERE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYS. THIS CAUSES THE AREA TO LOOK DEPRESSED AND DEFORMED. CHRYSLER / DODGE WAS CONTACTED, AND ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR. IN TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS SOME ARE CHOOSING TO COVER THE DASH WITH DASH MATS OR COVERS. THIS RAISES THE QUESTION WITH ME AS TO HOW THIS MAY EFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380044February 3, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND MOSTLY HAPPENS WHILE MAKING TURNS. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU LOSE ALL POWER AND THERE IS NO POWER STEERING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF CHALLENGER OWNERS. AT THIS TIME CHRYSLER HASN'T RELEASED A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375221January 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2009 DODGE CHALLENGER RT. GOING DOWN ROAD AT 30MPH PUT FOOT ON BRAKE GENTLY AND THE BRAKE SKIPPED AND DID NOT STOP VEHICLE TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE REAPPLIED PRESSURE AND IT STOPPED. ALMOST RAN STOP SIGN VERY SCARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY BRAKE PROBLEMS AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. CHUGGING IN THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO 0-60 IN 5 SECONDS COULD BARELY GO 0-40 IN 5 SECONDS. AT A COMPLETE STOP FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS THE CAR LIKE BEING REARENDED AND NO ONE BEHIND ME. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST SAID THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND DEALERSHIP NOW THINKS I AM MAKING UP STORIES LAST TIME TOOK IT IN THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM SO DID NOTHING. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BUTTONS WILL NOT BRING PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BACK UP THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIX. PAINT DEFECT ON PASSENGER SIDE BACK ABOVE THE BACK WINDOW RUSTED IN SPOT WAS SPREADING HAD JUST GOT THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER FOUND WHEN WASHED VEHICLE THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO BIRD POOP BEING LEFT ON SPOT HAD CAR 2 MONTHS AND A WASH TUB PACKAGE WOULD NOT LEAVE CAR THAT DIRTY. THEY FIXED THE PAINT JOB DUE TO WARRANTY. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364170November 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLEHAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,600. UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ UPATED 04/14/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358048September 28, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE BUT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A KILL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A THIRD DEALER WHO REMOVED THE ANTI THEFT DEVICE INSTALLED BY ANOTHER DEALER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,706 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354485September 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2009 DODGE CHALLENGER, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTOFF AFTER DECELERATING. VERY DANGEROUS. BREAKS AND STEERING SHUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES TO ME. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REPORTS OF THIS LOCATED HERE: HTTP://WWW.CHALLENGERTALK.COM/FORUMS/F36/ENGINE-STALLING-35997/. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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