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The 2020 Dodge Challenger was designed to provide sports car style with muscle power. Newer models claim to offer “strong delivery.” However, customers can’t stop complaining about the defective air bags, faulty electrical system and malfunctioning powertrain.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2018 2019 2021
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2020 Dodge Challenger
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Air Bags | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Wheels |
Problems with the Airbags
The car’s air bags are designed to prevent accidents during a collision, but if they don’t work, they are worthless.
One NHTSA complaint talks about this problem. “My car was in a collision yesterday. I was rear-ended and pushed into another vehicle, resulting in both front and rear impacts. The air bag did not deploy, even though I could smell it, as if it did deploy. Also, my car app notified me that the airbag had been deployed and needed to be taken to a service provider to be serviced. The problem is that no airbags actually deployed. So if I had been in a situation that required the airbags to save my life, I would not have had them. I feel like this could really be a problem if it happened in another situation & I wanted to let someone know so they can look into it.”
There’s currently an NHTSA investigation into the air bags. #EA21002 discusses how the propellant in the inflator can degrade over time, creating an air bag that deploys when it shouldn’t. If this happens, there could be serious injuries created, which is also a pain considered that no accident occurred. For this reason, new air bags must have desiccants installed to remove moisture and prevent this problem. The other solution is to avoid driving a Challenger at any cost.
Problems with the Electrical System
Considering the price of this muscle car, all of the electrical systems should be in tip-top condition, but that’s not the case.
Here’s another NHTSA complaint to read. “Car completely shut off while driving on the freeway at 75mph. Car completely shut off another incident on the street and another incident in a parking lot.”
One examination of how poorly this car is made reveals where the problems are coming from. While not related to the electrical system, the engineering defects can also be seen in the windshield construction. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V516000 talks about over 21,000 vehicles that are built with the wrong bonding on the windshield, leaving it to possibly detach from the vehicle during an accident. When you combine this fault with the air bag issue, it feels like Challenger drivers are more at risk for injuries than the average driver. Is there any part of this car that truly offers “strong delivery?”
Problems with the Powertrain
A final look at the powertrain must be evaluated to see how this vehicle actually performs.
This NHTSA complaint reveals a lot. “I bought a Dodge Challenger. The place I bought it is [dealer]. I got out of the dealer and the shaft of the car was out of the way, I was almost having an accident. I went back to the dealer and explained the situation. They told me to give the car to the service. I said I did not want to service the car at 50 miles. I asked them to give me a new one of the same car. No, we can’t give you a car because they said you bought cash and got a discount. I left the car to the service 3 days ago. Still nobody informed me. When they repaired the vehicle, I don’t want to get on that vehicle, I have a child, I’m afraid. I want them to give me a new one of the same car.”
There have been a lot of drivers wishing for the same thing with the 2020 Challenger. It turns out that there was even a class-action lawsuit because of the defective 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. The valve train defect wasn’t disclosed by Dodge to customers, so many had to deal with a ticking noise because of failed rocker arms and other parts contaminating the oil and creating permanent damage. With every part of the Challenger falling apart, it might do better sitting in the junkyard.
Your Lemon Law Legal Rights
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Dodge pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Complaint Data
| Category | Electrical System, Engine |
| Date | Feb 01, 2023 |
| State | SC |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 dodge challenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle momentarily powered off; while coasting to the side of the road, the vehicle suddenly powered back on and continued to drive as needed. The contact stated that during the failure, the instrument cluster was inoperable. The vehicle independently restarted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,800. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Jan 17, 2023 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Windshield is becoming unglued starting to separate |
| Category | Air Bags |
| Date | Nov 16, 2021 |
| State | MO |
| Description | My car was in a collision yesterday. I was rear-ended and pushed into another vehicle, resulting in both front and rear impacts. The air bag did not deploy, even though I could smell it, as if it did deploy. Also, my car app notified me that the airbag had been deployed and needed to be taken to a service provider to be serviced. The problem is that no airbags actually deployed. So if I had been in a situation that required the airbags to save my life, I would not have had them. I feel like this could really be a problem if it happened in another situation & I wanted to let someone know so they can look into it. |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Service Brakes |
| Date | Oct 05, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Car completely shut off while driving on the freeway at 75mph. Car completely shut off another incident on the street and another incident in a parking lot. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | May 10, 2021 |
| State | AZ |
| Description | Upon receiving a phone call while my device is connected to the uconnect infotainment system, the incoming ringer volume is set to maximum loudness. This cannot be changed. The ringer is so loud, it is startling to anyone who is in the car. Every time I get a call while in my car (through uconnect), I jump. I thought a friend of mine who was in the passenger's seat was going to have a heart attack. I have tried changing the volume on the ringer and it cannot be done. This is a huge safety concern. I contacted dodge directly and I was told that I need to check for updates to my uconnect system. I did that and there are no updates available. This needs to be remedied as soon as possible. I have checked around on the internet and have read hundreds of other people complaining about this same issue going back a few years. Dodge has been incredibly neglectful with this issue. This needs to be fixed immediately. |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 04, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I bought a dodge challenger. The place I bought it is huntington beach dodge ram jeep dealer. I got out of the dealer and the shaft of the car was out of the way, I was almost having an accident. I went back to the dealer and explained the situation. They told me to give the car to the service. I said I did not want to service the car at 50 miles. I asked them to give me a new one of the same car. No, we can't give you a car because they said you bought cash and got a discount. I left the car to the service 3 days ago. Still nobody informed me. When they repaired my vehicle, I don't want to get on that vehicle, I have a child, I'm afraid. I want them to give me a new one of the same car |
| Category | Power Train |
| Date | Mar 04, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I bought a dodge challenger. The place I bought it is huntington beach dodge ram jeep dealer. I got out of the dealer and the shaft of the car was out of the way, I was almost having an accident. I went back to the dealer and explained the situation. They told me to give the car to the service. I said I did not want to service the car at 50 miles. I asked them to give me a new one of the same car. No, we can't give you a car because they said you bought cash and got a discount. I left the car to the service 4 days ago. Still nobody informed me. When they repaired my vehicle, I don't want to get on that vehicle, I have a child, I'm afraid. I want them to give me a new one of the same car |
| Category | Electrical System, Engine, Fuel/propulsion System |
| Date | Dec 15, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | Vehicle caught on fire while operational, in second the vehicle became engulfed in flames with no warnings.*dt*dt*jb*dt*jb*dt*jb |
| Category | Unknown Or Other, Wheels |
| Date | Nov 11, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | I had a flat tire one week after I bought the $ 60. 000 car. Then I learned the car does not come with a spare tire. Instead there is a machine, after reading the manual I got the tire to inflate. Immediately I went to a tire store to get the nail out of the tire. They said I will have to buy a new tire because I used the machine that dodge provides. I reached out to dodge and here is their reply ello paulo; thank you for contacting dodge customer care. We are so sorry to learn of your concern with not having a spare tire in your 2020 dodge challenger r/t scat pack and I would like to assure you that I will do everything I can to help you out. Based on the information that you have provided, the best plan of action would be for you to contact your tire manufacturing company for advise and possible resolution. I have attached the contact information for your tire manufacturer here: pirelli tire na, llc 100 pirelli drive rome ga 30161-7000. 800-747-3554 select option 2 to find a retailer. Www. Us. Pirelli. Com ( retailer locator) if it is more convenient for you, call us anytime at dodge customer care: 1-800-992-1997 and just provide the following case number 77661914; anyone you speak with will be happy to help. Thank you again for your email . Have a great day. Best regards, monica dodge customer care --------------- original message --------------- |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Oct 30, 2020 |
| State | TX |
| Description | The screen for the stereo continuously flashes like it is shorting and the toggle buttons continuously freeze. When taken back to the dealer, they said there is no issue that chrysler said I needed to make sure my charger had no dust in it and make sure the slot had none either. The vehicle is brand new and I went directly to my phone manufacturer and purchased a brand new dust free charger. Issue happened immediately. The dealership gave me another chrysler made car while they had mine, not one issue of this. My old car was chrysler made, never had this problem. This happens every single time I drive the car and the fact that no one will fix it is crazy when my car had 18 miles when I purchased it less than a month ago. |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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