Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Dodge Challenger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Faulty TCM After purchasing my car it would hard shift in the 3rd and 4th gear And I realize that shortly after purchasing it chant and then one night I was on the freeway and between 2 semi trucks when it's just neutral and then tried shifting into 2nd gear Which almost caused me to wreck in between 2 semi trucks which was not cool and Now my car only shifts into 1st and 2nd gear and when it gets to 3rd it neutrals , It won't go into 3rd or 4th gear . I took it into the dealership to get new software Uploaded on my TCM they said it was fine so I drove it out the parking lot and still doing the sa.e thing won't shift into 3rd gear so I took it to another shop to have it looked at because I didn't want to risk my life driving the car. …
I took my car to the dealer for recalls they didn't fix anything they left my car out in the rain the hood up and Choppa had my car for a whole month did any nothing they were very courteous no customer assistance nothing
I brought my car 8 months ago and the delalership never told me about any of the four recalls I never received any papers in the mail concerning the recalls and that puts me and my children at risk everyday it's a scary feeling I also hit a tree that was in the middle of the street my steering g wheel was hard to control and my breaks as well
Known tremec tr6060 issue & Dodge refuses to help!! Star case# s1021000004 & k38556860. The grease used in the transmission turns into a glue at high temps causing the trans to not shift properly through the gears either going into gear or getting stuck coming out of gear. If hot enough this grease fuses the pilot & throwout bearing to the input shaft requiring those be replaced at minimum. This happened to me & the car could not be put in 1st-4th without a severe grinding noise. It can be heard in the trans & felt in both the stick & clutch pedal. The only way to slow down was to put the car in neutral & use the brakes without any engine control. Because of this high heat fusion I had to have essentially the entire trans rebuilt (bearings, synchros, input shaft & gaskets). …
The vehicle is experiencing difficulty taking the manual transmission out of gear with the clutch pedal fully depressed. This occurs on both cold and hot start up as well as when driving or stopping during in town driving. This creates a dangerous situation in that the driver could inadvertently roll into an intersection where they do not have the right of way, another vehicle, pedestrian or building. The vehicle will "creep" on flat ground if it is not placed in neutral and the brake is released. Using our friend google I have researched this issue and it appears from discussion on multiple forums that it is a known issue for my and other model years. Two case numbers from the manufacturer seem to indicate that there is a procedure for correcting this issue. Case numbers are k38556860 and s1021000004. …
Hello! Hard shifting 6speed manual: I have been having shifting problems with my manual trans for a couple of months. It started back in nov 11 when traveling out of town,got stuck in traffic and clutch started to not disingauge all the way (would creep) had to hold foot on brake or put in neutral even after pulling off the road. Latter when coming home baked into parking space turn key off wanted to put in other gear was very hard to pull out of reverse. Has gotten worse, it is getting harder to shift while driving. My wife went to get on the highway and had very hard time going into lower gear almost getting hit in the rear.Dodge says worn clutch,but it doesn't slip, but they have a notice about grease being on input spline thats the clutch slides on getting dirty from to much grease and dirt, making the disc stick not fully disengaging. …
My 2009 Dodge Challenger r/t equipped with the automatic transmission started experiencing problems downshifting when approaching a stop. You wouldn't know until you press the gas to proceed down the road and barely move as the vehicle would be stuck in the highest gear. I would have to pull over, turn the vehicle off, and restart it to drive the vehicle. Luckily this didn't happen when trying to pull out into traffic as it would have a high tendency to create a collision. Transmission code for the input speed sensor and after researching it online, I found a mass number of complaints and repairs about this issue. It appears to be a mechanical defect that needs to be dealt with by FCA and NHTSA due to the common occurrence is these vehicles. Replacing the input speed sensor which is part of an electronic module cost approximately $500 and corrected the problem.
My car is locking its self in first gear and is hard to shift out of gear. This is at a stand still. Upon first getting into the car. This happens nearly everyday now for approximately, 4 months. I now back into my parking spot. Also, at high speeds, its getting difficult to shift as well. Gears are grinding as they go into gear. Most recently was Saturday March 18th 2017. I was on interstate 5 in oregon. Heading home. Grinded every gear as I shifted. I engaged the clutch all the way on every shift and it still grinded its gears.
The vehicle will stick in gear with the clutch pedal fully disengaged (pressed to the floor) and the vehicle will continue to be driven by the engine power. This issue can cause the vehicle to enter an intersection or run over a pedestrian despite the driver's efforts to disengage the vehicle's transmission/drive system. Chrysler addressed the issue as excessive grease on the input shaft splines collecting excessive amounts of dirt which did not allow movement of the clutch disc on the input shaft.
Sudden engine stall at stop sign, at idle and also while on highway at speed. Oil light comes on intermittent no codes , oil level checked , gas was good . Many on every Challenger forums are having this issue "stalling" , even brand new cars right off the lot. Dodge rejects there's an issue, from dealers to the top. Please help! We don't trust our cars!
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
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.
Remedy: 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, 2008.
Transmission complaints in other Challenger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Dodge Challenger?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Dodge Challenger, 20% of the model year's 133 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Dodge Challenger transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 08V-458 (park/neutral start interlock switch, Sep 10, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Challenger transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.