Most common 2011 Dodge Challenger problems
Share of the 193 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Challenger complaints by model year
Best Challenger years: 2008, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, 2011. Compare all years →
2011 Dodge Challenger recalls (6)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) and are equipped with a 5.7L or a 3.6L engine and a 160, 180 or 220 amp alternator.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company.
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Durango; and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured April 22, 2010, to January 2, 2014, and equipped with a 3.6L engine and a 160 amp alternator.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the alternator, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Air bags
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles manufactured April 11, 2011, through December 14, 2011.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace both driver and passenger seat airbag wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Dodge Challenger:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2011 Dodge Challenger owners say
Electrical system all 103 →
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. The vehicle was jump-started. The battery was replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V435000 (Electrical System) in 2000. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim, but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.
I replaced the factory alternator about 2 years back and have had to replace it twice since then. The replacement alternator were not from the manufacturer but were brand new. The battery warning light comes on when it starts to fail and the hot wire leading to the alternator gets extremely hot. Didn't experience this until I had the aftermarket alternator installed.
Air bags all 35 →
I had the dealership fix a recall (N9C07) for the passenger seat wiring harness connector for the passenger side airbag a while back. My airbag warning lamp turned on recently and my mechanic told me it was that same issue that the recall was supposed to fix. I was told by the dealer that since this was replaced once already, they refused to replace it again. This is a major safety concern if the passenger side airbag does not deploy correctly. It is outrageous that their part is malfunctioning at no fault of my own and they refuse to fix it.
My vehicle was inspected for recall 13V-118, however the part was not replaced and is now having intermittent electrical issues, disconnecting the air bag system. I would like to have the vehicle re-inspected under this same recall and the problem corrected.
Engine & cooling all 24 →
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle off the highway and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a timing chain failure and the contact was informed by the dealer that the part was under warranty. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the failure was part of a Customer Satisfaction Program: P01 however, the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was informed that due to the timing chain failure, the engine was also damaged and would not be covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and agreed to repair the vehicle under Consequential Damages. …
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing chain had fractured and caused damage to the engine. The dealer related the failure to Service Campaign: P01 (Engine Timing Chain and Chain Guide) for which the VIN was included. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the manufacturer declined the engine replacement due to him not being the original owner of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and declined the engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
2011 Dodge Challenger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 23 / 17 |
| 6.4L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 22 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Dodge Challenger a good car?
Based on 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Challenger rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Challenger at the same age. It is one of the Challenger years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Dodge Challenger?
The electrical system — 103 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year, most often about alternator/generator/regulator. Next are the air bags (35) and engine & cooling (24).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Challenger have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2011 Dodge Challenger, the most recent from January 15, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Challenger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2012 and 2011. See the full Dodge Challenger years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Challenger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.