2018 Dodge Challenger Electrical Problems

28 owners have reported electrical system problems with the 2018 Dodge Challenger to NHTSA — 37% of all 75 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 6,000 miles. That ranks #6 of 16 Challenger model years for electrical complaints (a typical year has 17). 2 related recalls have been issued.

28complaints
6ktypical miles
2related recalls
2crashes
1fires
0injuries

Which parts fail

  • Ignition
    1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    880%
  • 25k–50k
    220%
  • 50k–75k
    00%
  • 75k–100k
    00%
  • 100k–150k
    00%
  • 150k+
    00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Dodge Challenger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I have had an issue like the 30 other complaints on here with my window going up and down and faulty switch!!! Went to dodge and the lady stated no open recalls on the vehicle so I was probably looking at $2500 to fix . How is dodge not being held accountable for this and being liable to create a recall!!! I'm driving and the window started opening and shutting in the middle of a hurricane and I almost crashed, hit a divider & swirled ! Had to pull over and wait 1 hour for it to stop!!! PLEASE HELP before someone seriously is injured by this window faulty switch mechanism distracting apparently since 2011

Jul 2024 · crash

The vehicle was parked in driveway sat for 10minutes then the headlights started flashing on and off when we got near the car they stopped we move the away lights would go again. So we opened doors to find the front passenger floorboard and edge of front passenger seat begin to burn. At this point we have not been told a cause of the fire. I surance and chrysler corporate are looking into it

Aug 2022 · crash · fire

On April 6, 2022 at approximately 2300 I was driving 65 mph on an old two lane highway when all lighting on the instrument cluster, steering wheel, touchscreen, kick panels, and both headlights went out causing me to drive off the road momentarily as I was in a curve. For several moments all of these components would light up and off erratically. During this event, my windows also began rolling up and down on their own. I immediately turned on my hazard lights and began to slow down to look for a place to pull over. This was a long and empty stretch of old highway and there was no shoulder to pull onto. At this point my hazard lights became faulty as well and would not flash at times. …

Apr 2022

UConnect LCD Control Screen is completely on the fritz due to adhesive de-lamination. The screen will frequently and randomly 'ghost touch' itself to turn the heat all the way up, turn the media volume all the way up, call contacts, adjust the clock, switch screens, etc while I'm driving. It is available for inspection upon request. Car has become a danger to drive as a result. Having to constantly fumble with the screen to not be roasted by the heat or have my eardrums blown out by max volume media while driving is significantly more distracting and dangerous than being on the phone while driving. It isn't something that happens once or twice on a drive, it will touch the screen ~30 times a minute. This is a well known problem with UConnect systems in jeeps and dodges. You can look it up online or speak candidly with any dodge dealer. …

May 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the left turn signal light failed to function as intended. The turn signal light on the instrument panel was flashing erratically. The message "Left Turn Signal Out" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side window failed to function as intended. The window was rolling up and down slowly. Eventually, the window became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the window motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. …

Sep 2023

Rear backup camera will sometimes either be distorted or have a black screen while in reverse. This is a safety hazard as dodge challengers have large blind spots and makes it difficult to see when backing up without the rear camera. This has almost caused me to hit another car and pedestrians as it's hard to see them due to the blind spots and not having the assistance of the camera. While driving in the rain, the front windshield will have streaks across the whole window, making it very difficult to see while driving in the rain. Windshield wipers have been replaced several times but issue continues to happen. The breaks will shake when breaking. This causes the car to not want to break at times. …

Mar 2024

The car is a 5.7 6 speed Dodge Challenger, when driving the car will not idle down when you take your foot off the gas pedal, this happens during shifts where the idle stays up and keeps the car moving forward, it also will not slow down when you are driving at speed and you lift your foot off the gas pedal, the idle will hang at speed for up to 5 blocks unless the brakes are applied, 3 times I have almost been in an accident because of this. The problem has been confirmed by the Dodge dealer and a number of parts replaces with no resolve, the car was in their shop for 9 weeks before they gave it back, it started doing it again within days, they have had the car for 15 week now and counting, (total to date 24 weeks) The car only has 8000 miles on it, I bought it brand new and have not been able to drive the car due to it being unsafe. …

Jul 2020

Electrical system is going completely haywire. The display screen beeps as if being touched constantly causing driver distractions. Bluetooth hands free function makes random phone calls, hangs up and redials repeatedly causing driver distractions. The display also flashes from one setting to another, pulling up the navigation system and changing the route repeatedly causing driver distractions. Blindspot indicator does not work consistently which has caused at least one close call on the highway and could potentially lead to an accident. Turn signals will turn on but won't turn off unless driver works with them for several minutes which distracts the driver from the road. …

Jul 2022

My trouble is with my 2018 Dodge Challenger. The UConnect system is delaminating and the entire system is malfunctioning. I have taken the vehicle to my local Dodge dealer and showed them the issue, and they agree there is an issue. The safety issue is that the screen display system goes into what is called "ghost touching" where random buttons on the display are acting as if someone is pushing them but no one is touching anything. While backing up, the screen goes haywire, when trying to control anything electronic, the system goes haywire. Safety issue of distraction trying to find certain when in "ghost mode" The vehicle has been inspected by my local Dodge dealer, and agree there is an issue, but refuse to fix it without me paying $1,500. No prior issues electrically prior to the delamination issue. The first time is saw an issue was june 0f 2024.

Jun 2024

The uConnect 8.4 Display in my car has begun to delaminate. There is a large air pocket under the top portion of my display. This morning while waiting for the car to warm up so the heat would function on the climate control system, I used the display to set the defrost to on. After removing the initial frost from my windshield and I was able to see clearly, I left the house and headed to work. While on my way to work I begun to hear confirmation beeps from my display, as if I was touching the onscreen controls. The touchscreen display began to change settings on its own. Changing my climate controls from High heat to low Cold resulting in my windshield immediately frosting up and reducing my visibility to nothing, during morning traffic. I nearly impacted another vehicle that was turning while distracted by the display and the lack of visibility it caused. …

Sep 2021

Related recalls

Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood

NHTSA recall 18V-524 · Aug 9, 2018 · 12,779 vehicles

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…

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.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 18V-332 · May 17, 2018 · 4,815,661 vehicles

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…

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.

Electrical complaints in other Challenger years

’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23421681031381046226151628177416
Electrical complaints per model year, Dodge Challenger.

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Dodge Challenger?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Dodge Challenger, 37% of the model year's 75 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2018 Dodge Challenger electrical problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-524 (front underhood, Aug 9, 2018); NHTSA recall 18V-332 (software, May 17, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2018 Dodge Challenger electrical problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 80% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.