Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 5% | 31,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 4% | 48,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 6% | 12,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2015 | 4 | 3% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 3% | 6,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 4% | 57,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% | 64,000 miles |
| 2010 | 7 | 2% | 29,000 miles |
| 2009 | 9 | 7% | 54,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 20% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Was getting on freeway and hit the gas to accelerate and get ahead of the traffic. The Challenger would not accelerate fast (has a hemi) and car almost flew into me. Started testing the vehicle and it just wouldn't accelerate fast, it was stall slowly and pickup speed over 30 seconds or so. I brought it in to one shop and they said its probably a software update and to take it to Dodge and it should be free. Dodge told me it's probably not software, kept my car for 5 days and told me it was a software update and that they updated it for free but still charged me $175 for the "diagnosis" when I told them exactly what the issue was. And now that I got it back, it gets stuck in reverse, you have to turn the vehcile off and wait and start it again then it works. At a red light turn yesterday, it wouldn't drive forward and the "D" for drive started flashing.
P1dab-00,u1412,p0716. Vehicle has shown codes above for 5 plus months. Codes cause vehicle to shift between gear randomly. I have taken vehicle to dealership but probably was not resolved; the dealership stated the problem was the speed sensor, so the switched them out only to find out later it was not the problem. Vehicle is unsafe; on one occasion the vehicle shift from the 8th gear to the 3rd while on the freeway almost causing an accident. Please resolve issue before someone is gravely injured.
I was driving at 35 MPH on cruise control, I tried letting go off the acceleration as I did the car would not slow down and it started to wobble side to side it hit a curb and the front passenger wheel side came off and back side flattened and made a couple of dents into the right side
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated up to 46 MPH with an unknown warning light illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed and slowed the vehicle as designed. The vehicle was taken to star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (5101 s 1st st, abilene, tx 79605 [phone]) where it remained unrepaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. The VIN was not available.
When stepping on the throttle to quickly merge into traffic it delays a few seconds and after removing foot off gas pedal it continues to accelerate and sticks for a few seconds. Which requires me to brake. This is Not SAFE!! The dealer has never heard of this problem but it is listed online as a problem.
In November and December of 2017 and again in January 2018 and series of power-train gear changing while driving occurred while on interstate I-20 and 285 and 85 and generally around town which caused to have to pull over and call a tow truck or park until the issue would stop. The vehicles was taken to don jackson and landmark and liithia springs Chrysler Jeep and no one to this point has repaired it. This continues to cause me to have to pull over on the side of the road becomes the car begins to change gears with no reason at all at high speeds. On 4-27-19 don jackson Chrysler performed a recall and work on the computer and since then my car cruise control comes on and goes off when ever wnats to as well the radio and dash display flickers. …
New 2015 Dodge Challenger purchased with 67 miles on it. Vehicle experienced "stuck" RPM's at 23 and 51 MPH. Hard shifts. Hard transitions. Shuttering in the transmission. Inability to shift out of 3500 RPM while accelerating onto the highway. I was at a dead stop attempting to get into the highway lane [no onramp area to merge] and the car only went to 51 MPH and would not accelerate any more. The transmission stayed at 3500 RPM. I had a passenger take a video of the issue with my camera phone to show the dealership the issue. Rally mode is even worse. Another car on safercar.gov has the same issue, same model, same year. I have not even made my first payment on it to Chrysler capital. I have an open "star" case with Dodge customer care and I have gone through two case managers already. …
The vehicle had a recall about the the PCM so I took it to a local dealer to have it repaired and after I felt as if nothing were done to fix my car so I took it to another dealer about an hour and a half away and when I got my car back the check engine light was on and the guy didn't know what he was talking about giving false information about my car and tells me I need a new transmission so even then I still know nothing was done to fix my car my PCM is getting worse and now affecting. My transmission control unit shifting. The car won't go into first gear and when going into 5th gear it kicks and whiplashes me.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Challenger years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (9), 2010 (7), 2013 (7), 2012 (6) and 2014 (5) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Dodge Challenger acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Dodge Challenger model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Dodge Challenger acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles; 61% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (4 mentions), followed by the cruise control (1).
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.