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2009 Dodge Challenger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Dodge Challenger, most often about the air bags (31% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). It is 6th of 16 Challenger model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2009 Dodge Challenger problems
Air bags
41 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. While driving approximately 20 MPH he crashed into a vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver in the other vehicle was injured. The vehicle was towed to a towing company but was not examined for the cause of failure or repaired. The failure…
This vehicle was in perfect operational conditions prior to the repairs regarding the takata inflators. Immediately following this repair, I have replaced the battery on two separate occasions. A completely charged battery will discharge overnight. After a complete diagnostic evaluation by Dodge dealership, they found…
Engine
39 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Engine stalls while I am driving. Lose power steering and power brakes when engine quits. Have to shift into neutral while driving and restart.dangerous in intersections ,merging, passing, in wet weather, and in the winter.
Engine quit with no warning. Steering and brakes compromised. Shifted into neutral while in traffic.has been occurring more and more frequently. Dealer reports cannot replicate. Sounds just like the recalled gm's.
Transmission
27 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Engine quit with no warning. Steering and brakes compromised. Shifted into neutral while in traffic.has been occurring more and more frequently. Dealer reports cannot replicate. Sounds just like the recalled gm's.
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…
Electrical
21 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles.
I have had this car for 7 years and have only just turned it over 50k miles. Just recently the car started to make a whining noise the the battery warning light came on. After turning the car off and then back on the light turned off but would come back on after a few miles. Checked out where the noise was coming from…
Vehicle stalls randomly while coming to a stop. Oil light illuminates car losses all power steering and breaking. This happens while driving straight or turning as well. Primarily while turning. This has happened to me on a city intersection and in my residential neighborhood. I am scared that I am going to wreck…
Speed control
9 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I am having same issues as everyone else. I recently started having issues where my automatic transmission is sticking in gear and doesn't shift like it needs to. I also, have to either pull over and shut the car off or shift it into manual transmission. This is a huge problem the manufacture needs to deal with.
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…
Steering
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 13,500 miles.
I took my car in to the local Dodge dealer for a scheduled inspection of the drive train. The inspection was good, but a shop note indicated there was a leak in the power steering system. The tech filled the power steering fluid reservoir and the service department rep indicated she would call me later when I asked…
Ordered new tires for vehicle, I was told that the rack and pinion was leaking and it would cost $ 585.00 to fix it. I drive this vehicle summers only. I have only 15000 miles on the car. I do not believe this should happen this early. The car has never been in any kind of mishap.
Fuel system
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 18,500 miles.
My 2009 Dodge Challenger stalls while driving and mostly happens while making turns. It happens randomly and you never know when it is going to happen. You lose all power and there is no power steering when this happens. It is very unsafe and this has been happening to a lot of Challenger owners. At this time chrysler…
1. Slowing down to make a left or right hand turn. 2. Car stalls and engine dies eliminating all power steering brakes, etc. 3. Car has to be put in neutral and restarted. 4. Cel will come on but goes out after restart. 5. Issue has occurred three times with two different engines. 6. The last incident happened in a…
Brakes
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Engine quit with no warning. Steering and brakes compromised. Shifted into neutral while in traffic.has been occurring more and more frequently. Dealer reports cannot replicate. Sounds just like the recalled gm's.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Challenger. The contact was attempting to brake from 30 MPH when the vehicle failed to respond. The contact attempted to avoid a preceding vehicle but was unsuccessful and the contact crashed into another vehicle, went off the roadway, and stuck a traffic sign. The contact sustained…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Dodge Challenger recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. The recall began february 28, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is u03.
Full defect summary
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, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, chrysler is recalling certain 2009-2010 ram 4500 cab chassis, ram 5500 cab chassis, ram 3500 cab chassis, jeep wrangler, chrysler 300, dodge dakota, dodge challenger, and dodge charger vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone
Equipment
Risk: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began february 14, 2018. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403 or kidde customer service service toll-free at 1-855-262-3540, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "product safety recall" for more information. Chrysler's number for this recall is t82.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling various dodge, chrysler, and ram vehicles equipped with kidde plastic-handle or push button 'pindicator' fire extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17v824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/rcl/2017/rmisc-17e062-5427.pdf
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on march 27, 2017. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is s43. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-7700.
Full defect summary
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 chassis, 2004-2009 dodge durango, 2007-2009 chrysler aspen, 2007-2012 jeep wrangler, 2008-2012 dodge challenger, 2005-2008 dodge magnum, 2005-2012 chrysler 300, 2006-2012 dodge charger, 2005-2011 dodge dakota, and 2006-2009 mitsubishi raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 ram 1500, 2005-2009 ram 2500, 2006-2009 r
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on november 17, 2015. Owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r37.
Full defect summary
Chrysler (fca US llc) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 dodge challenger vehicles manufactured september 19, 2007, to october 29, 2010. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Wheels and tires: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Risk: While driving, a tire and wheel separation could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tire and wheel assembly and if found without a spindle nut it will be repaired free of charge. The recall began on november 2, 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-835-1403.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009 through 2010 passenger vehicles equipped with rear wheel drive. These vehicles may have been built without a front wheel spindle nut.
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Risk: Operation of the vehicle with low tire pressure could result in tire damage and cause a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tpm sensors. The recall is expected to begin on february 9, 2009. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Chrysler is recalling 175 my 2009 dodge charger, challenger, and chrysler 300 vehicles. The tire pressure monitor (tpm) sensors may not transmit the actual tire pressure. This could result in the driver not being aware of low tire pressure.
Transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
Risk: This standard specifies vehicle performance requirements intended to reduce the incidence of crashes resulting from theft and accidental rollaway of motor vehicles.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
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. 114, "theft prevention." if the stop/start button is pressed and held and the engine turns off, the electronic key code is removed from the vehicle. Since this can occur in a transmission or gear selector position other than "park," and the transmission or gear selector does not become locked in "park" as a direct result of key removal, it was determined that a noncompliance may exist.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2009 Dodge Challenger
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge Challenger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (41 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); engine (39 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); transmission (27 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Dodge Challenger have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 9, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Dodge Challenger?
- It is 6th of 16 Challenger model years by number of complaints, with 133 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.