2018 Dodge Challenger Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 74 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 4 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2018 Dodge Challenger receives a 4.4/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 74 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 4 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 28,000 miles (IQR: 8,000 – 31,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
13.5 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
4 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“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 displaye...”
“I got the car on 4/13/2025 from a Toyota dealership with about 31000 miles they told me the car fax showed the car had 2 owners a regular customer and another dealership, they also told me they change the battery but they failed to disclosed that they took the car to a body sh...”
“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 ...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Driving along and all of a sudden the shifter lights started flashing, wipers turned on, steering became difficult, and finally the transmission locked up. Stalled in the middle of the hiway turn lane and because the transmission was locked up it couldn't even be pushed out of...”
“The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that the rims on the wheels of the vehicle were poorly designed and there were several cracks on the rims. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered cracks on the inside edges of the rims. The c...”
“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 seve...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Driving along and all of a sudden the shifter lights started flashing, wipers turned on, steering became difficult, and finally the transmission locked up. Stalled in the middle of the hiway turn lane and because the transmission was locked up it couldn't even be pushed out of...”
“UConnect 8.4 system screen delaminating. Essentially, out of nowhere, a large bubble appeared on my 2018 Challenger Scat Pack's center UConnect Screen. This is the third Challenger I've owned, and unfortunately for me, the only one I kept outside of the factory warranty timefr...”
“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 l...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“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 ca...”
“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 ...”
“INCIDENT MATCHES: NHTSA 19V-203 FOR 2019 MODELS, HOWEVER THIS HAPPENED ON A 2018. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GAUGE CLUSTER WENT COMPLETELY BLACK, WINDOWS CRACKED OPEN AS IF DOORS HAD BEEN OPENED. WAS STILL ABLE TO OPERATE THE ACCELERATOR & BRAKE; HOWEVER, COULD NOT USE INDIC...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“I got the car on 4/13/2025 from a Toyota dealership with about 31000 miles they told me the car fax showed the car had 2 owners a regular customer and another dealership, they also told me they change the battery but they failed to disclosed that they took the car to a body sh...”
“Since the day of delivery, the 2018 Dodge Challenger I purchased from Carvana has been non-operational due to a dead battery and significant engine problems. Despite multiple attempts to start the vehicle, it required towing to the dealer for repairs. Additionally, the car was...”
“The Uconnect Infosystem 8.4 display with navigation system has become defective. Because of this defect the system takes control of the infosystem switching between screens and options and as it gets worse it could possibly get into the power modes and other engine controls by...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“No power then open the trunk and the power comes back on!! Dash lights blink out and radio then window goes up and down! Will leave u stranded”
“ON APRIL 24TH, 2019, I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS DAMAGED. DUE TO THE IMPACT ON THE CAR, THE AIRBAGS WERE SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY, YET THEY DID NOT. AS I WAS ENTERING THE CENTER LANE A CAR PLOWS ...”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR, HE NOTICED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG WAS SHOWING THROUGH THE SEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO YORK DODGE CHRYSLER (500 PRESCOTT LAKES PKWY, PRESCOTT, AZ 86301) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“FUEL PUMP WERE CRACKED DIDNT HAVE CAR 1 FULL YEAR,... I FEEL LIKE THIS CAR WAS MADE POORLY AND NOT DEPENDABLE I LMAO GOING TO TRADE IT IN FOR A CHEVY CAMARO”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (4)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain Mopar Stage 1 Kit Performance Packages Powertrain Control Modules (PCM) Part Numbers P5160023, P5160025, and Demon Crate PCM Part Number 68412287AA. The PCMs are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Dodge Charger, Durango and Challenger, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler 300, and RAM 1500 vehicles. An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Summary: 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 Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary: 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 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2018 Dodge Challenger
Before purchasing a used 2018 Dodge Challenger, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2018 Dodge Challenger
Is the 2018 Dodge Challenger a reliable used car?
The 2018 Dodge Challenger earns a 4.4/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 74 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2018 Dodge Challenger?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 28,000 miles (IQR: 8,000 – 31,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2018 Dodge Challenger?
Yes, the NHTSA records 4 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.