Reliable Auto DB

2013 Dodge Challenger reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Dodge Challenger holds 179 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 Challenger years on this site. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Inflator, Alternator, and Front underhood wiring.

2012 Dodge Challenger
Photo by Pierre André Leclercq, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

179

Per year

20

Recalls

5

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (104 of 179), then Engine (27) and Air bags (19). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 10 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Challenger has 253 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2014 has 149 complaints, 14 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Dodge Challenger. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-01-15 · NHTSA campaign 19V018000
Summary 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. The recall began February 4, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V01.
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-01-09 · NHTSA campaign 18V021000
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 B." Chrysler is also recalling certain 2009 RAM 3500, RAM 2500, RAM 4500 Cab Chassis, RAM 5500 Cab Chassis, Dodge Durango, Chrysler Aspen, RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
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. 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.
Recall electrical system, alternator 2017-07-10 · NHTSA campaign 17V435000
Summary 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. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
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. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T36.
Recall electrical system, alternator 2014-10-08 · NHTSA campaign 14V634000
Summary 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. In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail.
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. Chrysler's number for this recall is P60.
Recall electrical system, wiring, front underhood wiring 2013-03-21 · NHTSA campaign 13V103000
Summary Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Dodge Challenger vehicles manufactured from December 3, 2012, through January 24, 2013 and equipped with a V6 engine. The battery positive cable at the starter motor may experience an electrical short circuit to ground.
Remedy Chrysler has begun notifying owners and they are being advised to immediately refrain from driving their vehicles and to contact their dealers. Chrysler Group further advises affected owners not to park their vehicles in, or near, any structures. Dealers will replace the under hood starter cable assembly, free of charge. The recall notification began on March 22, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

Complaints by component (179 total)

Electrical system
104
Engine
27
Air bags
19
Powertrain
16
Steering
15
Service brakes
8
Speed control
7
Structure
7
Exterior lighting
6
Fuel and propulsion system
6
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
Visibility and wipers
5
Seats
4
Seat belts
3
Visibility
3
Tires
2
Wheels
2
Equipment
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

10

Injury reports

6

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

72013132014392015112016232017222018222019192020520216202242023120244202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am reporting a defect condition in a 2013 Dodge Challenger that appears materially identical to the condition described in FCA Emissions Recall UB4 involving the evaporative emissions canister system. See: [XXX] . The…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-16
  • "See attached document for complaint."
    Speed control, Service brakes · filed 2026-04-01
  • "Driver & passenger door windows on many 2010-2017 Dodge Challengers activate repeatedly on their own during driving and after ignition is turned off causing the battery to completely drain overnight & sometimes after…"
    Electrical system, Structure · filed 2026-02-09
  • "On Saturday 1:20am 11/15/25 DRIVING 27 MILES FROM DISTANCE VEHICLE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION ELECTRICALLY WITH INTERNAL LIGHTS QUICKLY POWER OUTAGES ON AND OFF INTERIOR LIGHTIN. dim headlights, or issues with electrical…"
    Electrical system, Structure, Unknown or other · filed 2025-11-17
  • "* The ignition switch failed to release the key fob. I brought the car home after completing some repairs and sending the car through emissions testing to renew the plates. I made numerous attempts turning the car on…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2025-11-10

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Challenger 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3100
Challenger 5.7L, 8-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 16 25 19 MPG $3900
Challenger 5.7L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 15 23 18 MPG $4450
Challenger SRT8 6.4L, 8-cyl Automatic 5-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 23 17 MPG $4700
Challenger SRT8 6.4L, 8-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 14 23 17 MPG $4700

Specs and fitment

LC generation (3rd gen), 2012–2023
Body styles Coupe
Oil 5W-20 full synthetic (3.6L V6; Hemi V8 uses 5W-20 or 0W-40 per manual) , 7 qt capacity
Tire size 245/45R20 (many trims); staggered setups on wide-body and Hellcat models front / 245/45R20 (many trims); wider rear tires on staggered Hellcat and wide-body trims rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-280 covers certain 2018 Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Durango, Chrysler 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, and Ram 1500 vehicles: an incorrect transmission park lock rod may allow the vehicle to move even when the shifter indicates Park. Dealers inspect and replace the park lock rod if needed. Recall 19V-203 covers certain 2019 Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles whose instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings; dealers update the instrument cluster software.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Dodge Challenger Next year 2014 Dodge Challenger See every Dodge Challenger model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Dodge Challenger holds 179 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 20 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 Challenger years on this site. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Inflator, Alternator, and Front underhood wiring.

What are common problems with a 2013 Dodge Challenger?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (104 of 179), then Engine (27) and Air bags (19). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 10 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Challenger has 253 complaints, 19 per year, and the 2014 has 149 complaints, 14 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Dodge Challenger been recalled?

The 2013 Dodge Challenger has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Dodge Challenger?

Owners have filed 179 complaints about the 2013 Dodge Challenger with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Dodge Challenger get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Dodge Challenger is 18.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When did Dodge stop making the Challenger?

The LC Challenger was built through the 2023 model year for the US market.

What oil does a Dodge Challenger with the 3.6L V6 take?

US notes list 5W-20 full synthetic for the 3.6L V6; Hemi V8 grades can differ (5W-20 or 0W-40 per the manual).

What tire sizes does a Dodge Challenger use?

Many trims list 245/45R20; wide-body and Hellcat models use staggered setups that differ front to rear.