2009 Dodge Challenger: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Dodge Challenger: 7 recalls, 133 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
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Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #08V458000 · 2008 · 6,636 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: This standard specifies vehicle performance requirements intended to reduce the incidence of crashes resulting from theft and accidental rollaway of motor vehicles.
The 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.
Tires Vehicle recall #08V642000 · 2008 · 175 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Operation of the vehicle with low tire pressure could result in tire damage and cause a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tpm sensors. The recall is expected to begin on February 9, 2009.
Wheels Vehicle recall #09V420000 · 2009 · 12,656 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles May have been built without a front wheel spindle nut.
Why it matters: While driving, a tire and wheel separation could occur increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V444000 · 2015 · 88,460 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V352000 · 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: 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…
The 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…
Equipment Vehicle recall #17V824000 · 2017 · 61,791 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners instructing them to contact kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V021000 · 2018 · 328,177 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (41): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (5), fails to deploy (2), warning light on (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (27): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (15), noise or vibration (4), stalls / loses power (3).
- Engine (26): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (17), warning light on (5).
- Electrical (21): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (7), fire / smoke (5), electrical failure (5).
The 2009 Dodge Challenger has 133 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 16 Challenger model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 106). Complaints peaked in 2015 (24 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 30,152 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (10 complaints, 3 recalls), 2010 (299 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Regular |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Regular |
| 6.1 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 22 | 16 | Regular |
| 6.1 L 8-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Dodge Challenger.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 Dodge Challenger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Dodge Challenger problems?
Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (41), transmission & drivetrain (27), engine (26).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Dodge Challenger get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Dodge Challenger repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.