Showing the 2018 Challenger SXT. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
16–23 mpgcombined; city 13–19, highway 21–30; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120–$25,150U.S. average; Ohio $12,620–$23,700 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 Challenger. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Challenger. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical system
28
2
1
0
Unknown or other
28
2
1
0
Power train
8
0
0
0
Steering
6
2
0
1
Wheels
6
1
0
0
Air bags
5
3
0
5
Engine
5
0
1
0
Exterior lighting
5
0
0
0
Service brakes
5
1
0
1
Suspension
4
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
3
1
0
0
7 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
2
0
3
Seats
2
1
1
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Lane departure
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Challenger over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
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.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
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.
Risk: If the incorrect park lock rod is installed, the transmission may not shift into 'PARK' and keep the vehicle from moving, increasing the risk of unintended vehicle movement and the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct park lock rod, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U43.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 255 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Challenger, the latest on Sep 30, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (97), electrical system (73), power train (33), structure (31), engine and engine cooling (24).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · covers 37 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 Challenger.
EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Challenger Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 30 / 23
Challenger Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Midgrade Gasoline
16 / 25 / 19
Challenger Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 25 / 18
Challenger Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 23 / 18
Challenger Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 23 / 17
Challenger GT All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 27 / 21
Challenger SRT Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 25 / 18
Challenger SRT Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
14 / 23 / 17
Challenger SRT Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Automatic 8-spd
Premium Gasoline
13 / 22 / 16
Challenger SRT Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, supercharged
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
13 / 21 / 16
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data