2021 Dodge Challenger

Showing the 2021 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. 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
15–23 mpgcombined; city 13–19, highway 21–30; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120–$26,830U.S. average; Ohio $12,620–$25,280 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 overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
19filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2021 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.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 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
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air bags4302
Electrical system4100
Engine3010
Power train3000
Steering2000
Structure2100
Unknown or other2000
Back over prevention1000
Exterior lighting1100
Forward collision avoidance1000
Fuel/propulsion system1000
None1000
4 more parts
Seat belts1000
Seats1000
Suspension1000
Vehicle speed control1100

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.

  1. 200810
  2. 2009133
  3. 2010299
  4. 2011193
  5. 2012253
  6. 2013179
  7. 2014149
  8. 2015126
  9. 201678
  10. 201749
  11. 201875
  12. 201959
  13. 202020
  14. 202119
  15. 20229
  16. 202343

Every Challenger year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 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.

Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA campaign 21V664000 · reported Aug 26, 2021 · 135 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."

Risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y58.

NHTSA's record and documents

Visibility: windshield; Visibility: windshield

NHTSA campaign 21V516000 · reported Jul 8, 2021 · 21,258 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

Risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y47.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 287 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 Challenger, the latest on Sep 30, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (85), equipment (81), power train (54), engine and engine cooling (26), visibility (20).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

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 2021 Challenger.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Challenger
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline19 / 30 / 23
Challenger
All-Wheel Drive
3.6 L, 6 cylAutomatic 8-spdRegular Gasoline18 / 27 / 21
Challenger
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdMidgrade Gasoline16 / 25 / 19
Challenger
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.7 L, 8 cylManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline15 / 23 / 18
Challenger
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdPremium Gasoline15 / 24 / 18
Challenger
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cylManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline14 / 23 / 17
Challenger SRT
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, superchargedAutomatic 8-spdPremium Gasoline13 / 22 / 16
Challenger SRT
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, superchargedManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline13 / 21 / 16
Challenger SRT Widebody
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, superchargedManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline13 / 21 / 16
Challenger SRT Widebody
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl, superchargedAutomatic 8-spdPremium Gasoline13 / 21 / 15
Challenger Widebody
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cylAutomatic 8-spdPremium Gasoline15 / 24 / 18
Challenger Widebody
Rear-Wheel Drive
6.4 L, 8 cylManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline14 / 23 / 17

Sources and dates

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