Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger a bad year?
178 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Challenger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Dodge Challenger are in line with other Challenger years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Challenger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 47,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 103 (58%) | 21k–78k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 27 (15%) | 21k–85k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 19 (11%) | 22k–64k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (9%) | 22k–71k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 15 (8%) | 18k–81k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 47,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 178 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2013 Dodge Challenger: 5
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the affected vehicles, the alternator may suddenly fail. If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The battery positive cable at the starter motor may experience an electrical short circuit to ground. A short circuit could lead to a vehicle fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 95
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Dodge Challenger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Ts may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2012 Challenger: 253 complaints, keep it · 2014 Challenger: 149 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Challenger year
2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All Challenger years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Dodge Challenger a bad year?
178 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Challenger years. At 47,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Dodge Challenger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (103), engine (27), air bags (19), transmission and drivetrain (16), steering (15).
How many recalls does the 2013 Dodge Challenger have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-021), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-435), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-634) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.